KEENELAND: SATURDAY, APRIL 8 – TOYOTA BLUE GRASS DAY

By Amy Owens —-

NOTES ON TODAY’S $1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS

NOTES ON TODAY’S $1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS

Today is a blockbuster day of racing at Keeneland with five graded stakes worth $2.25 million. The richest is the 93rd running of the Toyota Blue Grass (G2), the most famous race at Keeneland and one of the most storied events in all of Thoroughbred racing. For the third consecutive year, the race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles is worth $1 million and is being run on the first Saturday of the Spring Meet, April 8 – four weeks before the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
The Toyota Blue Grass is Keeneland’s second million-dollar stakes, following the Fall Meet’s Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), which was increased to $1 million in 2014.

The Toyota Blue Grass is being run the same day as the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), a premier prep for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Central Bank Ashland (G1), for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, has produced 33 fillies that went on to win the Oaks (G1). In 2015, Lovely Maria won the Central Bank Ashland and Kentucky Oaks. Last year, Central Bank Ashland third-place finisher Cathryn Sophia returned to win the Oaks.

Today three other stakes join the Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland: $300,000 Madison (G1), for fillies and mares going seven furlongs; $200,000 Shakertown (G2), for older horses at 5½ furlongs on the turf; and $250,000 Commonwealth (G3), for older horses at seven furlongs.

Here is additional information about the Toyota Blue Grass to aid in your coverage:

Kentucky Derby points: The winner of the Toyota Blue Grass earns 100 points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a points-based system with a series of key races offering escalating points to determine which horses will compete in the $2 million Kentucky Derby.

The second-place finisher in the Toyota Blue Grass earns 40 points, followed by 20 points to the third-place finisher and 10 points to the fourth-place finisher.

Information about 2017 Toyota Blue Grass participants: Biographical information on the connections of each entrant in this year’s race, as well as past performances, charts of the race since 1937, when it was first run at Keeneland, and historical statistics on the race are available at

Keeneland.com/bluegrass.

History: The Blue Grass was named for the famous Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky and held in 1911-1914 and 1919-1926 at the old Kentucky Association track near downtown Lexington. Second-place finishers Meridian (1911), Donerail (1913) and Behave Yourself (1921) went on to win the Kentucky Derby. The 1926 winner, Bubbling Over, became the first horse to win the Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby.

With the closure of the Kentucky Association track, a group of prominent area Thoroughbred breeders went to work to return racing to Lexington. In 1935, they founded the Keeneland Association, purchased land from horseman J.O. “Jack” Keene and set out to open a model race track. Keeneland opened on Oct. 15, 1936, for nine days of racing. In April 1937, Keeneland held its inaugural Spring Meet of 11 days and ran the Blue Grass for the first time.

The winner of the first Blue Grass at Keeneland was Maxwell Howard’s Fencing, who won by three-quarters of a length over Col. E.R. Bradley’s favored pair of Billionaire and Brooklyn, who finished noses apart for second. Nine days later at Churchill Downs, Fencing and Billionaire raced back in the Kentucky Derby, inaugurating a pattern that future Derby hopefuls would follow.

Blue Grass-Kentucky Derby connection: A total of nine winners of the Blue Grass at Keeneland have won the Kentucky Derby. Another 10 horses who ran in the race have won the Run for the Roses.

Toyota sponsorship: This is the 22nd anniversary of Toyota’s sponsorship of the Blue Grass. In 1996, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (located in nearby Georgetown, Kentucky), five area Toyota dealerships and Toyota Motor Sales in Cincinnati teamed to sponsor the Blue Grass, marking Toyota’s first sponsorship of a horse race.

The automotive giant is a strong supporter of Keeneland. The two share a commitment of giving back to the community. Toyota has contributed nearly $119 million to charitable organizations in Kentucky.
Post positions: Here are the post positions and the number of Toyota Blue Grass winners each post position has produced since 1937 (the race was run in two divisions in 1951):

Post No. of Winners

1 13
2 12
3 10
4 14
5 11
6 5 (including Brody’s Cause, 2016)
7 3
8 6
9 2
10 2
11 2
12 0
13 1 (Goyamo, 1954)
14 0

Record attendance at Keeneland: Four of the 10-highest attendance figures during the Spring and Fall meets were set on the day of the Toyota Blue Grass. (Attendance from 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland not included.)

40,617 – April 14, 2012 (Toyota Blue Grass Day)
39,722 – April 12, 2014 (Toyota Blue Grass Day)
38,863 – April 16, 2016 (Coolmore Jenny Wiley Day)
37,737 – April 18, 2015 (Dixiana Elkhorn Day)
37,193 – April 11, 2015 (Coolmore Lexington Day)
37,161 – April 13, 2013 (Toyota Blue Grass Day)
34,933 – April 19, 2014 (Coolmore Lexington Day)
33,821 – April 21, 2007 (Coolmore Lexington Day)
33,727 – April 10, 2010 (Toyota Blue Grass Day)
33,680 – April 18, 2009 (Coolmore Lexington Day)
Last year, 20,848 fans were at Keeneland on Toyota Blue Grass Day.

Keeneland Sales Graduates: Three of the seven horses entered in the Toyota Blue Grass are graduates of the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Irap (offered at the sale), J Boys Echo ($485,000) and Practical Joke ($240,000).

Practical Joke also sold at Keeneland’s 2015 January Horses of All Ages Sale ($135,000).

Pedigree Notes

J Boys Echo is by Mineshaft, whose son Dialed In is the sire of It’s Your Nickel.
Menifee, broodmare sire of J Boys Echo, won the 1999 Blue Grass.
McCraken is by Ghostzapper, sire of 2010 winner Stately Victor.
Practical Joke’s paternal grandsire, Harlan’s Holiday, won the race in 2002.
Tapwrit is by Tapit, whose son Trappe Shot is the sire of Wild Shot.
Tapwrit’s paternal grandsire, Pulpit, won the race in 1997.
Storm Cat is the broodmare sire of Irap and Wild Shot.

Jockeys

Julien Leparoux (Irap) won the 2013 race on Java’s War. He is riding in the race for the ninth consecutive year and 11th time overall.
Joel Rosario (Practical Joke) won the 2011 race on Brilliant Speed.
Riding in the race for the first time this year is Jose Ortiz (Tapwrit).

Trainers

Todd Pletcher (Tapwrit) is seeking a record fourth win in the race. His three winners are Bandini (2005), Monba (2008) and Carpe Diem (2015).
Kenny McPeek (It’s Your Nickel) won the race with Harlan’s Holiday (2002) and Java’s War (2013).
Dale Romans (J Boys Echo) won the race with Dullahan (2012) and Brody’s Cause (2016).

Owners

Albaugh Family Stable (J Boys Echo) won the race last year with Brody’s Cause. Only two other owners have won the races in consecutive years: Calumet Farm won the 1947 and 1948 renewals with Faultless and Coaltown, respectively, and C.V. Whitney won the 1950 race with Mr. Trouble and the first division in 1951 with Mameluke.

Wild Shot is a homebred racing for the famous Calumet Farm, now owned by Brad Kelley. While under previous ownership, Calumet won a record six runnings of the race with Bull Lea (1938), Ocean Wave (1943), Faultless (1947), Coaltown (1948), Forward Pass (1968) and Alydar (1978).

Tapwrit races for the partnership of Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta. LaPenta owned 2004 winner The Cliff’s Edge.

Odds

The shortest-priced favorite to win was Spectacular Bid (1979), who went off at .05-1 (1-20). He paid $2.10.
The longest shot to win was Stately Victor (2010), who went off at 40.10-1 in 2010. He paid $82.20.
The last time the post-time favorite won was 2015 when Carpe Diem was 2-5.
Largest margin of victory: The largest margin of victory was turned in by Arts and Letters, who won the 1969 race by 15 lengths. He was followed by Alydar (13-length winner in 1978) and Sinister Minister (12¾-length winner in 2006).

Fastest times: The stakes record is 1:47 1/5, set by Skip Away in 1996. The track record is 1:47.75 set by 5-year-old Noble Bird when he won the Hagyard Fayette (G2) on Oct. 29, 2016.
Maidens to win: No maiden has won the race. Maiden Irap is entered in this year’s race.
Wagering: All-sources wagering reached a record $21,736,983 during the 11-race 2016 Toyota Blue Grass card. Keeneland’s record for single-day on-track handle was $3,599,647 on April 16, 2005, day of the Toyota Blue Grass.

TV and radio coverage: The Toyota Blue Grass will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET. Post time for the race is 6:17 p.m.
As always, all Keeneland races are streamed live on Keeneland.com and on the Keeneland Race Day App.
Horse Racing Radio Network, the Eclipse Award-winning broadcast organization, will provide live coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass and other Keeneland stakes from 4-7 p.m. Coverage is available via live streaming on the HRRN website, horseracingradio.net.

BIG SCORE STAYING AT KEENELAND FOLLOWING VICTORY
IN TRANSYLVANIA PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

George Krikorian’s Big Score was scheduled to return to his home base at Santa Anita on Monday, but all that changed with his half-length victory Friday in the $150,000 Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select.
“Big Score will stay at Keeneland and continue to train for his next race which we are hoping will be the ($200,000) American Turf (G2 on May 6 at Churchill Downs),” said trainer Tim Yakteen, who was on an early morning flight out of Cincinnati back to Southern California.
Phil Oliver, in whose barn Big Score is stabled here, said the colt came out of the race in good order in his first start since November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
The American Turf also is in play for Jim and Susan Hill’s Holiday Stone, who set the pace and finished second at 34-1 odds.
“He will be nominated to the race on Derby Day as well as any other 3-year-old stakes opportunities on the turf and we will decide his next race after seeing how he trains over the next couple of weeks,” trainer George Weaver said.
Makarios, who closed from far back to run third as the longest shot in the race at 38-1, exited the race well according to trainer Nick Zito.
Zito indicated he was inclined to look for a 1 1/8-mile race next for Makarios but that the American Turf at 1 1/16 miles was possible.
Oscar Performance, who was making his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, finished fifth as the odds-on favorite.
“He seems fine this morning,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “He got beat in his first start last year, too”
Regarding the American Turf, Lynch said, “I see no reason why he can’t. We will give him a couple of days and then get him back on the track. For now that race is still on the radar.”
 
DANCING RAGS, SWEET LORETTA READY FOR 2017 DEBUTS
IN ADENA SPRINGS BEAUMONT

Two fillies who chased Champagne Room home in last year’s 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) are poised to make their 2017 debuts Sunday in the 32nd running of the $150,000 Adena Springs Beaumont (G3).
Chadds Ford Stable’s Dancing Rags, who finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup, returns to Keeneland, where she won last fall’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) for trainer Graham Motion.
St. Elias Stable’s Sweet Loretta, 11th in the Breeders’ Cup, will be making her Keeneland debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in the main track race over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet.
Both fillies were nominated to today’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) to be run at 1 1/16 miles.
“It’s her first start since November,” said Jane Buchanan, racing manager for Motion’s Herringswell Stables, of opting for the shorter race.
“It is her first race back since the Breeders’ Cup, and Todd didn’t want to go a mile and a sixteenth (in the Central Bank Ashland) to start back,” said Ginny DePasquale, the Pletcher assistant who is overseeing the trainer’s Keeneland string. “He was looking for something shorter to start the year.”
The Adena Springs Beaumont is the final race in Kentucky on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with 17 points up for grabs on a 10-4-2-1 scale for the first- through fourth-place finishers. The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.
There are three Oaks prep races Saturday, each worth 170 points.
Dancing Rags had 10 points by virtue of her victory in the Darley Alcibiades. A win Sunday could put her in the Oaks mix.
“We may have to consider it,” Buchanan said of the Oaks. “But we will have to see how she comes out of the race and what happens today (in the other races).”

DEFENDING CHAMPION DA BIG HOSS TOPS NOMINATIONS
FOR DIXIANA ELKHORN

Skychai Racing’s Da Big Hoss, unraced since finishing 11th in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) that ended his four-race win streak, tops a roster of 27 runners nominated to the 32nd running of the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) scheduled for Saturday, April 22.
Trained by Mike Maker, Da Big Hoss won the Dixiana Elkhorn last year to start the win streak that included victories in the American St. Leger (G3) and Kentucky Turf Cup (G3).
Only three horses have posted victories in consecutive years in the race with the most recent being Musketier (GER) in 2010-2011.
The 1½-mile turf test for 4-year-olds and up drew another 12 graded stakes winners among the nominees, including last out San Luis Rey (G2) winner Itsinthepost (FR).

WEEP NO MORE HEADLINES
HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE NOMINATIONS

Ashbrook Farm’s Weep No More, upset winner of last year’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) here, tops a roster of 20 fillies and mares nominated to the 23rd running of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) to be run Friday, April 21.
The Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Trained by Rusty Arnold, a two-time winner of the race, Weep No More has not raced since a fourth-place finish behind champion Songbird in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga in August.
Also including in the nominations is The Elkstone Group’s Lady Fog Horn. Trained by Anthony Granitz, the 5-year-old mare has not raced since winning the Falls City (G2) at Churchill Downs in November.

GALLOPING OUT

Trainer Steve Manley earned his first Keeneland victory when Mike Piazza’s Rhodium won the second race on Friday, opening day of Keeneland’s 2017 Spring Meet. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Rhodium won the 6½-furlong allowance race by 5¾ lengths as the 3-5 favorite. Her time was 1:17.92. Rhodium is a 7-year-old daughter of Flashy Bull…
Trainer Horacio DePaz won his Keeneland debut when he sent out Sagamore Farm’s homebred Chubby Star to win Friday’s sixth race. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the 3-year-old Malibu Moon filly won the 1 1/8-mile allowance race by a half-length in 1:51.41. A former exercise rider for trainer Todd Pletcher, DePaz is in his third year as a trainer.

SUNDAY IS KEENELAND KIDS CLUB DAY AT THE RACES

Established in 2012, the Keeneland Kids Club encourages its members to take an interest in Keeneland and the horse industry and offers philanthropic opportunities for them to support Central Kentucky. The mission is popular: Kids Club membership exceeds 9,000.
Last Sunday, the Kids Club hosted its wildly popular Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn near the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, where approximately 1,500 children looked for 10,000 eggs – they were found in less than two minutes. Participants donated canned goods for God’s Pantry Food Bank of Lexington. (Last year’s Easter Egg Hunt collected 885 pounds of food, which equals 700 meals for area residents facing hunger.)
Tomorrow is Kids Club Family Day at Keeneland. Members and their families are invited to enjoy a special day at the races by receiving free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m.
The Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Club Family Day are among the activities during the year for Kids Club members, who receive a personalized membership pass and a birthday card from Buckles, the Kids Club mascot. Kids Club Corner during Sunrise Trackside activities on Saturday mornings of the race meets offers free children’s activities include face painting, dressing up in jockey silks and meeting Buckles while watching Thoroughbreds train. In October, the Halloween edition of Sunrise Trackside will include a costume contest for Kids Club members.
In December, the Kids Club Holiday Party at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion collected 700 toys from more than 900 participants to donate to The Nest, a nonprofit organization in Lexington that assists women, children and families in crisis.

PROBABLE STARTERS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$125,000 APPALACHIAN (G3) PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION (Entries taken Sunday, April 9; race Thursday, April 13) – Coasted (trainer Leah Gyarmati), Dream Dancing (Mark Casse), Journey Home (Graham Motion), La Coronel (Casse), Lull (Christophe Clement), Morticia (Rusty Arnold), New Money Honey (Chad Brown), Proctor’s Ledge (Brendan Walsh), Purely a Dream (Kenny McPeek), Viva Vegas (Derek Ryan).
$300,000 MAKER’S 46 MILE (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, April 11; race Friday April 14) – American Patriot (Todd Pletcher), Bal a Bali (BRZ) (Richard Mandella), Blacktype (FR) (Christophe Clement), Bondurant (Ian Wilkes), Heart to Heart (Brian Lynch), Inspector Lynley (Shug McGaughey), What a View (Kenny Black). Possibles: Bolo (Carla Gaines), Calculator (Peter Miller), Conquest Enforcer (Jeff Radosevich), Flatlined (Scooter Dickey), One Mean Man (Bernie Flint).
$350,000 COOLMORE JENNY WILEY (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 12; race Saturday, April 15) – Catch a Glimpse (Mark Casse), Dickinson (Kiaran McLaughlin), Goodyearforroses (IRE) (Richard Baltas), Illuminant (Michael McCarthy), Kitten’s Roar (Mike Maker), Lady Eli (Chad Brown), Quidura (GB) (Graham Motion), Time and Motion (James Toner).
$200,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 12; race Saturday, April 15) – Convict Pike (Rusty Arnold), Resiliency (Steve Asmussen), Time to Travel (Michael Matz). Possible: No Dozing (Arnaud Delacour).
$200,000 BEN ALI (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 12; race Saturday, April 15) – Bird Song (Ian Wilkes), Scuba (Brendan Walsh), Watershed (Kiaran McLaughlin). Possibles: Conquest Enforcer (Jeff Radosevich), Flatlined (Scooter Dickey), Matt King Coal (Linda Rice).
$100,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (Entries taken Wednesday, April 12, race Saturday, April 15) – Bibby (Vicky Oliver), Exaggerated (Arnold Delacour), Her Love for Pappy (John Ortiz), Lady Aurelia (Wesley Ward), Lajatico (GB) (Doug O’Neill), Miss Katie Mae (IRE) (Graham Motion), Nobody’s Fault (Neil Pessin), Pretty Perfection (Kelly Breen).

2017 SPRING MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

Through December
Keeneland Library exhibit “Man o’ War: Images from the Keeneland Library Collections.” Exhibit features 16 shots of Man o’ War during his racing career and years at stud by Charles Christian Cook, Joseph Alvie Estes, Robert Lee McClure and Bert Clark Thayer. The Library is open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. During the 2017 Spring Meet, it also is open on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Library’s online exhibit “Man o’ War: In Others’ Words” tells the story of Man o’ War’s life, accomplishments and influence through images from its collection that are accompanied by quotations from the horse’s connections, contemporary sports writers and modern biographers.
Saturday, April 8
The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery and Forme Millinery adjacent to the Walking Ring from 9 a.m. to the last race.

Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgate lot, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, features local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. One of Central Kentucky’s favorite bluegrass bands will perform from 12-4 p.m. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.
$400,000 All-Stakes Pick 4 Presented by TVG. Features races 7-10: Shakertown (G2), Madison (G1), Central Bank Ashland (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G2).
$300,000 All-Stakes Pick 5 Presented by TVG. Features races 6-10: Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown, Madison, Central Bank Ashland and Toyota Blue Grass.
Sunday, April 9
Kids Club Family Day. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans 12 and younger. Members and their families are invited to enjoy a special day at the races by receiving free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m.