LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tampa Bay Derby winner Odysseus and Florida Derby runner-up Pleasant Prince lead the field of nine Kentucky Derby hopefuls into Saturday’s $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.
