The son of Maria’s Mon wore down stablemate Cowboy Cal in the final sixteenth of a mile to give jockey Edgar Prado his third victory in the 1 1/8-mile race on Polytrack. Time for the race was 1:49.71.
“It was beautiful,” said Prado, who won the $400,000 Commonwealth Stakes aboard Rebellion (GB) in the previous race. “I was a very lucky passenger all the way and through the last sixteenth of a mile when the other horse (Cowboy Cal) was a little tough to get by.”
Pyro, the winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his last start a month ago, was never in contention and finished 10th as the even-money favorite in the field of 12 3-year-olds.
“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 realized on the turn that it just wasn’t going to be his day.”
Both Monba and Cowboy Cal, who held on for second, are trained by Todd Pletcher. The victory was worth $465,000 for Monba, assuring him a starting spot in the Derby. Pletcher, who won the 2005 Blue Grass with Bandini, became the second trainer in the race’s history to saddle the one-two finishers.
George Poole sent out Impetuosity and Twist the Axe to run first and second, respectively, in the 1971 Blue Grass.
“I was hoping for a dead heat right at the end; they were both running so well,” said Pletcher. “You hate to see one of them lose. It was nice to see them both show up and run the way they’re capable of.”
Monba is owned by the partnership of Starlight Stable, Donald Lucarelli and Paul Saylor. Jack Wolf’s Starlight Stable won the 2002 Blue Grass with Harlan’s Holiday, who was ridden by Prado.
In his last start on February 24 at Gulfstream Park, Monba finished last in the Fountain of Youth, beaten by almost 40 lengths after a troubled start and run into the first turn.
The winner was the 8-1 fourth choice in the Toyota Blue Grass and paid $19.60, $8.60 and $6.60. He improved his record to three wins in five starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $577,534, of which $515,000 has come in graded stakes.
Cowboy Cal took the lead soon after the start under John Velazquez and held on stubbornly to finish second and increase his graded stakes earnings to $207,660. The winner of the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on the turf in January paid $8.80 and $6.60.
Kentucky Bear, a 27-1 outsider who was making only his third career start, was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $8.20. He was ridden by Jamie Theriot.
In a supporting feature, Rebellion (GB) caught Elite Squadron in the closing strides to win the Commonwealth Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs.
Never far back in the field of 10, the 5-year-old son of Mozart rallied on the outside under Prado to win for the sixth time in 15 career starts and earn $248,000 for Hickory Tree Stables.
The winning time was 1:21.40 on the fast Polytrack surface.
Elite Squadron, the early leader with Velazquez aboard, held on for second, 1 ¾ lengths in front of Medzendeekron. It was three-quarters of a length back to fourth-place Forefathers.
Rebellion (GB), who is trained by Graham Motion, was returning from an almost six-month layoff. He finished eighth behind victorious Kip Deville last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Monmouth Park.
The winner paid $10.20, $5.40 and $4.60. Elite Squadron returned $31.80 and $14 and Medzendeekron paid $8.20.
The Toyota Blue Grass Day program drew 26,000 (correct) in cold, windy conditions.