Derby News

Leading Derby contender Bluegrass Cat made a successful 3-year-old debut by outlasting longshot Deputy Glitters in a stretch duel to capture the $125,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where he'll return next month for the Gr. III Tampa Bay Derby on Mar. 18.

Ridden by regular rider John Velazquez, Bluegrass Cat, the strong 3-5 choice, enjoyed a comfortable stalking trip in third and in the clear down the backstretch, as Laptop Computer showed the way through a solid half-mile in 47.88 with 63-1 shot Deputy Glitters at the pacesetter's throatlatch. On the far turn, Bluegrass Cat moved up three-wide and reached the frontrunners with Laptop Computer backing out of it by the time they hit the top of the stretch.

Little Cliff and R Loyal Man ranged up in tandem from mid-pack, but when they straightened for home Bluegrass Cat and Deputy Glitters had spurted away and the race was down to that pair for the taking. After a stretch-long duel, Bluegrass Cat was able to exude his class and prevail for a hard fought 1 1/4-length victory over a game Deputy Glitters, stopping the clock at 1:44.17 for the mile and-a-sixteenth over a fast track.

"I was in a comfortable position," said Velazquez in the winner's circle. "He rated perfectly. He has done everything we have asked him to do so far."

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who was in attendance at Tampa Bay Downs for his star sophomore's seasonal debut, was pleased to see Bluegrass Cat start the year off with a win.

"He was a fresh horse and ran exactly the way we wanted him to," Pletcher said. "Our intention is to return for the Tampa Bay Derby."

Bred and owned by WinStar Farm, Bluegrass Cat returned $3.40 in capturing his fourth consecutive victory, with the only blemish on his record coming in the form of an off the board finish in his debut last summer before being moved to the Pletcher barn. A regally bred son of Storm Cat out of the A.P. Indy mare She's a Winner, Bluegrass Cat became a top Derby contender after winning the Gr. III Nashua and Gr. II Remsen last fall at Aqueduct.

He earned $60,000 for his win in the Sam F. Davis to boost his earnings to $273,780.

Deputy Glitters turned in a career performance in defeat to finish a gutsy second, 4 1/4-lengths clear of R Loyal Man. Little Cliff was another neck back in fourth.

The highly regarded Gulfstream Park allowance winner Hesanoldsalt and multiple stakes winner Blazing Rate were never a factor in the mile and-a-sixteenth event and finished sixth and ninth, respectively.

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