LEXINGTON, Ky. -- After a convincing win in the Blue Grass Stakes Saturday at Keeneland, Pulpit will be a favorite in the May 3 Kentucky Derby ... but he won't be the only favorite.

Captain Bodgit, the only horse to have beaten Pulpit in five career starts, pulled off an equally impressive victory earlier Saturday in the Wood Memorial. That sets the stage for what should be a huge rematch on the first Saturday in May.

Pulpit's victory on this Saturday was important considering his loss last month to Bodgit in the Florida Derby. Taking the lead in the upper stretch, the Claiborne Farm colt drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Blue Grass.

The win was the fourth in five starts for Pulpit -- unraced as a 2-year-old.

About an hour before Pulpit's victory before 21,592 on a partly sunny day, Captain Bodgit won the Wood Memorial.

Pulpit, ridden by Shane Sellers, carried 121 pounds over the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:49 4-5 to pay $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Acceptable, ridden by Craig Perret, returned $4.80 and $2.80. Stolen Gold, ridden by Gary Stevens, was $2.60 to show.

PULPIT, RACING ON THE DIURETIC LASIX for the first time, pressed pace-setting Jules until the upper stretch when he took command. Should he complete a Blue Grass-Derby double, the colt would become the first Derby winner not to have raced as a 2-year-old since Apollo in 1882.

Acceptable probably earned a Derby berth when he finished a half-length length in front of Stolen Gold.

Nick Zito, who trains Acceptable for George M. Steinbrenner and Robert Clay, said Friday that the colt could earn a Derby start by winning or finishing second in the $750,000 Blue Grass. Zito also said that if Acceptable finished second, he hoped it would be behind favored Pulpit.

Completing the order of finish after Stolen Gold were Celtic Warrior, Jules, Wrightwood and King Crimson.

Bodgit romps in Wood Memorial

Gotham Stakes winner Smokin' Mel set reasonable fractions as he led from the start in the mile and an eighth Kentucky Derby prep. The favored Captain Bodgit lurked off the pace throughout before jockey Alex Solis opened him up on the outside as the horses entered the stretch. Accelerator, ridden by Mike Smith, also made a late rush to take second and Smokin' Mel hung on for third.

"He dug in and made his run at the right time, he's a super horse," said Captain Bodgit's trainer Gary Capuano. "We're in a great spot, now we can just ease on into it (the derby)."

The time of 1:48 was the third-fastest in the event, despite the sloppy track. Captain Bodgit, the probable Derby favorite, returned $5.60, $3.20 and $2.70.

"The track was good and safe, it wasn't slippery, it was just fast," said Solis.

Crypto Star takes Arkansas

Grindstone finished second in the Arkansas Derby last year and won the Kentucky Derby. Lil E. Tee did the same thing in 1992.

Ridden by Pat Day, Crypto Star covered the 1[ miles in 1:49 1-5 on a fast track.

Crypto Star paid $7, $3.80, and $2.80. Phantom On Tour paid $4 and $3, and Pacificbounty returned $3.60 to show.

The field included the winners of four derbies. Crypto Star won the Louisiana Derby. Pacificbounty the Golden Gate Derby and the El Camino Real Derby, and Zede the Tampa Bay Derby.

Under the allowance conditions of the race, Phantom On Tour, Direct Hit, Zede, Brave Act, Crypto Star and Pacificbounty carried 122 pounds each. The other five 3-year-olds carried 118 each.

Crypto Star had won three of four prior to Saturday. Pacificbounty had won three straight. Zede had not been worse than second in his last four starts.