Meet the Contenders: 2024 Blue Grass Stakes
Sierra Leone winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Top Conor wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#1 Top Conor **
Pro: $1 million purchase won on debut in mid-February; plenty of upside.
Con: Dives into a deep spot second out; others look more likely.
Be You wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#2 Be You *
Pro: Earned belated maiden win last out at Gulfstream, albeit over a shorter seven furlongs.
Con: Does best with a robust pace and might not get that here.
Seize the Grey (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Seize the Grey **
Pro: Return to dirt should help following decent run in Jeff Ruby (G3) two weeks ago.
Con: Better than he was but hasn’t yet proved up to this level.
Dornoch breaking his maiden at Keeneland (Photo by Keeneland Photos)
#4 Dornoch ****
Pro: Full brother to Mage figures hard to run down with best try.
Con: Took advantage of speed bias in Remsen (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2) field fell apart.
Good Money wins at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
#5 Good Money *
Pro: Has run well in both starts, though behind Sierra Leone in Brown pecking order.
Con: Exits slow renewal of Tampa Bay Derby (G3); much more required here.
Keeneland (Photo courtesy of Keeneland)
#6 Just a Touch ****
Pro: Late developer has run strongly in both starts; bred to get a distance.
Con: Relative inexperience a concern and hasn’t yet run over a fast track.
Lat Long at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Lat Long **
Pro: Enters fresh off even third-place effort in Lecomte (G3).
Con: Seemingly has much to prove stepping up in class.
Epic Ride winning the 2024 Leonatus S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#8 Epic Ride ***
Pro: One of the leading three-year-olds at Turfway over the winter, albeit against softer.
Con: In addition to class concerns, hasn’t yet raced over a dirt surface.
Mugatu wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#9 Mugatu *
Pro: Has yet to try two turns on a dirt surface, which might prove his calling.
Con: Very much the outsider of the field from a class perspective.
Sierra Leone winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)
#10 Sierra Leone *****
Pro: Leading Kentucky Derby candidate won strong renewal of Risen Star (G2).
Con: Closing style not always the best to have over a fast Keeneland strip.
Encino winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#11 Encino ***
Pro: Consistent start to his career with two wins and a second from three starts.
Con: Like Epic Ride, lacks experience running on dirt.
