Tampa Bay Derby winner Odysseus and Florida Derby runner-up
Pleasant Prince lead the field of nine Kentucky Derby hopefuls into
Saturdays $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Pleasant Prince will start from the sixth post and is a modest
3-1 favorite while Odysseus will start from the rail and is the
second choice at 7-2.
Both horses need a solid showing to assure themselves a spot in
May 1 Derby. The Derby gives preference to the top 20 horses based
on graded stakes earnings. Odysseus is currently tied for 22nd in
earnings with $180,000 while Pleasant Prince is 26th with
$162,500.
The winner receives $450,000; the runner-up $150,000.
Strike the Gold in 1991 is the last horse to win both the Blue
Grass and the Derby.