HORSE RACING

• Monba takes Blue Grass Stakes, Pyro up the track

  
  

  Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - A pair of Todd Pletcher trained colts, Monba and Cowboy Cal, battled down the stretch in Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes with Monba prevailing, while even-money favorite Pyro failed to challenge in the 1 1/8 mile race at Keeneland.

  Pyro, the winner of the Louisiana Derby, went into the race with a chance to become the favorite for the Kentucky Derby with any type of solid performance at Keeneland. He was sent off as the even-money post-time favorite after opening as the even-money top pick in the morning-line.

  Setting the pace in the Blue Grass was Cowboy Cal ridden by John Velazquez. Stalking the leader was Stone Bird, Monba and Stevil. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan settled Pyro into seventh in the 12 horse field.

  The field maintained their positions up the backstretch and into the far turn. Around the turn for home Cowboy Cal still had the lead with Monba moving into second and Cool Coal Man running third.

  At the top of the stretch the two stablemates, Cowboy Cal and Monba, hooked up in a battle to the wire. Monba, ridden by Edgar Prado, got the better of Cowboy Cal and won by a neck.

  Kentucky Bear rallied late to finish third with Stevil holding onto fourth. Pyro, showing a complete dislike for the all-weather surface at Keeneland, struggled to finish 10th.

  Rounding out the order of finish for the 84th Blue Grass Stakes was Visionaire, Miner's Claim, Halo Najib, Medjool, Cool Coal Man, Pyro, Big Truck and Stone Bird.

  The final time was 1:49.71.

  Monba is owned by Starlight Stable, Don Lucarelli and Paul Saylor. The gray three-year-old was 15-1 in the program, but was bet down to 8-1 when the gate opened.

  Saturday's win was worth $465,000 to increase Monba's career earnings to $577,534. He was coming off a 12th place finish behind Cool Coal Man in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. Monba closed 2007 with a fourth place result in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park, where Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John was second.

  Jockey Edgar Prado is best remembered as the rider of 2006 Kentucky Derby champ Barbaro. Todd Pletcher trained the filly Rags to Riches to victory in last year's Belmont Stakes.

  Monba returned $19.60, $8.60 and $6.60. Cowboy Cal paid $8.80 and $6.60, and Kentucky Bear paid $8.20 to show.

  Last year Street Sense followed a second place finish to Dominican in the Blue Grass with a win in the Run for the Roses and a second to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes.

  04/12 18:09:21 ET