Mr Sword blazes five furlongs at Keeneland

Paraneck Stable's MR SWORD (Rizzi), prepping for Saturday's $750,000 Blue

Grass S. (G1), blazed five furlongs in a bullet :57 4/5 over a fast track at

Keeneland on Tuesday. The move was easily the fastest of 12 works at the

distance.

The Jennifer Pedersen-trained colt went in fractions of :22 3/5, :34 2/5 and

:45 2/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 and seven furlongs in 1:25

2/5.

"I've been clocking horses at Keeneland since 1973," Keeneland Clocker Tom

Bridges said. "We seldom see horses work that fast. Beautiful Pleasure worked

like that when they wanted her to and Spectacular Bid worked here one day

between races in 1:22 and change, but this was one heck of a work this morning."

In his most recent start, Mr Sword finished third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in

the Lane's End S. (G2) on March 26 at Turfway Park. In the nine-furlong Lane's End, which

was decided over a muddy track, the bay colt advanced quickly to

take the lead going into the far turn, drew clear turning for home, then got

caught near the finish line. Prior to that, Mr

Sword won three straight races at Aqueduct and Laurel Park.

"He worked super," Pedersen said. "The way it looks now, there will be a lot

of pace in the race. That's what he needs. He's such a terrific horse. We'll

just keep our fingers crossed."

The nine-furlong Blue Grass, which is widely considered to be the strongest

of all the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races, is expected to include (in

alphabetical order) BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus), CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful

Appeal), CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat), HIGH LIMIT (Maria's Mon) and SUN KING

(Charismatic).

The field for the 81st running of the Blue Grass will be drawn on Wednesday.