Blue Grass Draws Full Field Searching For Kentucky Derby Points

By Margaret Ransom

A field of 15 was entered for Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (GII) at Keeneland, the last main prep in the state for the Kentucky Derby (GI) down the highway at Churchill Downs in four weeks. The Blue Grass, for the most part, has been a bit quiet recently as far as sending legit runners to Lousiville for the Run for the Roses, but this year’s field is not short on talent and potential and includes the reigning juvenile champion.

The race offers 100 points to the winner to make the Derby starting gate, but depending on who finishes second, third and fourth the 40-20-10 points handed out for those respective positions could have a solid impact when connections start planning their Derby Day wardrobe.

Anybody who knows anything about the weather in Kentucky in the fall knows it’s bipolar. Sunny and warm one day, snow flurries and freezing temps the next. This week has been a prime example and the warm 70 degrees with thunderstorms experienced mid-week will turn cold and, by Saturday, a solid snowfall — not just flurries — is expected. Hopefully, the track will be dry by post time after the rain forecasted for Friday. Post time for the Blue Grass, which is the 10^th race on the card, has been set for 6:23 p.m. ET.

Over the years, some really good horses have won the Blue Grass before taking the Run for the Roses, including… (more)