Arnold Tries to Join Select Company at Keeneland

Trainer Rusty Arnold will try to join some select company on Saturday when he sends out runners in the 92nd running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and the 79th running of the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

Arnold will be represented by Calumet Farm’s Star Hill in the Toyota Blue Grass and Ashbrook Farm’s Weep No More in the Central Bank Ashland.

Six trainers have swept the two stakes in one year, a feat initially accomplished by Ben Jones in 1948 with Bewitch and Coaltown, and most recently by Kenny McPeek in 2002 with Take Charge Lady and Harlan’s Holiday.

Star Hill comes into the Toyota Blue Grass off a third-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 12. He will break from post position 13 and be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who is making his Keeneland debut this season.

“He is a vastly improving 3-year-old,” Arnold said. “We have got to give it a shot. A lot of the horses in there are in the same spot. We were coming here and we’ve got to give it a try. He is going the right way.”

Weep No More has not run since winning her stakes debut in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13.

“She won two straight races and was ready to run and got caught in the (herpes) quarantine at Payson for 21 days,” said Arnold, who saddled Karlovy Vary to victory in the 2012 Central Bank Ashland.

Weep No More, who will break from post position one under Corey Lanerie, had her final work for Saturday’s race with a :49.60 half-mile Tuesday morning.

Todd Pletcher also could pull off the training double. He will saddle Rachel’s Valentina in the Central Bank Ashland and send out the trio of Zulu, Donegal Moon and Cards of Stone in the Toyota Blue Grass.

Other trainers with Ashland-Blue Grass doubles on their resumes are Woody Stephens in 1949 with Tall Weeds and Halt; George Poole in 1971 with You All and Impetuosity; LeRoy Jolley in 1976 with Optimistic Gal and Honest Pleasure; and D. Wayne Lukas in 1987 with Chic Shirine and War.

Longtime Keeneland morning-line oddsmaker Mike Battaglia received quite a treat when he began going through Saturday’s 11-race card.

“I came down Tuesday because I had to make the line for the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and the (Central Bank) Ashland (G1),” Battaglia said. “Then I started going through the rest of the card and I got to the Madison (G1), and I just said, ‘Whoa. There’s two Breeders’ Cup winners in there.’ ”

The Madison, for fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main track, drew a field of 13, five of them Grade 1 winners including Breeders’ Cup winners Stopchargingmaria (Distaff) and Wavell Avenue (Filly and Mare Sprint). Also in the field are four other graded stakes winners.

“That’s an ungodly race,” Battaglia said. “You love to see a race like that.”

Who will be the program favorite?

“I put Stopchargingmaria on top over Wavell Avenue with Cavorting the third choice,” Battaglia said. “As to who I am going to pick, I have no idea.”

Trainer Brian Lynch, who scored his first Keeneland stakes victory last fall when Grand Arch won the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), has settled into Barn 35 with a 24-horse string.

One of the first orders of business for Lynch will be Saturday’s $200,000 Shakertown (G2) when he sends out Power Alert (AUS), who he co-owns with the AJ Suited Racing Stable.

“I am worried a little bit about the weather, because he is a horse that likes firm turf,” Lynch said of Power Alert, who finished fourth as the favorite in last year’s race that was run over a course labeled as “good” following heavy rain the day before.

Another Lynch runner who likes firm ground is Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart, who will take a three-race win streak into next week’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1).

“I would love to get a Grade 1 with him,” Lynch said. “He has won a lot of graded stakes and hopefully he can take the next step this year.”

Heart to Heart, a 5-year-old son of English Channel, has won four of his past five starts with his only defeat coming over a yielding course in last fall’s Shadwell Turf Mile.

“He is bigger and stronger and plays catch me if you can,” Lynch said. “The thing about him is that he runs the turns so well, that by the time they straighten out, he has spurted away.”

Lynch also has his eyes on next Thursday’s $125,000 Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association (G3) with Amerman Racing Stables’ Baciami Piccola (GB). The 3-year-old filly won the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in her U.S. debut on March 12.

Grand Arch had his second Keeneland work of the spring Sunday. He has not raced since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last October at Keeneland.

“We lost a little time with him,” Lynch said. “It was nothing major, but it looks like he won’t race at the meet.”

Cheyenne Stables, Southern Equine Stable and Gatewood Bell’s Clothes Fall Off breezed three furlongs in :35.80 over a fast track after the morning renovation break. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Clothes Fall Off won the Correction at Aqueduct in her most recent start and drew post position eight for Saturday’s Madison (G1).          

Fans seeking a behind-the-scenes view of Keeneland’s Spring Meet are invited to follow @keenelandracing on Periscope for all their insider videos, including graded stakes coverage, interviews with trainers and jockeys, and handicapping tips from our experts. Visit Keeneland.com for an upcoming schedule of Periscope broadcasts and video replays.

College Scholarship Day. Thousands of students from colleges and universities in Kentucky and beyond will be at the track for this popular event. Keeneland partners with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association to host the day. Admission is free with a college ID. Full-time students can register in the North Terrace to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships and prizes from local vendors awarded after each of the day’s races. Also to be given away is the Runhappy Scholarship worth $10,000. The first 2,000 students to register will receive a Keeneland College Scholarship Day T-shirt courtesy of Kennedy’s Wildcat Den or a Southern Proper hat.

Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery adjacent to the Walking Ring from 9 a.m. to the last race. Milliners Corner will feature hat makers from across the country.

Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s hugely popular tailgate lot, The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, will feature local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track.

Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $200,000-guaranteed pool will be offered on the final four races of the day.

Sunrise Trackside. Itching to experience the sights and sounds of Keeneland in the morning? Sunrise Trackside, sponsored by LEX18 and Dunkin’ Donuts, offers activities for all ages beginning at 7 a.m.  Fans can enjoy Breakfast With the Works, a Southern-style breakfast and trackside commentary while horses train on the main track (until 8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); Keeneland tours (8-10:30 a.m.); Paddock demonstration with the Lexington Mounted Police Unit (9 a.m.); a trackside handicapping seminar (11 a.m.); and a Q&A session with jockey Javier Castellano in the Paddock (11:35 a.m.).

Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery adjacent to the Walking Ring from 9 a.m. to the last race.

Craft Beer Tent. The special selection of beers will include Blue Stallion, Country Boy, Fat Tire, Kentucky Ale Race Day IPA, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Woodchuck Hard Cider.

Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s hugely popular tailgate lot, The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, will feature local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. The Hill will showcase Central Kentucky’s favorite bluegrass bands from 12-4 p.m. BETologists also will be available to answer fans’ questions.

Big Apple/Bluegrass Pick 4 Wager. Keeneland and the New York Racing Association have created the special Big Apple/Bluegrass Pick 4 wager that begins with the Bay Shore (G3) (4:52 p.m. ET), followed by the Madison (G1) (5:20 p.m.), Wood Memorial (G1) (5:30 p.m.) and Toyota Blue Grass (6 p.m.).

All-Stakes Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $300,000-guaranteed Pick 4 featuring races 7-10, the Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown (G2), Madison and Toyota Blue Grass.

All-Stakes Pick 5 Presented by TVG. A $300,000-guaranteed Pick 5 featuring races 6-10, Central Bank Ashland (G1), Commonwealth, Shakertown, Madison and Toyota Blue Grass.