2014 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes

A total of 15 sophomores were entered on Wednesday at Keeneland for the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, which takes place on Saturday going nine furlongs over that Lexington, Kentucky, venue’s Polytrack. Only 14 will be allowed to line up, leaving unbeaten Divine Oath on the outside looking in and hoping for a withdrawal.

The Blue Grass, along with the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, are the final major points races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Each contest will award 100 points to the winner, virtually guaranteeing that three-year-old a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate on May 3. The only race left in the series after Saturday is the Grade 3, 200,000 Lexington at Keeneland on April 19, but that event is only worth 10 points to the winner.

One of the top undercard races of a fine day of action is the $300,000 Jenny Wiley S. (G1), attracting some of the better turf distaffers in training.

In the $300,000 Madison S. (G1), the consistently good Judy the Beauty will aim to finally break through at the Grade 1 level after a handful of placings with this kin, including a big second in the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) in November. The Wesley Ward trainee loves this course with a perfect 3-for-3 mark upon it, and she looks like the one to beat.

The $175,000 Commonwealth S. (G3) will include the likes of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) second Laugh Track, Jerry Hollendorfer’s Zeewat, the hard-knocking California import No Silent and Wesley Ward’s Undrafted, while the $100,000 Shakertown S. (G3) is always a pretty wide open race and will feature multiple stakes sprint star Gantry, as well as the capable Spring to the Sky, Animal Style and defending champ Havelock.

The Sunday headliner at Keeneland Race Course is the $200,000 Beaumont S. (G2).

2014 G1 $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Information (Click here for FREE Blue Grasss Stakes PP’s courtesy of brisnet.com)