Blackadder will scratch from Jeff Ruby, reroute to the Blue Grass

Parked wide in post 12 for Saturday's $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park, Blackadder will be scratched and re-routed to next weekend's $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Both races offer a total of 180 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. 

"I didn't like the draw," said trainer Rodophe Brisset, who took over the training of Blackadder from Bob Baffert last week. "There's a small amount of speed just to the inside and I felt if we didn't clear, we would be caught too wide."

Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee first reported Blackadder would be scratched from the Jeff Ruby.

Next Saturday's Blue Grass would be a return to dirt for Blackadder. After earning his diploma on the traditional surface at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, he returned to win the El Camino Real Derby over the synthetic main track at Golden Gate in mid-February.

Brisset indicated he was comfortable with Blackadder competing on dirt.

"I don't think it's a concern. The horse broke his maiden on the dirt and breezed good for us last Sunday (at Keeneland)," he said. "If he works well again this Sunday, we'll go the Blue Grass."

Blackadder, who earned a berth into the Preakness with his El Camino Real win, was 15-1 on the morning line for the Jeff Ruby. Brisset acknowledged the Blue Grass will be even deeper waters, but feels it's worth taking a shot.

"We're going to have to jump up speed-figure wise. What he's run has been a notch below what we are going to face," he said. "But you know, it's the right time of the year where anyone can jump up. So we just felt it was the right move to scratch from the Ruby and try the Blue Grass.

By Quality Road out of the Pulpit mare Chapel, Blackadder was a $620,000 auction purchase as a yearling. He is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Golconda Stable.