Brilliant Speed wins Blue Grass

Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Brilliant Speed punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a thrilling stretch run to win the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old colt lagged behind the rest of the 12-horse field until the turn, then exploded over the final quarter-mile to edge Twinspired by a nose.

The $450,000 winner’s check gives Brilliant Speed more than enough graded-stakes earnings to earn a spot in next month’s Run for the Roses. Ridden by Joel Rosario and trained by Tom Albertrani, Brilliant Speed covered the 1 1-8 miles on Keeneland’s Polytrack in 1:50.92 and paid $40.20, $20.80 and $13.

Twinspired and jockey Robby Albarado paid $21.20 and $11.80 for second, while King Congie paid $8.80 for third.

Crimson China, which is owned by a group that includes Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, placed fifth as the 5-1 second choice.

Santiva went off as the solid 2-1 favorite but never threatened despite slow fractions on a cold, wet day more reminiscent of late fall than early spring. He ended up ninth, jeopardizing his chances of making the Derby field.

The Derby is limited to 20 horses, with a spot determined by graded stakes earnings if more than 20 are entered. Santiva began the day 18th on the list.

Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

Archarcharch stormed home to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby at 25-1.

The colt, owned by Arkansas native Bob Yagos and trained by fellow Arkansan Jinks Fires, trailed with a second group for much of the race before charging hard the final 1/8 mile of the 1 1/8-mile race. He overpowered Dance City and Sway Away on the home stretch and held off a late charge by Nehro to earn the win.

The Grade 1 win is the first for Fires, who along with Yagos, will now make his first Kentucky Derby appearance on May 7.

Ridden by Jon Court, Archarcharch paid $52.40, $16.80 and $8.20. Nehro paid $9 and $5.60 for finishing second, and Dance City paid $14.20 in third.

Heavy pre-race favorite The Factor finished seventh.