COUNTDOWN TO THE DERBY Bluegrass Cat set in Blue Grass Stakes

He's the second choice behind favorite First Samurai today.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Here's one bet Keeneland racing fans will find tough to resist today: Bluegrass Cat to win the Blue Grass Stakes in his first race in the Bluegrass State in nearly a year.
The strapping bay colt carries much more than a fitting name into this major Kentucky Derby prep race, though, and is the 5-2 second choice behind 8-5 favorite First Samurai in a field of nine 3-year-olds.
"He's training really well, he looks good, and I think he's going to run a good race," Todd Pletcher said Friday. In fact, the trainer added, "He's never run a bad race."
Lost shoe at Tampa Bay
Some might argue that Bluegrass Cat's runner-up finish to Deputy Glitters as the 2-5 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby last month was a poor effort. It turns out the colt lost the shoe on his right front foot during the race.
"How much it affected his performance I don't know," Pletcher said.
An answer may come in the 11/8-mile Blue Grass, which carries a purse of $750,000.
The other big Derby prep today is the $1 million Arkansas Derby, where Lawyer Ron is the heavy favorite in a 13-horse field, which includes High Cotton, Private Vow and Steppenwolfer.
There was a lot to like about Bluegrass Cat before the Tampa Bay Derby.
After losing at Churchill Downs in his first career start last June, he reeled off four straight victories for Pletcher, including the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct, the Remsen Stakes at Belmont Park and the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
The breeding is tough to beat, too: A son of Storm Cat, the world's priciest stallion, out of the A.P. Indy mare She's a Winner. A.P. Indy was Horse of the Year in 1992.
Bluegrass Cat has speed, but is comfortable sitting behind the leaders under regular rider John Velazquez.
"He stacks up well against a field of nice horses," Pletcher said. "I think there's enough speed that he'll be laying in a stalking position. And he's got an inside post (No. 2). We're happy with the position we're in."
Bred and owned by WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., Bluegrass Cat was sent to Pletcher by Elliott Walden, who retired as a trainer last year and now oversees operations for WinStar.
Ticketed for Derby
Win or lose, Bluegrass Cat is ticketed for the Derby in three weeks. The same can't be said for the rest of the field.
First Samurai, despite five wins in seven starts, still has to prove he can win at a distance.
He won the 11/8-mile Fountain of Youth, but finished second to Corinthian, who was disqualified to third for interference. The colt trained by Frank Brothers hasn't finished first in a race over a mile. The Derby is 11/4 miles.
"The [distance] question is still out there," First Samurai co-owner Lansdon Robbins said. "Can he get 10 furlongs, can he get nine? We'll find out."
Two other hopefuls
Two Derby-winning trainers need huge efforts from their colts for a return trip to Churchill Downs:
ULittle Cliff is one of Nick Zito's last hopes. The colt has won just two of seven starts, and is 10-1 on the morning line. Zito, a two-time Derby winner, sent out a record-tying five horses in last year's edition. He also has Superfly in the Arkansas Derby.
UStrong Contender, 2-for-2 in his brief career, is trained by John Ward, who won the 2001 Derby with Monarchos. Strong Contender, the third choice at 4-1, won an allowance at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 22 in his last start.
And then there's Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner who trains Sinister Minister, second in the California Derby on March 11. Baffert already has two Derby horses in Wood Memorial winner Bob and John and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Point Determined.