Carpe Diem solidifies Derby status with win

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Carpe Diem seized the lead near the top of the stretch after stalking early leader Ocho Ocho Ocho and drew away to a three-length victory Saturday in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass, cementing his place as one of the top contenders for next month's Kentucky Derby.

The heavy favorite at 2-5 in the field of eight improved his lifetime record to four wins in five starts and paid $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10.

Carpe Diem finished the 11/8 miles in 1:49.77 under jockey John Velazquez.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables, Carpe Diem won the Tampa Bay Derby by five lengths in his only other 2015 start. His lone defeat came in a runner-up finish in November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Dortmund opened up leaving the final turn and romped to a 41/4-length win in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, keeping the colt unbeaten heading into the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Dortmund ran 11/8 miles in 1:48.73 and paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite in the six-horse field. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert earned his record seventh victory in the West Coast's major prep for the Kentucky Derby.

One Lucky Dane, also trained by Baffert, finished second. Bolo was third and Prospect Park fourth.

Dortmund improved to 6-0.

NEW YORK - Frosted took the lead from long shot Tencendur in midstretch and won the $1 million Wood Memorial by two lengths in a key prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

With his first win in more than five months at Aqueduct Racetrack, Frosted earned 100 Derby qualifying points to secure a starting spot in the Run for the Roses on May 2.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Frosted covered the 11/8 miles in 1:50.31, and returned $6.40, $4.50, and $3. Tencendur, sent off at 21-1, paid $15.40 and $5.60. El Kabeir was third and paid $2.70.