Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Polytrack, April 12, 2014 (100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) On Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack racing surface, which favored stretch-runners all day, a pair of 6-1 shots - Dance With Fate and Medal Count - successfully used that running style to earn tickets to the Kentucky Derby. That said, trainer Peter Eurton is not convinced that Dance With Fate should go to Churchill Downs to run for the roses on a dirt surface. “He’s better on synthetics and turf,” Eurton said. “I don’t think we’ll go to the Derby with him, but we have some time to think about it.” [ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays] Should Eurton decide not to use Dance With Fate’s ticket to Louisville, the New York-bred Uncle Sigh will get into the top 20 which will be allowed to draw post positions on Wednesday, April 30 for the 140th Derby on May 3. Under Corey Nakatani, Dance With Fate rallied from 11th on the final turn to reach first in midstretch for his Blue Grass victory, while Robby Albarado followed a similar script from ninth to finish second aboard Medal Count. Both horses rallied wide and passed front-running Pablo Del Monte inside the final furlong. Pablo Del Monte raced gamely at 9-1 against the prevailing track bias to hold onto third after shaking off bids from Extrasexyhippzster, Coastline and Bobby’s Kitten. Pablo Del Monte was in fact the only horse among the top nine finishers in the 14-horse field who raced anywhere near the early pace. Coastline, for instance, was in contention for six furlongs but faded to finish 10th while Bobby’s Kitten the lukewarm betting favorite at 7-2 odds also was in good striking position but tired badly to finish 12th. Pablo Del Monte set splits of 23.58, 47.59, 1:12.74, and the mile in 1:37.83, when he was caught first by Medal Count and then by Dance With Fate. The final time for the full 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.06 for a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Neither Dance With Fate nor Medal Count were real surprises here, and before we dismiss either as a pure synthetic performer, we should examine their histories. Dance With Fate, for instance, not only finished a  good second to Tamarando in the El Camino Real Derby on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 15, he also won an allowance race at one mile on the grass at Santa Anita in January. As for his experience on dirt, Dance With Fate did finish second in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita main track before he suffered through a horrible trip when eighth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 2. From a conditioning standpoint, Dance with Fate’s winning performance on the Poly at Keeneland on Saturday was a major step forward in his third start of the year. So, if Eurton changes his mind and goes to the Derby, he will be training an improving colt. As for Medal Count, he has credentials that go beyond his good effort on the Keeneland Polytrack. While he did win the Transylvania Stakes on the Poly when that race was taken off the turf on Keeneland’s opening day, April 4, the son of Dynaformer also has a win in January on the Gulfstream Park grass course and a win last September at one mile on dirt in his career debut at Ellis Park. Trainer Dale Romans has said many times that Medal Count could be his Derby horse, and that is exactly what Medal Count has become. While none of the other 12 horses in this field earned enough Derby qualifying points to make the Kentucky Derby top 20, here are a few notes on what to look for when they show up in races down the road. Pablo Del Monte certainly will deserve a close look in any race for 3-year-olds from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. He was one of very few horses at Keeneland on Saturday who showed speed and managed to stay in the hunt. Extrasexyhippzster had shown speed in most starts, including this one, and definitely wants one-turn races. He might show up in a sprint in Maryland during Preakness week. Bobby’s Kitten and Gala Award, both proven in stakes company on the grass, probably will return to good form when their successful connections put them back into turf races. Harry’s Holiday, a sharp second to We Miss Artie in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway on March 22, has been hard used without a real break since last November and probably needs a freshening. Big Bazinga and Coltimus Prime, who rallied moderately for fourth and fifth, should be watched closely when they head back to Canada for turf races at Woodbine this summer.