Lexington, KY (My Sportsbook) - General Quarters, ridden by Eibar Coa, put himself back in the Kentucky Derby picture with Saturday's win in the 85th running of the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The 1 1/8 mile race comes three weeks before the 135th Run for the Roses.

General Quarters was sent off at 14-1 in the 11-horse field, and was making his first start since finishing fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby to eventual Illinois Derby winner Musket Man.

Setting the pace in the Blue Grass was Join in the Dance, who was second in the Tampa Bay Derby. General Quarters was racing off the rail just a handful of lengths behind the leader.

Around the turn for the home General Quarters moved into second behind Join in the Dance as Massone took third along the rail.

Owned and trained by Tom McCarthy, General Quarters took the lead at the top of the stretch while running down the middle of the track. The gray colt held off 2-1 favorite Hold Me Back down the stretch and posted a 1 1/2-length win.

"He was very professional," Coa noted. "I saw his race, the prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (the Sam F. Davis on February 14), and I loved the way he ran. I also saw the Tampa Bay Derby, where he got in a lot of traffic. Mr. McCarthy told me just to run his race.

"He (General Quarters) was pretty good. He broke sharp. He placed himself in a very good position. In the straight, when I asked him, he gave me what he had. He showed up today, and he's definitely going to be one of the horses to beat in the Derby."

Finishing in third was Massone with Terrain advancing into fourth from next to last. Rounding out the order of finish was Join in the Dance, Loch Dubh, Charitable Man, Mafaaz (GB), Theregoesjojo, Patena and Cliffy's Future.

Mafaaz is guaranteed a spot in the Run for the Roses after winning the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes in England.

The time for the Blue Grass Stakes was 1:49.26 on Keeneland's synthetic track.

General Quarters picked up $465,000 in graded stakes earnings, which should assure him a spot in the Kentucky Derby. In an 11-race career, he has won three times for $641,735.

This year at Tampa Bay Downs the colt won the Sam F. Davis Stakes before his start in the Tampa Bay Derby. He began the year with a second-place result to Musket Man in the Pasco Stakes.

General Quarters returned $30.60, $11.00 and $7.00. Hold Me Back paid $4.20 and $3.00, and Massone paid $7.20 to show.

Two years ago Street Sense finished second to Dominican in this race before winning the Run for the Roses. Strike the Gold in 1991 was the last Blue Grass champ to also win the Kentucky Derby.