Pletcher saddles one-two in Blue Grass Stakes

Legendary trainer Todd Pletcher saddled a famous one-two in the Grade One Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday evening as Monba led home Cowboy Cal.

Monba had finished stone last on his final start at Gulfstream Park in February but was never far from the pace under Edgar Prado.

It was his stable companion who made a bold bid to make all for John Velazquez but Prado’s mount always looked like he would gain the upper hand in the home stretch and went on to win by a neck.

Hot-favourite Pyro, trained by Steve Asmussen and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, could never land a blow and trailed home tenth.

But for the winner, attentions now turn to the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

“I felt bad for Cowboy Cal, he ran such a big race,” Pletcher told www. thoroughbredtimes.com.

“I was hoping for a dead heat. I was really pleased, obviously. We were hoping for the earnings and now we’re in a position to think about [the Kentucky Derby].”

For Pyro’s connections, it is back to the drawing board.

“I asked him for run around the turn to try and set myself up pretty good and I didn’t get the response I was hoping for,” said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

“I realised on the turn that it just wasn’t going to be his day.”