Meet the Contenders: 2026 Blue Grass Stakes
Further Ado wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
April 1st, 2026
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Blue Grass (G1) 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 the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
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#4 Talkin edges out #1 Stardale at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#1 Talkin **
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Pro: Once outran Further Ado, albeit last summer in a sprint.
Con: Well held in Remsen (G2), Tampa Bay Derby (G3); needs to show a lot more.
Class President holds off Silent Tactic in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media)
#2 Class President ****
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pro: Showed guts turning back Silent Tactic in Rebel (G2).
Con: That seemed a hard race, so regression is a bit of a concern.
Great White wins the Gary L. Wilfert Memorial at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#3 Great White **
Trainer: John Ennis
Pro: Form of Battaglia Memorial win flattered in Jeff Ruby (G3).
Con: Hard to know in advance how he will fare first time on dirt.
#4 Reaganβs Honor *****
Trainer: Cheri DeVaux
Pro: Improved every start and looked potentially special in the FG allowance win.
Con: Hasnβt faced a field like this yet, and the price will be short.
Creole Chrome wins at Fair Grounds.(Photo by Hodges Photography)
#5 Creole Chrome **
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Pro: Form has been rock-solid, albeit only against Louisiana-breds.
Con: Perhaps form can translate to open company, but it's hard to count on it.
Further Ado wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#6 Further Ado *****
Trainer: Brad Cox
Pro: Grade 2 scorer won by 20 lengths the last time he set foot here.
Con: Hasnβt really come close to replicating the figure of that maiden win.
#7 Ocelli SCRATCHED
#8 Moonstrocity *
Trainer: Jena Antonucci
Pro: Showed modest improvement going turf-to-dirt last time.
Con: Two-start maiden looks overmatched on paper.
Ottinho breaking his maiden at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
#9 Ottinho **
Trainer: Chad Brown
Pro: Didnβt run to best when chasing loose-on-lead winner of Withers S.
Con: Seems a cut or two below the top players at this stage.
