NEW YORK (AP) – Perhaps on the way to his first Kentucky Derby victory, trainer Todd Pletcher will send out two of his best 3-year-olds in key prep races Saturday – Bluegrass Cat in the Tampa Bay Derby and Keyed Entry in the Gotham Stakes.

It’s not hard to figure out why Pletcher is so high on the colts.

“What I really like about them is they’re 7-for-7 since I had the two,” Pletcher said Tuesday during a conference call. “They like to win, that’s obviously the most important thing.”

Bluegrass Cat has won four in a row since Pletcher took over as his trainer, including the Sam F. Davis Stakes last month at Tampa Bay Downs. Keyed Entry is 3-for-3 and coming off a well-earned six-week layoff following a victory in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

“Keyed Entry is an exceptionally gifted horse,” Pletcher said. “He’s got loads of speed, he’s very willing and he’s obviously done everything we’ve asked him to do so far.”

Bluegrass Cat is more accomplished than his stablemate, and ranks among the top Derby contenders. A son of Storm Cat, Bluegrass Cat already has won two-turn races at 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles, while Keyed Entry tackles two turns for the first time.

Both preps Saturday are 1 1/16 miles.

“Bluegrass Cat is a tremendous mover, very athletic,” Pletcher said. “Both horses are pretty easy to train, pretty straightforward and obviously very talented horses. With Keyed Entry, we’ve tried to work to get him to relax a little bit and we’re hoping that he can carry his speed a little way.”

John Velazquez is the regular rider for both horses, and chose to go with Bluegrass Cat. Edgar Prado gets the call aboard Keyed Entry.

Pletcher, winner of the last two Eclipse Awards as the nation’s outstanding trainer, nominated a record 38 horses to the Triple Crown races and said he currently has 60 3-year-olds in training.

The trainer has been working up to winning the Derby since saddling his first starters in 2000. He’s 0-for-12, with his best finish a second place with Invisible Ink in 2001. Last year, his starters Flower Alley, Coin Silver and Bandini finished ninth, 12th and 19th, respectively.

Pletcher also gave an update on several of his other prospects for the May 6 Derby:

-My Golden Song, fourth in the Fountain of Youth, is being considered for the Illinois Derby on April 8.

-Sunriver, winner of an allowance race at Gulfstream Park, could run next in the Florida Derby on April 1.

-High Cotton is being pointed to the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on March 25.

-Tahoe Warrior, a two-time winner on the turf, could go in the Lane’s End Stakes, also at Turfway on March 25.

AP-ES-03-14-06 1747EST