World Beater still has a ways to go to live up to his name. But he’s certainly trending in the right direction.

The three-year-old Oscar Performance colt owned by Pin Oak Stud LLC made short work of his seven rivals in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs. The win was his second straight and fourth in five outings, a streak sullied – not really the right word — only by a runner-up effort behind Test Score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational July 4.

“We always thought he was a nice horse,” said winning trainer Riley Mott. “It took maybe a little longer than we thought for him to break his maiden, but once we got him to the turf course, it’s just been an upwards trajectory for him.”

Nondescript in two dirt tries at two, World Beater returned – and found a home – on the lawn. The win gave him four wins in seven turf outings, and he’s never been worse than third on the green. The winner’s share pushed his career bankroll past $1.1 million.

The last two races of the day – the Old Dominion Oaks and Derby – were delayed by a a storm that descended on New Kent, bringing strong rains along with lightning and thunder.

It also led the turf course, firm for most of the day, to be downgraded, eventually to soft.

But, though World Beater had never run on a wet turf course previously, it did nothing to detract from his performance.

World Beater settled nicely two wide and three lengths or so behind the early dawdling pace of Iron Hand, who doled out fractions of 25.38 seconds for the opener, 51.18 for the half, and 1:16.77 for three quarters.

“I wanted him to be closer than he’s been before, and he put me right there,” said Jaime Torres, who rode the winner. “You know, I didn’t have to help him, didn’t have to do anything. He just went for it. He was traveling very well.”

“I really don’t give any instructions to my riders,” Mott said. “Just, we like to tell them, just be wherever you’re comfortable, get the horse in a rhythm, and, you know, wherever you’re happy, just try to save a little ground. He sat an unbelievably good trip. Turned for home, and Jaime was very confident, and he ran on when he asked him the question.”

Torres and World Beater went to the attack as the field neared the quarter pole. Iron Hand and Outrunner resisted to mid-stretch, but World Beater had too much, pulling away to win by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:53.01. Mesero closed late ground for second, nosing out Outrunner for the place spot. Iron Hand faded to seventh.

World Beater completed the final three-eighths of a mile in a shade under 36 seconds, a solid finish on a slow-playing course.

World Beater paid $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite. With Mesero 15-1, the exacta returned $11.60 for a one-dollar wager.

Mott arrived with a sizable rooting section – his wife Megan is originally from Charlottesville – and they celebrated with gusto (and champagne) after the win.

“We had a pretty big crowd,” Mott allowed. “It’s just really fun to be able to bring the horse here.”

As for the future, Mott was thinking in terms of next year rather than the next race.

“I wouldn’t be, you know, really looking to run him in the Breeders Cup as a three-year-old at this point,” he said. “I think there’s some really lucrative races for, you know, older horses next year, and we’re looking forward to hopefully having a healthy horse.”

Wherever he shows up, it seems likely Torres, who rode Seize the Grey to a win in the 2024 Preakness, will be along.

“I mean, after Seize the Grey, I think he’s my next big, big horse,” the rider said. “I’m just very glad, man. I can’t believe it.”

NOTES Doncho, who set a world record for 5 ½ furlongs on turf in his start prior to Saturday’s Da Hoss Stakes, didn’t threaten that mark today but had enough to win by a neck, holding off a late bid from favored Alogon. Doncho is trained by Michelle Lovell for JAL Racing… As Catch Can was one of three Jonathan Thomas trainees entered in the Old Dominion Oaks, but she was the only one to start. Bettors perhaps should have – but didn’t – take note, and she sprung a 16-1 upset, slipping through on the rail to wear down favored Evershed. Thomas trains the improving filly for Augustin Stable… Jaime Torres rode both Doncho and As Catch Can, with World Beater enabling him to complete a stakes hat trick…