LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Stately Victor stunned the field at the Blue Grass Stakes, surging to the front in the stretch then pulling away to beat Paddy O’Prado by 414 lengths and secure an unlikely spot in next month’s Kentucky Derby.
The 3-year-old bay colt went off at 40-1 odds, the longest shot in the nine-horse field filled with Derby hopefuls. He didn’t look like an underdog as he recovered from a slow start to win the 1 1-8 mile race over Polytrack at Keeneland and collect the $450,000 winner’s check.
Stately Victor was a late add to the field for trainer Mike Maker, but hardly raced like an afterthought as he roared by his more accomplished brethren. He paid $82.20 to win, the largest payoff in the 86 editions of the Blue Grass.
