The major Kentucky prep for the Triple Crown is the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1), which has yielded the most Derby winners of any prep race in history. Contested at 1 1/8 miles over Keeneland's Polytrack surface, a field of twelve Derby hopefuls entered the gate, with Risen Star and Louisiana Derby winner Pyri sent off as the even-money choice over Fountain of Youth winner Cool Coal Man at 7-1 and Tropical Park Derby winner Cowboy Cal at 8-1. Conditions were less than ideal, with the crowd of 26,000 braving temperatures in the 40's and menacing dark clouds.
As expected Cowboy Cal went to the lead right away and he set easy fractions of 24.96, 49.01, and 1:13.17 while as many as 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Pyro, who was slowest out of the gate, sat back in eighth down the backstretch. Turning for home, Monba, who stalked the pace in second out 6-wide most of the way around, moved up to challenge for the lead. Monba hooked up with Cowboy Cal inside the 1/8 pole, and after a brief battle, Monba pushed ahead to win by a neck in a time of 1:49.71 over the fast track. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 28-1 longshot Kentucky Bear third. Pyro was wide throughout and failed to show any rally late, finishing tenth.
Results chart
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