Todd Pletcher’s Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Carpe Diem advanced his claims for the Kentucky Derby when he powered to a comfortable three lengths victory in the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Elliott Walden, president of owners WinStar Farms, said: "He just continues to get better.

“You want to have a horse that's moving forward this time of year. You want to have a horse that's blooming and he's doing that."

Pletcher reported that Carpe Diem came out of the race in great order and he plans to leave the Giant’s Causeway colt at Keeneland "for now".

"He likes the surface here so we'll probably stay here a week at least and then decide if we want to have one breeze at Churchill or two," Pletcher said of his plans for Carpe Diem, one of the trainer's key Kentucky Derby contenders along with Florida Derby winner Materiality.

The victory gave Pletcher hius third Bluegrass Stakes win, equaling Ben Jones, Woody Stephens, LeRoy Jolley and Nick Zito for the most triumphs in the classic prep.

Pletcher's other wins came with Bandini in 2005 and Monba in 2008.

Carpe Diem came off a victory in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby at his first start for the year after running second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November.

He won the G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland at his second start as a 2YO.

Runner-up Danzig Moon also punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby on May 2 while the next starts for Blue Grass third Ocho Ocho Ocho and fourth placed Frammento are to be determined.

Carpe Diem now has 164 qualifying points and is third on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" leaderboard behind Louisiana Derby winner International Star and Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund.