World Beater Back on Top in Colonial’s Old Dominion Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Delayed several minutes because of the storms sweeping through the area Saturday afternoon, recent GI Saratoga Derby Invitational winner World Beater made it two straight with a victory in the GIII Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs.

Sent off the hot 2-5 choice for a distance he clearly relishes, the Pin Oak-bred colt entered this contest off a pair of Grade Is at the Spa–a second-place finish in the nine-furlong Belmont Derby on July 4 and a narrow score in the Saratoga Derby over 1 mile and three-sixteenths Aug. 2.

Breaking cleanly from post 6, the chestnut was settled just behind as Iron Hand and Outrunner led over a soggy quarter in :25.38. Still cruising along two deep in fourth through a half in :51.18, the favorite was eager to go and jumped to the front straightening for home. In command from there, World Beater came home a geared-down winner over Mesero with early pacesetter finishing third.

“He was rolling very good today,” said winning rider Jamie Torres. “He didn't care about how wet it was. I'm very, very happy with him. He's all talent.”

Torres' win aboard World Beater in the Old Dominion Derby capped off three consecutive stakes victories on the day, including piloting As Catch Can to victory in the Old Dominion Oaks and Doncho in the Da Hoss Stakes.

 

In a pair of starts at two, World Beater was anything but when giving it a go on the dirt, finishing ninth at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Returning in 2025 with a different game plan, trainer Riley Mott started the colt in a 7 1/2-furlong turf test at Gulfstream and the son of Oscar Performance finished a much-improved third, beaten only a length. Runner-up adding another furlong at Keeneland in April, the Kentucky-bred finally broke through while extending to nine panels when returning to Louisville May 2. After finding his sweet spot, Mott returned the colt to that distance and venue for the May 31 Audubon Stakes and was duly rewarded with a neck victory.

“I'm just very thankful that we could bring the horse here in good shape and perform well in front of this crowd,” added Mott. “We've got a big group here with my wife's side coming in from Charlottesville, Virginia. We will watch him for a week or two to see [what's next]. It's been a long season for him, but we have pretty big aspirations for his four-year-old year next year.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Dr. John Chandler, the breeder of Saturday's Old Colonial Derby winner World Beater, is also responsible for heaving bred his dam, Dabinett. Stakes winning second dam Sharp Apple (Diesis {GB}) is also responsible for European MGSW and French G1SP Pomology (Arch), as well as MGISP Sassy Little Lila (Artie Schiller). Both were also bred by Chandler.

World Beater has a year-younger full brother named Heere's Johnny who recently finished second in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. The winner also has a pair of sisters produced over the past two seasons by the Mill Ridge sire.

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