Keeneland Summer Meet — Sunday, July 5

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s five-day Summer Meet runs Wednesday through Sunday.

The Summer Meet features 10 graded stakes worth $2,575,000: four Grade 1 stakes,
four Grade 2 races and two Grade 3 events. Click here for the list of nominees to the stakes
and their past performances.

Visit Keeneland at Home Presented by Central Bank for more information about
the Summer Meet and learn about a variety of creative and fun ways for fans
to remotely enjoy the season.

· SWISS SKYDIVER IN THE TOYOTA BLUE GRASS? MAYBE

SWISS SKYDIVER IN THE TOYOTA BLUE GRASS? MAYBE

Peter Callahan’s multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver, the runaway leader atop the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 310 points, might challenge the boys in Saturday’s 94th running of the $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) on the fourth day of Keeneland’s unprecedented five-day Summer Meet.

Nominated to the Triple Crown, Swiss Skydiver, a daughter of Daredevil, also is nominated to Keeneland’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) to be run the same day. She is trained by Kenny McPeek, who also conditions another Central Bank Ashland nominee, Envoutante, a daughter of Uncle Mo owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm. Envoutante won an allowance race at Churchill Downs in her most recent race on May 29.

Entries for the Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland both will be taken Wednesday.

“I’m not going to decide (the next race for Swiss Skydiver) until the morning of entries,” McPeek said late Saturday morning after Envoutante and Swiss Skydiver each worked at Churchill Downs.

“There’s several factors (in making the decision),” he added. “I need to make sure the other filly (Envoutante) is good to go in the Ashland. Like I said, I’m inclined to keep them apart. We’ll see. I want to check field size, things like that.”

No filly has won the Toyota Blue Grass, and only one filly has run in the race since it debuted at Keeneland during the track’s inaugural Spring Meet in April 1937. She is Hyman Friedberg’s homebred Harriet Sue, who in 1944 won the Ashland and next was fifth to Skytracer in the Blue Grass. That year, Keeneland’s Spring Meet was held at Churchill Downs.

In 1948, future Hall of Famer Bewitch was scratched from the Blue Grass.

Saturday’s 83rd running of Central Bank Ashland figures to attract a small but select field regardless of where Swiss Skydiver runs.

Three Grade 2 winners are expected to be entered Wednesday: Juddmonte Farms’ Bonny South, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks; Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch’s Tonalist’s Shape, winner of the Davona Dale, and Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides’ Venetian Harbor, winner of the Las Virgenes.

About the Toyota Blue Grass: Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass, which marks the 25th running of the race sponsored by Toyota, could draw a field of 12, including Swiss Skydiver. Other notables expected to pass the entry box include Jackpot Farm’s Basin, winner of last summer’s Runhappy Hopeful (G1) and most recently runner-up in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1); John Oxley’s Enforceable, winner of the Lecomte (G3) and multiple graded stakes-placed, and Bruce Lunsford’s sharp Churchill allowance winner Art Collector.

MEDIA RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER MEET

Due to health and safety concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, attendance at Keeneland’s Summer Meet from July 8-12 is limited to horsemen and essential staff.

Because media are not permitted to attend the Summer Meet, the Communications staff is providing a number of resources to help facilitate coverage, among them the daily News Releases that will include:

· Stakes advances, recaps and horsemen quotes;

· Still photos and video (including images and b-roll of the grounds) for editorial use, posted on Keeneland’s FTP site, which can be accessed by clicking here;

· Video clips of all stakes races, which feature post-race interviews with the winning trainer and jockey.

Also available are the 2020 Keeneland Media Guide (click here) and trainer and jockey bios (click here).

Details about additional media resources will be provided when they become available.

WEDNESDAY’S OPENING-DAY CARD SET

A total of 109 horses were entered Sunday morning for Wednesday’s nine-race card that marks opening day of Keeneland’s five-day Summer Meet.

First post during the Summer Meet is 1:05 p.m. ET.

In Wednesday’s eighth race, an $80,000 allowance event for 3-year-olds going 5½ furlongs on turf, Stonestreet Stables’ Cambria will face males when she makes her first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) in November at Santa Anita. Wesley Ward trains Cambria, a daughter of Speightstown who has won three of four starts. She will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

The Summer Meet will feature 10 graded stakes beginning with the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) and Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select on Friday. The Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and Central Bank Ashland (G1) headline six stakes on Saturday with the TVG Elkhorn (G2) and Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) completing the stakes lineup Sunday.

Entries for Thursday’s card will be taken Monday.

HOW TO WATCH THE KEENELAND SUMMER MEET

TVG will present live, on-site coverage of Keeneland’s Summer Meet starting each day at 1 p.m. ET. First post is 1:05 p.m.

In addition to the live stream on Keeneland.com and KeenelandSelect.com, fans may stream the entire card on Keeneland’s Facebook Live and YouTube beginning at 12:55 p.m. daily. Keeneland also has enhanced its viewing experience on its popular Race Day mobile app with new video features that allow users to watch live coverage while navigating throughout the app.

Race-day programming will begin at 11:30 a.m. with “Today at Keeneland,” a 30-minute preview show with handicapping picks and discussion of horses of interest. Racing analysts Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton host “Today at Keeneland,” which airs live on TVG2, The CW Lexington and WKYT.com and is streamed live on Keeneland.com, KeenelandSelect.com and Facebook Live channels. Fans will also have the opportunity to tune in to a live Winner’s Circle Camera Presented by Coolmore.

New to the race-day broadcast lineup for the Summer Meet is “Keeneland at Home Presented by Central Bank,” a 30-minute “pre-game show” on Keeneland Facebook Live and YouTube at 12:15 p.m. ET. Hosted by Christina Blacker, the program will feature a number of race-day experiences to kick off your at-home watch party, including lessons in BETology, libations prepared by Maker’s Mark, handicapping picks from Equibase’s Ellis Starr and more.

On June 12, NBCSN will provide live coverage of the TVG Elkhorn (G2) from 5-7 p.m.

GALLOPING OUT

Last year’s Toyota Blue Grass (G2) winner, Vekoma, remained unbeaten in three starts in 2020 when he won Saturday’s Runhappy Metropolitan (G1) at Belmont Park. Trained by George Weaver for owners R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stable, the 4-year-old colt by Candy Ride (ARG) also captured the March 28 Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the June 6 Runhappy Carter (G1) at Belmont. Vekoma has won six of eight races and earned more than $1.2 million.

SUMMER MEET STAKES FIELDS

According to Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Tiffany Bourque, here are potential fields for each Summer Meet stakes:

Friday, July 10 stakes. Entries taken Tuesday.

$300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) – Emmaus (IRE) (trained by Conor Murphy), Everfast (Jack Sisterson), Halladay (Todd Pletcher), Raging Bull (FR) (Chad Brown), War of Will (Mark Casse), Without Parole (GB) (Brown). Possible: Diamond Oops (Patrick Biancone), English Bee (Graham Motion), Next Shares (Richard Baltas), Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox).

$100,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select – Finding Fame (Shug McGaughey), Four Graces (Ian Wilkes), Sconsin (Greg Foley), Turtle Trax (Ian Wilkes). Possible: Rising Seas (Ben Colebrook), Speech (Michael McCarthy).

Saturday, July 11 stakes. Entries taken Wednesday.

$600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) – Art Collector (Tom Drury Jr.), Attachment Rate (Dale Romans), Basin (Steve Asmussen), Enforceable (Mark Casse), Finnick the Fierce (Rey Hernandez), Hard Lighting (Alexis Delgado), Hunt the Front (Nick Zito), Man in the Can (Ron Moquett), Mr. Big News (Bret Calhoun), Rushie (Michael McCarthy), Shivaree (Ralph Nicks), Winning Impression (Dallas Stewart). Possible: Swiss Skydiver (Kenny McPeek).

$400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) – Bonny South (Brad Cox), Envoutante (Kenny McPeek), Swiss Skydiver (McPeek), Tonalist’s Shape (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Venetian Harbor (Richard Baltas). Possible: Speech (Michael McCarthy), Tempers Rising (Dallas Stewart).

$350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) – Altea (FR) (Chad Brown), Jolie Olimpica (BRZ) (Richard Mandella), La Signare (FR) (Brendan Walsh), Mucho Unusual (Tim Yakteen), Rushing Fall (Brown), Secret Message (Graham Motion), Toinette (Neil Drysdale). Possible: Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Brad Cox), Starship Jubilee (Kevin Attard).

$250,000 Madison (G1) – Amy’s Challenge (McLean Robertson), Bell’s the One (Neil Pessin), Guarana (Chad Brown), Mia Mischief (Steve Asmussen), Princess Causeway (Ian Wilkes), Sally’s Curlin (Dale Romans). Possible: Diamond Crazy (Dallas Stewart), Jean Elizabeth (Larry Rivelli).

$150,000 Shakertown (G2) – Bound for Nowhere (Wesley Ward), Extravagant Kid (Brendan Walsh), Fast Boat (Joe Sharp), High Crime (Darrin Miller), Just Might (Michelle Lovell), Leinster (Rusty Arnold), Real News (Al Stall Jr.), Sabador (FR) (Conor Murphy), Shekky Shebaz (Christophe Clement), Tell Your Daddy (Neil Pessin), Texas Wedge (Peter Miller), Tiger Blood (Mike Maker), Totally Boss (Arnold), Wildman Jack (Doug O’Neill). Possible: Star of Kodiak (Chris Davis).

$150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association – Alms (Mike Stidham), Enola Gay (Shug McGaughey), Ivyetsu (Rusty Arnold), Mariafoot (FR) (Cherie DeVaux), Outburst (GB) (Eddie Kenneally), Walk In Marrakesh (IRE) (Ignacio Correas IV). Possible: Cat’s Pajamas (Graham Motion), Lucky Betty (Will VanMeter), Stella Star (IRE) (John Sadler).

Note: Wagering on July 11 will feature a $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

Sunday, July 12 stakes. Entries taken Thursday.

$175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) – He’s No Lemon (Graham Motion), Hellorhighwater (Darrin Miller), Henley’s Joy (Steve Asmussen), Hierarchy (Joe Sharp), Jais’s Solitude (Eddie Kenneally), Nakamura (Motion), Oscar Dominguez (IRE) (Richard Baltas), Ry’s the Guy (Ian Wilkes), Zulu Alpha (Mike Maker). Possible: Arklow (Brad Cox).

$100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) – Irish Mias (Graham Motion), Smooth Like Strait (Michael McCarthy), Spanish Kingdom (Joe Sharp), Street Ready (Ian Wilkes), Vintage Print (Chad Brown). Possible: Bama Breeze (Rusty Arnold), Buy Me Candy (Ignacio Correas IV), Mo Hawk (Rodolphe Brisset).

Note: NBCSN will provide live coverage of the TVG Elkhorn from 5-7 p.m.