Horse Racing: Previewing the Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby

There are two different but fascinating stories dominating this weekend’s big races. One will tug at your heart strings while the other might inspire you. Al Dannity breaks down the interesting tales from the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.

King Congie is the emotional front runner
Normally Ellen Delaney gets to tell the more sentimental stories on this blog but Horse Racing betting fans won’t be offended if I stray from talking about the favorite for Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes. Instead I’m going to tell you the beautiful story of King Congie, a tale that could continue until the Kentucky Derby if it runs well enough in Saturday’s Grade 1 race.

The West Point Thoroughbreds’ horse is named for the late Congie DeVito, who died in February at age 35. DeVito suffered throughout his life with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, more commonly known as brittle bone disease. DeVito was the first employee for the stable and he worked for about 12 years as West Point’s communications director before his death.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, King Congie has developed into a standout performer on turf. King Congie won a maiden race at Aqueduct and the Tropical Park Derby at Calder before finishing first and being disqualified to third in the Hallandale Beach at Gulfstream. Like most of the field in Saturday’s $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, King Congie needs to win to be certain of a place in the gate for the Kentucky Derby. King Congie will be competing in a big field for the 87th running of the Blue Grass. Santiva is the probable favorite but I’ll be backing King Congie when the race gets underway.

The winning Factor?
George Bolton didn’t realise quite what he was getting when he bought The Factor for $250,000. Bolton thought he was getting a nice horse who could provide some fun but victory for the Bob Baffert trained horse in Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby would install The Factor as favorite for the Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs.

The Factor’s rise to prominence was aided hugely by Uncle Mo’s shocking defeat in last Saturday’s Wood Memorial. Kentucky Derby odds-maker Mike Battaglia said The Factor is now in a straight-up battle with Dialed In to be named favorite in the Run for the Roses. If entries were taken today, Battaglia said The Factor would be the 7-2 favorite and Dialed In and Uncle Mo would both stand at 4-1.

The move to the provisional front of the field marks an amazing turnaround for The Factor. Last month Bolton said the horse would have to win the March 19 Rebel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles or else The Factor would enter the Metropolitan Mile rather than the Kentucky Derby. It didn’t disappoint, winning by 6-1/4 lengths. Now with its rivals faltering, The Factor has another chance to prove its credentials for the big one next month.