Complex sentence: Smith had planned to enter the colt in the Florida Derby in late March as a final Kentucky Derby prep, but instead switched to the Blue Grass Stakes a few weeks later where he finished third behind Peace Rules in a slowly-run race.
Split into simpler sentences: Smith had planned to enter the colt in the Florida Derby in late March as a final Kentucky Derby prep, but instead switched to the Blue Grass Stakes a few weeks later. He placed third behind Peace Rules in a slowly-run race.