A Toast for the Lady: Bottle of Rouge Claims Virginia Oaks on March to Louisville

[Wandering Eyes]

She's among the finest wines, indeed.

Grade I-winner Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) pounced smartly in the lane of the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, and kicked home well to take not just the hardware but also precious points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks in May.

Content to watch Dazzling Dame (Girvin) as that one stepped out to dictate the tempo, the grey was never far away in third as an opening sectional of :22.61 and a half-mile in :45.64 flashed across the toteboard. Inching into striking range along the rail, but lacking for space, she muscled her way into clear running room coming off the bend behind a six-furlong split in 1:09.74. Striking the front in midstretch as Dazzling Dame gamely fought on from the rail, Bottle of Rouge was wrapped up in the final yards to win confidently. The longtime leader held second while Baffle (Violence) flew home from another zipcode to claim third.

The Bob Baffert trainee takes home 37.5 points toward the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with this win.

Bottle of Rouge is owned by Natalie Baffert.

Sales history: $60,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. O-Natalie Baffert; B-Kathie Maybee (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

 

#3 BOTTLE OF ROUGE ($3.60) was full of run in the stretch under Flavien Prat to easily win the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at @ColonialDowns and earn 37.5 Kentucky Oaks points. The daughter of Vino Russo (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Natalia Baffert. pic.twitter.com/yCUVJul5aW

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 14, 2026

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