More sports

Colt inspires confidence

By DON JENSEN
Published March 18, 2006

OLDSMAR - Elliott Walden came to the 1999 Tampa Bay Derby with a colt he believed could win the Kentucky Derby. He left wondering if his talented runner had been overrated.

Walden is confident history won't repeat today as WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat seeks his fifth consecutive win in the $250,000 Grade III Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 11/16th-mile race is the marquee event on Festival Day and will be televised on a tape-delayed basis by ESPN (6-7:30 p.m.) as one of four major preps for 3-year-olds. The Gotham Stakes (Aqueduct), Rebel Stakes (Oaklawn Park) and San Felipe Stakes (Santa Anita Park) are the others.

Walden, who retired from training last year to become WinStar's vice president in charge of racing and bloodstock services, conditioned Menifee in the 1999 Tampa Bay Derby. Menifee came in unbeaten in three starts, including an allowance win over Cat Thief and Lemon Drop Kid at Saratoga; Pat Day was in the irons; and the colt was the 2-5 betting favorite in Tampa's six-horse field.

But Menifee encountered traffic problems on both turns and finished second, a length behind Pineaff.

"Everything seemed to be going perfect for Menifee until that day," Walden said. "I was extremely disappointed to get beat. At that point, I second-guessed Menifee and wasn't sure I had the racehorse I thought I had."

Menifee dispelled any critics in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, running second to Charismatic. It is the best finish by a Tampa Bay Derby starter in the Kentucky Derby.

"Menifee was obviously a very good horse," Walden said. "The difference is Bluegrass Cat has a chance to be special."

Bluegrass Cat, a Kentucky homebred bay colt by Storm Cat and She's a Winner, is considered by many as one of the top Kentucky Derby contenders along with Brother Derek. Bluegrass Cat has flashed his talent at Tampa Bay Downs, winning the Sam F. Davis on Feb.18 in a stakes-record time of 1:44.17 at 11/16th miles. He defeated Deputy Glitters by a length.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and rider John Velazquez, Eclipse Award winners in each of the past two years, are 4-0 with Bluegrass Cat, including graded stakes victories in the Remsen (II) and Nashua (III). Pletcher was hired after Bluegrass Cat's first start in which the colt sustained a minor ankle injury.

"Bluegrass Cat has the two best in the business," Walden said. "When Todd was an assistant to D. Wayne Lukas, I was always impressed by his work ethic, and watched his career blossom when he went out on his own. He was the first person I thought of when I retired from training and sought someone for Bluegrass Cat."

Walden compares Bluegrass Cat to 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.

"Bluegrass Cat has a superb racing record and the pedigree to be a great stallion," he said. "The excitement at the farm is unbelievable; the goal is to have a WinStar horse win the Kentucky Derby."

No Storm Cat son has prevailed in the Kentucky Derby. A victory today would make Bluegrass Cat the sixth horse to win the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby, joining Burning Roma (2001), Thundering Storm (1996), Marco Bay (1993), Speedy Cure (1991) and Phantom Jet (1987). Pletcher also is attempting to become the first trainer in the Tampa Bay Derby's 26-year-history to win twice. He captured the 2004 race with Limehouse, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby.

Bluegrass Cat shipped to Tampa Friday from Palm Meadows Training Center, where he's been stabled since November.

"He is a tremendous mover and very athletic," Pletcher said. Pletcher is expected to be at Tampa Bay Downs although his undefeated Keyed Entry is running in the Gotham Stakes. After today, Bluegrass Cat's next assignment appears to be either the Wood Memorial (Aqueduct) or Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland) in April.

"We want to win the Tampa Bay Derby and move forward," Pletcher said.

[Last modified March 18, 2006, 02:30:29]