'Big Blue' Kicks Off 8-Year-Old Campaign

Last year on this day, already MGISW Big Blue Kitten (Kitten's Joy) took the conservative route, bypassing Churchill's GI Woodford Reserve S. in favor of Belmont's GIII Fort Marcy S. He aired in that spot and, after a serious campaign that saw him nab champion turf male honors, will head right for the deeper waters this time around as he gets his 8-year-old season underway. Second behind re-opposing stablemate Slumber (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) in the GI Knob Creek Manhattan S. on GI Belmont S. day June 6, the then-Ken and Sarah Ramsey colorbearer turned the tables on that runner in Monmouth's GI United Nations S. July 5. He came up a neck short of The Pizza Man (English Channel) over yielding sod in the Aug. 15 GI Arlington Million, but again led home a Chad Brown one-two over Slumber in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. Sept. 26. Last seen finishing a close third behind a formidable pair of European invaders in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Oct. 31, the bay runs in the colors of Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm, which purchased Big Blue Kitten's breeding rights last summer.

California invader Bolo (Temple City) makes his second-straight appearance on Derby day, having finished 12th in the “Run for the Roses” last term. The Carla Gaines pupil always seemed like one whose future would ultimately be on turf, and he returned to Santa Anita later last May to take a grassy allowance with authority. Favored in the GI Belmont Derby on the lawn July 4, he briefly set the pace before being pulled up after taking a bad step. The dark bay escaped that mishap without serious injury, but didn't resurface until Santa Anita's GII Arcadia S. Feb. 13, in which he belied 7-1 odds to run down the formidable Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) by a neck. Bolo most recently finished second in the Mar. 12 GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile to the streaking What a View (Vronsky), who returned to annex the GIII Thunder Road S. last month.

Longshot Divisidero (Kitten's Joy) could offer some value as he looks to go two-for-two under the Twin Spires. The bay flew home in the GII American Turf S. 12 months ago to run down recent Elusive Quality S. winner A Lot (Tapit) with World Approval (Northern Afleet) third. He followed up that effort with a win in Belmont's Pennine Ridge S. May 30, but failed to fire after a wide trip in the GI Belmont Derby July 4. Brought back to finish third after closing behind slow splits in Gulfstream's GIII Canadian Turf S. Feb. 27, he went one better despite a no-cover journey to be beaten a half-length by Reporting Star (Circular Quay) in the GIII Appleton S. Apr. 2.