Report: Quip to reroute from Blue Grass Stakes to Arkansas Derby

Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip will seek a Grade 1 victory in his next start, TVG's Britney Eurton reported Thursday, with the Blue Grass Stakes entry set to reroute to the April 14 Arkansas Derby.

Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Quip drew an ideal post No. 5 for Keeneland's Blue Grass and sits a co-third choice on the morning line.

But he's campaigned by WinStar Farm in partnership with China Horse Club and SF Racing. Those same connections were originally sending Justify to Oaklawn Park until it was determined he'd stay in California for the Santa Anita Derby.

In the Arkansas Derby, Quip will still have to deal with charges from two of the nation's top barns with Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Magnum Moon trained by Todd Pletcher and Solimini shipping in for Bob Baffert.

The race is the final stop on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail offering qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to winners. With his 50 earned last out in the Tampa Bay Derby, Quip should be on to Churchill Downs regardless of his finish.

The decision appears to have been made just Thursday, as Keeneland's publicity department reported that Quip galloped 1 1/2 miles and visited the starting gate to school up for the Blue Grass.