Odysseus continues odyssey at Blue Grass Stakes

Apr 9, 2010 - 9:08 PM By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) -- Tom Albertrani isn't one to run from a challenge.

Still, the trainer has been around long enough to know sometimes that a little discretion isn't a bad thing, particularly when it comes to trying to get into the Kentucky Derby.

Albertrani figured promising 3-year-old colt Odysseus needed at least one more start before the Run for the Roses after a surprising victory in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 13, with this weekend's Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland or the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park the best options.

No offense to the rest of the nine-horse field in the Blue Grass, but Albertrani took one look at the stacked field in Arkansas and pointed his van toward Keeneland's Polytrack.

"We thought looking at both races the Blue Grass may have been coming up a little lighter and maybe he wouldn't have as stressful a race as he would if we went to Arkansas," Albertrani said. "It made the competition look a little easier in the Blue Grass."

While the Arkansas Derby is filled with experienced dirt horses like Super Saver, Dublin and Noble's Promise, the $750,000 Blue Grass is a mix of turf horses and solid if decidedly less accomplished contenders.

And with a top-three finish likely necessary to assure Odysseus of a trip to Churchill Downs on May 1, Albertrani thinks making the sometimes tricky transition from dirt to synthetics is worth it.

"That was the route we took knowing that the Polytrack could be a concern," he said. "But we just felt that we'd just try to go the right direction where we think the horse would fit into a better spot."

Odysseus (7-2) is the second choice behind Florida Derby runner-up Pleasant Prince (3-1) and will start on the rail in the 1 1-8 mile race hoping to duplicate his improbable win in Florida four weeks ago.

It's a win Albertrani still can't quite figure out. Odysseus and jockey Rajiv Maragh spent the first half of the race just off the lead before seeming to falter in the turn for home, so much so that track announcer Richard Grunder said "Odysseus will have to wait another day."

Albertrani thought so, too.

"I thought for sure this horse is just not firing today," Albertrani said. "Something's not right."

Whatever was wrong, Odysseus corrected it with a daring move in midstretch. Odysseus jumped outside at the top of the stretch before Maragh pointed him back inside, where they split between Schoolyard Dreams and Super Saver to hit the wire first. Barely.

"I was surprised to see him come back and finish up as well as he did," said Albertrani, who had to watch the finish 20 times to figure out how his horse won. "But it's still unknown why he might have just dropped himself back out of the race at the quarter point. I don't know if it was just inexperience or just his determination to come back and run on again."

Either way, it was the kind of performance that gives Albertrani hope heading into the Blue Grass.

Odysseus is hoping to be Albertrani's second Derby starter. Deputy Glitters ran eighth in 2006, but he didn't even turn out to be the best horse in Albertrani's stable. That honor went to Bernardini, who won the Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Travers that year.

Albertrani isn't ready to put Odysseus on that level, though he said the horse is "going through leaps and bounds."

The goal is to peak for the Derby, but after seeming to be a lock to run under the twin spires in three weeks, Odysseus needs to run hard just to make the field.

He's not the only one. When the $800,000 Sunland Derby was elevated to graded stakes status this year after Mine That Bird's upset win in the Kentucky Derby, it meant there was more money to go around.

The Kentucky Derby uses graded stakes earnings to help determine the field, with preference going to the top 20 money earners. Odysseus is 22nd on the list with $180,000.

Three other Blue Grass starters - Interactif, Aikenite and Make Music for Me - are above Odysseus on the list while Pleasant Prince is right behind him in 26th.

The winner on Saturday gets $450,000, with $150,000 to second and $75,000 to third. Odysseus and Pleasant Prince will need to at least hit the board to secure a spot in the Derby.

"We need the earnings," said Ken Ramsey, owner of Pleasant Prince. "I'd rather not do it, but we need the money."

The race, however, appears there for the taking. Only three horses in the field - Odysseus, Paddy O'Prado and Interactif - have won a graded stake. None of them, however, have come on a synthetic surface.

Albertrani thinks his horse can handle the Polytrack. Maybe.

"That still remains an unknown until they race over it," he said.