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Pletcher duo now headed for Derby
"We felt like if we were going to go on to the Derby, if he were to run well (in the Blue Grass), that he would benefit from having the additional week," Pletcher said. Monba's victory gave Pletcher his second win in the Blue Grass, following Bandini in 2005, and the trainer's first Grade 1 victory of 2008. With the performance of his colts, Pletcher became the first trainer since George Poole in 1971 to send out the first two finishers in the Blue Grass. Poole accomplished the feat with Impetuosity and Twist the Axe. Meanwhile, Monba and Cowboy Cal's performance should silence questions about Pletcher's prospects to return to the Kentucky Derby. Prior to the Blue Grass, he seemed a bit of a longshot to return to the race this year as none of his three-year-olds had won a prep race. "To me, as I've said before, the Derby is one of those things that if we get there and have a horse that's worthy of being there, that's great," he said. "I'm pleased that they ran as well as they did." Bear Stable's KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley), who finished third at odds of 27-1, was "bouncing off the walls this morning," reported Cassie Garcia, assistant to trainer Reade Baker. Kentucky Bear was a handful for Garcia to graze on a chilly Sunday morning, displaying plenty of energy for a colt who had made only his third career start. The third-place finish gave Kentucky Bear $75,000 in graded stakes earnings. Baker indicated after Saturday's race that he would take Kentucky Bear to Churchill Downs to prepare for the Kentucky Derby even though the colt may not have enough graded earnings to make the 20-horse field. Fifth-place finisher VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam) added $22,500 to his graded stakes earnings heading into the Kentucky Derby. "It would have been nicer to be a little higher than fifth, but at least we got a little bit of money," trainer Michael Matz said. The late-running Visionaire broke from the outside 12 post with Jose Lezcano aboard. "(Lezcano) said on the backside when he asked him (Visionaire) to go, he wasn't ready to go yet," Matz said. "When he got to the quarter-pole, then he started running. I think he was the only one that was moving, making up any distance. With the pace being so slow, none of those horses (on the lead) were coming back." Matz said Visionaire would remain at Keeneland until about a week before the Derby and would turn in his next work at Churchill Downs. Even though Briarwood Stable's MINER'S CLAIM (Mineshaft) could finish no better than sixth, trainer Mark Casse found out one thing for sure. "I know we've got a pretty good horse," said Casse of Miner's Claim, who made a bold run down the backside and was within four lengths of the lead in the stretch before flattening out. "I think if he had been in the position he was supposed to be, I think he would have run very well." The position Miner's Claim wasn't supposed to be in was last entering the first turn. "He broke good and went about three strides and stumbled really hard," Casse said. "Then he went another three strides and stumbled again really hard and (jockey) Patrick (Husbands) thought he broke down. What he did was, and we didn't know it until he got back, he grabbed his left front shoe and sprung the shoe, so when he was running, the shoe would go up and down. We could not walk him this morning until we got his shoe fixed." Miner's Claim could not sustain the big run he made down the backside, but Casse liked what he saw. "He made a heck of a move on his own. He ran by some good horses and ran by them like they were tied," Casse said. "We are going to take him to Toronto, give him some time and get him back on the winning path and maybe look at the Travers S. (G1) or Haskell Invitational (G1) later on." Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, reported that PYRO (Pulpit) was "doing great" Sunday morning. Sent off as the even-money favorite in Saturday's race, Pyro finished in 10th place. When asked if plans still called for the Pyro to make his next start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1), Blasi responded "absolutely." Pyro currently ranks second behind War Pass on the graded stakes earnings list with $1,020,000. Eric Fein's BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder), who finished 11th, was "perfect" Sunday morning, according to Joe Rosalez, assistant to Barclay Tagg. "Look at him," Rosalez said, pointing to the Hook and Ladder colt as he reached his head out of the stall door to nip at a passing horse. "He came back fine, cooled out great, ate up his feed tub. He's a classy little horse." Big Truck continues to hold on to a spot among the top 20 in terms of Kentucky Derby graded stakes earnings with $194,500. Regarding whether the colt will be pointed toward the Derby, Rosalez responded, "It's decision time." Sebastian Nicholl, assistant to trainer D. Wayne Lukas, said that Marylou Whitney Stables' STONE BIRD (Grindstone), who finished 12th, came out of the race in good order and would remain at Keeneland for a few days pending a decision from Lukas on where the colt will run next.
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