Keeneland's Opening Week Stakes Fields Taking Shape

Prospective fields for Keeneland’s marquee Spring Meet events for 3-year-olds, the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), are beginning to come into focus a little more than a week out from the April 9 renewals on the second day of the 2016 season.

Racing Secretary Ben Huffman and Stakes Coordinator Tiffany Bourque have nine runners deemed as probable starters for the 92nd running of the Toyota Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The winner of the Toyota Blue Grass earns 100 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). The next three finishers in the race will receive 40 points, 20 points and 10 points, respectively.

Heading that list is the Albaugh Family Stable’s Brody’s Cause. Winner of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) here last fall and a subsequent third in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Brody’s Cause is trained by Dale Romans. Four years ago, Romans completed a Breeders’ Futurity-Toyota Blue Grass double with Dullahan.

Other Toyota Blue Grass probables are American Dubai, Donegal Moon, Hint of Roses, Laoban, Pinson, Star Hill, Twizz and Vorticity.

Cash is King LLC’s undefeated Cathryn Sophia headlines the 79th running of the Central Bank Ashland for fillies.

The winner of the 1 1/16-mile Central Bank Ashland earns 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The next three finishers in the Central Bank Ashland receive 40 points, 20 points and 10 points, respectively.

Trained by John Servis, Cathryn Sophia has won her four races by a combined 39½ lengths with her two most recent scores coming in the Forward Gal (G2) and Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream. Cathryn Sophia arrived at Keeneland Thursday morning from South Florida.

Expected to join Cathryn Sophia in the gate are Carina Mia, a maiden winner here last fall and subsequent victor in the Golden Rod (G2), and Weep No More.

The third Grade 1 event next Saturday, the 15th running of the $300,000 Madison for fillies and mares going seven furlongs on dirt, is expected to mark the 2016 debut for Wavell Avenue, winner of the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) here last fall.

Among those expected to challenge Wavell Avenue in the Madison are two Grade 2 winners from Keeneland’s 2015 Fall Meet: Fioretti, winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America, and Sarah Sis, winner of the Lexus Raven Run.

Other probables for the race include La Brea (G1) winner Birdatthewire, Chilukki (G2) winner Spelling Again, Dogwood (G3) winner Super Majesty and Thirteen Arrows.

Here is the list of probable entrants for other opening weekend stakes:

$100,000 TRANSYLVANIA (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT (entries taken Monday; race Friday, April 8) – Back Togetheragain, Camelot Kitten, Converge, J R’s Holiday, Shakhimat, Urban Bourbon.

$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) (entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 9) – American Sailor, Bye Bernie, Power Alert (AUS), Something Extra.

$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) (entries taken Tuesday; race Saturday, April 9) – Ami’s Flatter, Barbados, Departing, Holy Boss, Viva Majorca.

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel called it a career Wednesday, retiring with 5,146 victories that included three Kentucky Derby (G1) triumphs.

The Keeneland chapter of Borel’s career showed 140 winners here, his first coming in the 1995 Fall Meet. His final four Keeneland victories came last fall. Borel’s best season here was the 1998 Fall Meet with 16 victories, three coming in stakes.

Borel won 13 stakes at Keeneland, his first in 1998 with Partner’s Hero for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the Phoenix Breeders’ Cup and the final one in the 2011 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) on Daisy Devine for trainer Andrew McKeever.

“Calvin had an unbelievable work ethic and was a natural on a horse’s back,” McKeever said Thursday morning. “He could ride any horse.

“He rode her (Daisy Devine) the first time she ran. She was a very nervous filly and he took care of her. She stepped forward from that race. She got the perfect education.”

Daisy Devine finished ninth in that debut. Borel rode her two other times with victories in the Valley View as well as the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs in 2012.