12 possible for Blue Grass; other Keeneland stakes shape up
eFive Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ champion Good Magic and Albaugh Family Stables’ Free Drop Billy, winner of last fall’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), are likely to head the lineup of 11 horses to pass the entry box Tuesday for the Grade 2, $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
The 1 1/8-mile dirt test on April 7 offers 170 points on a scale of 100-40-20-10 to the first four finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Tiffany Bourque has 11 horses listed as probable for the race, one of five graded stakes on April 7.
Good Magic, trained by Chad Brown, will attempt to join Chief’s Crown as the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Blue Grass. In his lone start since his Breeders’ Cup victory at Del Mar, Good Magic finished third in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 3.
Free Drop Billy, third in the Gotham (G3) in his most recent start, will seek to join Round Table, Dullahan and Brody's Cause as the only horses to sweep the Breeders’ Futurity and Blue Grass. Two-time Blue Grass winner Dale Romans, who conditioned Dullahan and Brody's Cause to their Keeneland sweeps, also trains Free Drop Billy.
Other graded stakes winners expected to be entered are Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing’s Blended Citizen, John Oxley’s Flameaway and China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm and SF Racing’s Quip.
Other probable entrants include Determinant, Gotta Go, Heartfullofstars, Machismo, Tiz Mischief and Zing Zang. Sporting Chance, winner of last year’s Hopeful (G1), is considered as possible for the race.
Blended Citizen, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March 17, is tentatively scheduled to work Saturday for the race, weather permitting, said to Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill.
O’Neill, who won last year’s Toyota Blue Grass with Irap, will attempt to join LeRoy Jolley and Ben Jones as the only trainers to win the race in consecutive years. Jolley did it with Honest Pleasure and For the Moment in 1976 and 1977. Jones did it in 1947 and 1948 with Faultless and Coaltown.
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR OPENING WEEKEND STAKES
Fields are coming into shape for the other seven graded stakes on the April 6-8 opening weekend of Keeneland’s 2018 Spring Meet. Here are the probable and possible starters according to Stakes Coordinator Tiffany Bourque:
$150,000 KENTUCKY UTILITIES TRANSYLVANIA (G3) (Entries taken Monday; race Friday, April 6)
Probable: Admiralty Pier, Analyze It,Beer Pressure. Possible: Cash Call Kitten, Gidu (IRE), Inscom, Maraud, Rose’s Vision, Tigers Rule.
$500,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 7)
Probable: Andina Del Sur, Monomoy Girl, Mrs Rocco. Possible: Eskimo Kisses, Patrona Margarita, Tyfosha.
$300,000 MADISON (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 7)
Probable: American Gal, Finley’sluckycharm, Impasse, Lewis Bay, Miss Sunset, Tequilita, Unchained Melody. Possible: Cuddle Alert, Mines and Magic, Teresa Z.
$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 7)
Probable: Conquest Windycity, Crewman, Eight Town, First Premio, Limousine Liberal, Warrior’s Club.
$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) (Entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 7)
Probable: Bucchero, Disco Partner, Flashaway, Recruiting Ready, Tombelaine, Will Call.
$200,000 APPALACHIAN (G2) PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION (Entries taken Thursday, April 5; race Sunday, April 8)
Probable: Beach Waltz, Daddy Is a Legend, Dixie Moon, Heavenly Love, Lounge Act, Rushing Fall, Thewayiam (FR). Possible: Treasuring (GB).
$150,000 BEAUMONT (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT (Entries taken Thursday, April 5; race Sunday, April 8)
Probable:Almond Roca, Criminal Mischief, Dream It Is, Gas Station Sushi, Good Move, In the Mood, Summer Sunday, Uppercut. Possible: Tyfosha.