The new team behind the familiar Pin Oak Stud has had its share of heartbreak in the last few years. But hope springs eternal in Thoroughbred racing, especially in the spring.

After one Pin Oak colt, Incredibolt, seemingly punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby by winning last Saturday’s Virginia Derby, another hopeful, Chaos Agent, looks to do the same in this coming weekend’s Grade 3 Jeff Ruby, another prep offering major Kentucky Derby points. The colts carry the gray and blue silks now associated with the Bernhard family, whose patriarch, Jim Bernhard, died in November.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The maiden Civil Liberty, third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and fourth in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita as a 2-year-old, is pointing to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4, trainer Doug O’Neill told New York Racing Association publicity.

In his 3-year-old debut last Saturday at Santa Anita, Civil Liberty finished second, beaten a neck by Crude Velocity, in a fastly rated 6 1/2-furlong maiden race. Civil Liberty is by Independence Hall, who won the Nashua and Jerome stakes, both one-turn mile races at Aqueduct.

Long on miles and short on stakes wins, the jet-setting colt Buetane will ramble on to Colonial Downs as the likely favorite in the $500,000 Virginia Derby on Saturday.

Though Buetane regressed in his first route attempt last time out, trainer Bob Baffert believes there’s still a path for the $1.15 million colt to reach the Kentucky Derby.

The young trainer Will Walden hopes the second March renewal of the Virgina Derby will provide him with his first Kentucky Derby runner in May.

Buetane

Colt by Tiz the Law – Taboo, by Forestry

Bred in Kentucky by Merriebelle Stable ($150,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling purchase by Tom McCrocklin; $1.15 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring 2-year-old in training purchase by Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Stables)

WHO’S HOT

The Puma, winless in his first two starts, had a very wide trip but was able to prevail in a three-horse duel to the wire over Further Ado and Canaletto in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby. The Puma, now secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, will have one more race, likely the Blue Grass, where he would face division leader Paladin. The Florida Derby could be possible as well.