Road To Kentucky Derby Makes A Few Stops
The Blue Grass Stakes has produced the most runners of any major Kentucky Derby prep race 22. Of the seventeen winners that hit the board, eleven have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.
Yet it was in 1991 that a horse last wons the double. Of the five that finished in the money, the line runner-up to triumph at Churchill Down was Gato Del Sol in '82.
This year's top contenders have not had a great year.
The aptly named Bluegrass Cat, the three-time stakes winner that's one of two horses entered by trainer Todd Pletcher, took the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs by 1.25 lengths over Deputy Glitters. However, Deputy Glitters finished a dismal sixth in the Wood Memorial on a poor surface and was finally beaten fourteen lengths.
First Samurai, winless, at least he would have been except for the disqualification of Corinthian (for interference) in the Fountain of Youth - causing him to be handed the race.
Pletcher, the defending two-time Eclipse Award top conditioner, also sends out High Cotton, which won the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park. Pletcher's horses triumphed in '00, Balto Star, and in '01, Graeme Hall.
The dark horse is Strong Contender, lightly raced son of Maria's Mon that's trained by John Ward. Those are the same connections as Monarchos, who sprang a $23 upset of the 9-5 favorite Point Given in '01.
Ward had Strong Contender set up for the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park and he was considered the likely favourite. But due to a mix up the horse was left out on the basis of earnings.
Any of the above four could step up to the plate at Lexington. So if you believe in hunches, Bluegrass Cat appears to be as good a bet as any in the contest at 1 1/8 miles.
The horse to beat in the $1 million Arkansas Derby is Lawyer Ron who stretched his winning streak to five with victories at Oaklawn Park in the Southwest by three-quarters of a length and then easily captured the Rebel by three at 1 1/16 miles.
The last two winners dominated the Triple Crown. They won four of the six events: Afleet Alex took the Preakness and Belmont last year while Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Lawyer Ron's pedigree casts a bit of doubt on getting the Kentucky Derby's 1.25 miles, he should make the winner's circle, but Red Raymond and Steppenwolfer could spring a surprise.
