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Blue Grass (GI)

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA 100-50-25-15-10
April 6, 2024

Blue Grass Stakes Race History

Few Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races can boast as long and rich a history as the Blue Grass (G1), a tried-and-true local steppingstone toward the Run for the Roses.

The Blue Grass was first run in 1911 at the long-gone Kentucky Association racetrack in Lexington, and the race quickly established its prominence when inaugural runner-up Meridian returned to win the Kentucky Derby (G1). Donerail (1913), Behave Yourself (1921), and Bubbling Over (1926) likewise used the original Blue Grass as a springboard to success under the Twin Spires.

Following a 10-year hiatus, the Blue Grass was resurrected in 1937 at Keeneland, where it remains a prestigious spring fixture to this day. Through 2019, 19 horses have parlayed a run in Keeneland’s Blue Grass into victory at Churchill Downs, including 10 runners who won both races: Shut Out (1942), Tomy Lee (1959), Chateaugay (1963), Northern Dancer (1964), Lucky Debonair (1965), Forward Pass (1968), Dust Commander (1970), Riva Ridge (1972), Spectacular Bid (1979), and Strike the Gold (1991).

Historic Calumet Farm has won the Blue Grass half a dozen times, though arguably their most talented participant—1942 Triple Crown champion Whirlaway— finished second at Keeneland. The stakes record belongs to Hall of Famer Skip Away, who blazed 1 1⁄8 miles in 1:47.29 to win the 1996 renewal.

The Blue Grass endured a dry spell between 2007 and 2014, when the race was conducted over a synthetic track; during that timeframe, only 2007 runner-up Street Sense managed to prevail in the Kentucky Derby. But Keeneland’s return to dirt is already triggering a turnaround, with 2018 Blue Grass winner Good Magic recording a runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses and 2019 winner Essential Quality, who went on to add the Belmont (G1) and champion three-year-old male honors to his ledger,  finishing third at Churchill Downs.

Continued success seems inevitable for Kentucky’s signature Derby prep race.

By J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Results

Win

Place

Show

10

Sierra Leone100

$5.32

$3.28

$3.06

6

Just a Touch50

$4.24

$3.74

8

Epic Ride25

$9.12

4

Dornoch15

9

Mugatu10

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Top Conor

Jose L. Ortiz

Flanagan Racing

Chad Brown

2

Be You

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Repole Stable

Todd Pletcher

3

Seize the Grey

Nik Juarez

MyRacehorse

D. Wayne Lukas

4

Dornoch

Luis Saez

West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, LLC, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables

Danny Gargan

5

Good Money

Javier Castellano

Calumet Farm

Chad Brown

6

Just a Touch

Florent Geroux

Qatar Racing, LLC, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel

Brad Cox

7

Lat Long

Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.

Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC

Kenny McPeek

8

Epic Ride

Adam Beschizza

Welch Racing, LLC

John Ennis

9

Mugatu

Joseph Talamo

Average Joe Racing Stables, Ltd. and Dan Wells

Jeff Engler

10

Sierra Leone

Tyler Gaffalione

Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited and Brook T. Smith

Chad Brown

11

Encino

Flavien Prat

Godolphin LLC

Brad Cox

Road to the Kentucky Derby

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