Santiva, The Factor favored in prep races

Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally has no problem with Santiva being the 3-1 morning line favorite for the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes today at Keeneland.

Kenneally says his 3-year-old colt is “sitting on gold.”

Maybe, but he’s also sitting in the middle of a somewhat lackluster field of 12 that exemplifies both the beauty of one of the last major Kentucky Derby preps and the potential pitfalls running in the 11/8-mile race over the Polytrack represents.

The track switched from dirt to synthetic surface in the fall of 2006, and the four runnings since the change have produced storybook winners who failed to reproduce any magic in the Run for the Roses.

Crimson China, co-owned by Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, will start from the 11th post position. Crimson China is 10-1.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle unheralded Praetereo (15-1) and turf horse Queen’splatekitten (12-1) looking to add to a Derby roster that already includes Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo.

Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.

George Bolton thought the colt he bought last May projected as a miler.

It wasn’t until a text message from trainer Bob Baffert a month later that Bolton found out he might have much more.

“The Factor is a freak,” Baffert’s text read.

So far, the 3-year-old has lived up to Baffert’s early impression with three consecutive wire-to-wire victories. The colt will look to add to his impressive resume, and continue his momentum toward next month’s Kentucky Derby, when he goes off as the favorite in today’s Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Louisiana Derby runner-up Nehro, who drew the rail, is the 5-1 second choice. Sway Away is 6-1.