Stonestreet Stables and WinStar Farm’s Carpe Diem rolled to a three-length victory Saturday in the $1 million Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland, assuring the colt a spot in the starting gate and stamping himself as one of the favorites for the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).
With a powerful win in last autumn’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, Carpe Diem was sent off a heavy favorite in the field of eight sophomores going 1 1/8 miles. Ocho Ocho Ocho sprinted out to an early lead, with Carpe Diem in close pursuit to his outside. John Velazquez, aboard Carpe Diem, seemed to have his foe measured, going along comfortably while well off the rail on the final turn.
Carpe Diem assumed command in upper stretch and had no trouble pulling away in the final furlong, getting the distance in 1:49.77 over a fast track that had some moisture following extremely heavy rains on Friday.
“There wasn’t much speed in the race. It was a nice slow pace and I didn’t want to fight him very much,” said Velazquez. “He was doing it pretty easy. Like Todd (Pletcher) said, ‘Don’t fight him, just let him do it.’ Down the lane, I asked him and he responded right away.”
Carpe Diem, who easily won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) a month ago, has won four of his five lifetime starts and has earned $1,519,800. He is the leading 3-year-old money earner this year.
Carpe Diem now heads to Churchill Downs, where he will attempt to give the duo WinStar and trainer Todd Pletcher their second Kentucky Derby winner, five years after Super Saver took the 2010 Run for the Roses.
