Monba stamps Pletcher's Derby ticket with Blue Grass win

MONBA (Maria's Mon) and stablemate Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) were trainer Todd Pletcher's final chances to have a runner in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1), and the Eclipse Award-winning conditioner had just three real races left to get the required graded earnings for his charges. The Arkansas Derby (G2) offered up a purse of $1 million, while next Saturday's Lexington S. (G2) is worth $325,000. However, the accomplished trainer opted for Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass S. (G1), and that decision paid dividends as his runners dominated the 84th edition.

A full field of 12 entered the Blue Grass gate, and it was Cowboy Cal who moved to the front when the doors opened. Stable jockey John Velasquez settled the dark bay colt just off the rail after exchanging bumps with Stevil (Maria's Mon) and Kentucky Bear (Mr. Greeley), posting splits of :24 4/5, :49 and 1:13. Monba wasn't far back in second, stuck in between rivals while racing down the backstretch under a steadfast Edgar Prado.

Entering the stretch, even-money favorite Pyro (Pulpit) was still well-back and everyone was waiting for him to uncork another explosive late move. That move never came as Cowboy Cal led the way through a mile in 1:37 1/5, and the only question left was whether Monba could catch his stablemate. Prado kept after his mount while running six wide and the gray colt slowly wore down Cowboy Cal to finish a neck in front on the line.

Running in the colors of Starlight, Lucarelli and Saylor, Monba finished nine furlongs over the Polytrack in 1:49 3/5 as the 8-1 fourth pick. The winner gave back $19.60, $8.60 and $6.60 while keying the $139 exacta, $3,313.80 trifecta and lucrative $44,821.60 superfecta (5-3-2-4). The Maker's Mark Mile (G1)-Blue Grass double gave back $102.20 for anyone who had Maker's Mark winner Kip Deville (Kipling) and Monba on the same ticket.

Cowboy Cal easily held second by 2 1/4 lengths over a closing Kentucky Bear to give Pletcher another likely entrant in the Run for the Roses. With the winner's share of $465,000, Monba now shows $515,000 in graded earnings while Cowboy Cal exited the race with $207,660. The latter paid $8.80 and $6.60 as the 8-1 third choice, while Kentucky Bear was worth $8.20 as the 27-1 ninth pick.

Stevil followed in fourth and completing the order of finish were Visionaire (Grand Slam), Miner's Claim (Mineshaft), Halo Najib (Halo's Image), Medjool (Monarchos), Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft), Pyro, Big Truck (Hook and Ladder) and Stone Bird (Grindstone).

Monba appropriately enough began his career at Keeneland, taking his maiden debut by 4 1/4 lengths on October 17. The Kentucky-bred traveled to Churchill Downs next out and had no problem with the transition to dirt, capturing a one-mile allowance by a neck. He raced just once more as a juvenile, making his stakes bow a fourth-place finish in the CashCall Futurity (G1) on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track, finishing just 2 1/4 lengths back of the winner following a troubled trip. He suffered a terrible trip in his first appearance of the season in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2). After being squeezed going into the first turn of that nine-furlong test, Monba never got into the race, coming home 12th and last under Prado, and exited with a gash on his leg. Redemption was sweet for the colt, who has now banked $577,534 during his 5-3-0-0 career.

Bred by Mill Ridge Farm Limited and Jamm Limited, Monba is out of the winning Hamba (Easy Goer), who has a 2008 unnamed colt by Harlan's Holiday. Hamba is herself a half-sister to Grade 1 victor Secret Hello (Private Account) and 1985 Alcibiades S. (G2) victress Silent Account (Private Account) as well as Group 3-winning sire Hadif (Clever Trick).

Monba brought $200,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected yearling in 2006.