A couple of horses will emerge from Saturday’s $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and head to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May. The Blue Grass, at 1 1/8 miles, has just seven horses in the field, but it is an intriguing mix and it is one of three of the last major stakes races offering points to the Run for the Roses.
Keeneland opens its boutique meeting on Friday with its traditional first two-year-old race of the eastern U.S. (perennial top juvenile trainer Wesley Ward has two entered including one ridden by Woodbine’s Pietro Moran), and plenty of Canadians will be racing their horses there over the next few weeks. Canadian champion MY BOY PRINCE competes in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf on Saturday and earlier in the card Woodbine Oaks and King’s Plate hopeful JUST IN TOUCH, trained by Rachel Halden, seeks to break her maiden after two good runs.
Saturday’s feature, the Blue Grass, offers 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers and speedsters REAGAN’S HONOR and FURTHER ADO figures to be head-to-head at some point in the famous race.
Regan’s Honor has won two in succession since his Dec. 20 debut at Fair Grounds. The son of Honor A.P. beat five rivals in an allowance on Feb. 10 with a hefty 96 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form. Further Ado, well known for his 20-length maiden score at Keeneland last October, was a close second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby to The Puma, who ran well in the Florida Derby last weekend.
The giant gelding GREAT WHITE (Votalile), makes his first start on the dirt after winning the John Battaglia Memorial on Tapeta over Fulleffort, who came back to win the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
Brad Cox, who saddled Essential Quality to victory in the 2021 Toyota Blue Grass, trains Further Ado with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding from post 6.
“He’s doing very well and I feel like he’s moved forward since the Tampa Bay Derby,” Cox said of Further Ado, who arrived at Keeneland Tuesday morning from Florida. “He obviously likes Keeneland and we’re looking forward to giving him an opportunity in a Grade 1 on Saturday.”
Class President was scratched from the Blue Grass on Thursday and Ocelli will start in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Blue Grass Stakes (G1)
Post / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Morning-Line Odds
1. Talkin, Danny Gargan, Joel Rosario 12-1
2 Class President Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 3-1
3. Great White, John Ennis, Alex Achard 15-1
4. Reagan’s Honor, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz 5-2
5. Creole Chrome, Joe Sharp, Tyler Gaffalione 8-1
6. Further Ado, Brad Cox, Irad Ortiz Jr. 8-5
7 Ocelli Whit Beckman Joe Ramos 30-1
8. Moonstrocity, Jena Antonucci, Jose Morelos 30-1
9. Ottinho, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat 20-1
More News
