Road to the Kentucky Derby > Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Keeneland Race Course – Lexington, KY
- Inaugural Race: 1911
- Distance: 1 & 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- 2023 Purse: $1,000,000
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, April 8th
The Blue Grass Stakes is Keenland’s premier prep race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Held each year in April, winners of the contest are awarded 100–40–30-20–10 points
2022 Blue Grass Stakes Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Zandon | Flavien Prat / Chad C. Brown | $6.20 / $3.20 / $2.40 |
| 10 | Smile Happy | Corey J. Lanerie / Kenneth G. McPeek | $3.20 / $2.40 |
| 6 | Emmanuel | Luis Saez / Todd A. Pletcher | $3.60 |
| 7 | Golden Glider | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Mark E. Casse | |
| 3 | Trademark | Rafael Bejarano / Victoria H. Oliver | |
| 9 | Rattle N Roll | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek | |
| 8 | Ethereal Road | Luis Contreras / D. Wayne Lukas | |
| 1 | Commandperformance | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher | |
| 11 | Blackadder | Florent Geroux / Rodolphe Brisset | |
| 5 | Volcanic | Adam Beschizza / Mark E. Casse | |
| 2 | Fenwick | Paco Lopez / Kevin McKathan |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (4-10) Paid: $7.60
- $0.50 Trifecta (4-10-6) Paid: $16.50
- $0.10 Superfecta (4-10-6-7) Paid: $33.56
Watch the 2022 Blue Grass Stakes
History of the Blue Grass Stakes
Named after the famous region that shares the same name, the Blue Grass Stakes have run since 1911. Going back to its earliest days, this special contest has served as an important prep race for the Kentucky Derby and currently offers a split of 100-40-20-10 points to the top four finishers along with a share of the $800,000 purse. This race has always covered a distance of 1 1/8th miles.
The Blue Grass Stakes was initially run at the Kentucky Association track from 1911 through 1914 and 1919 through 1926. When that track closed its doors, it took a decade before the Blue Grass Stakes could be resurrected at the newly constructed Keeneland Racetrack. It has been hosted by this site ever since.
The speed record is currently owned by Skip Away, who won the 1996 Blue Grass Stakes in 1:47.20. Only two other horses recently have come close to matching that pace. Chief’s Crown posted an impressive 1:47.60 in 1985, while Dullahan was clocked at 1:47.94 in 2012 and Hallory Hunter hit 1:47.80 in 1998.
Five trainers currently share the distinction of most wins in the Blue Grass Stakes at 3 each. This includes Ben Jones, Woody Stephens, LeRoy Jolley, Nick Zito and Todd Pletcher. The winningest jockey is the legendary Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker, who has tallied six victories in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Alydar owns the widest margin of victory with 13 lengths during the 1978 Blue Grass Stakes.
The largest upset in the history of the Blue Grass Stakes occurred in 2010 when Stately Victor returned $82.20 as a 30/1 longshot over the favorite Pleasant Prince, who finished 7th overall. Paddy o’Prado was the runner-up in that renewal.
Other notable horses to have scored in the Blue Grass Stakes include leading sire Pulpit, 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull and Hall of Fame champion Norther Dancer. Major Derby, who won the 1975 Preakness Stakes, also won the Blue Grass Stakes.
In 1974, the Blue Grass Stakes was introduced as a Grade I stakes race and held that standard up until 1990 when it was relegated to Grade II. In 1999 it regained its Grade I status, but has since run as a Grade II stakes race since 2017.
From 2007-2014, the Blue Grass Stakes was run on a synthetic surface.
Blue Grass Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Dist. (Miles) / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Zandon | Flavien Prat / Chad C. Brown | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.35 |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez / Brad Cox | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.50 |
| 2020 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. / Thomas Drury Jr. | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.11 |
| 2019 | Vekoma | Javier Castellano / George Weaver | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.93 |
| 2018 | Good Magic | José Ortiz / Chad Brown | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.18 |
| 2017 | Irap | Julien Leparoux / Doug O'Neill | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.39 |
| 2016 | Brody's Cause | Luis Saez / Dale L. Romans | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.20 |
| 2015 | Carpe Diem | John Velazquez / Todd Pletcher | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.77 |
| 2014 | Dance With Fate | Corey S. Nakatani / Peter Eurton | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.06 |
| 2013 | Java's War | Julien Leparoux / Kenneth G. McPeek | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.27 |
| 2012 | Dullahan | Kent Desormeaux / Dale Romans | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.94 |
| 2011 | Brilliant Speed | Joel Rosario / Thomas Albertrani | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.92 |
| 2010 | Stately Victor | Alan Garcia / Michael J. Maker | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.69 |
| 2009 | General Quarters | Eibar Coa / Thomas R. McCarthy | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.26 |
| 2008 | Monba | Edgar Prado / Todd A. Pletcher | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.71 |
| 2007 | Dominican | Rafael Bejarano / Darrin Miller | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.33 |
| 2006 | Sinister Minister | Garrett Gomez / Bob Baffert | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.85 |
| 2005 | Bandini | John R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.85 |
| 2004 | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers / Nick Zito | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.42 |
| 2003 | Peace Rules | Edgar Prado / Robert J. Frankel | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.73 |
| 2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado / Ken McPeek | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.51 |
| 2001 | Millennium Wind | Laffit Pincay Jr. / David Hofmans | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.32 |
| 2000 | High Yield | Pat Day / D. Wayne Lukas | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1999 | Menifee | Pat Day / W. Elliott Walden | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1998 | Halory Hunter | Gary Stevens / Nick Zito | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.80 |
| 1997 | Pulpit | Shane Sellers / Frank L. Brothers | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.80 |
| 1996 | Skip Away | Shane Sellers / Sonny Hine | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.20 |
| 1995 | Wild Syn | Randy Romero / Thomas K. Arnemann | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.20 |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith / Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.00 |
| 1993 | Prairie Bayou | Mike E. Smith / Tom Bohannan | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1992 | Pistols and Roses | Jacinto Vásquez / George Gianos | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.00 |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley / Nick Zito | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.40 |
| 1990 | Summer Squall | Pat Day / Neil J. Howard | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1989 | Western Playboy | Randy Romero / Harvey L. Vanier | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.20 |
| 1988 | Granacus | Jacinto Vásquez / Pat Collins | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.20 |
| 1987 | War | Herb McCauley / D. Wayne Lukas | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.40 |
| 1986 | Bachelor Beau | Larry Melancon / Philip Hauswald | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.20 |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | Don MacBeth / Roger Laurin | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.60 |
| 1984 | Taylor's Special | Pat Day / William I. Mott | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.20 |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Jean Cruguet / Harvey L. Vanier | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.40 |
| 1982 | Linkage | Bill Shoemaker / Henry S. Clark | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.00 |
| 1981 | Proud Appeal | Jeffrey Fell / Stanley M. Hough | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.40 |
| 1980 | Rockhill Native | John Oldham / Herbert K. Stevens | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.00 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin / Bud Delp | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.00 |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez / John M. Veitch | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1977 | For the Moment | Ángel Cordero Jr. / LeRoy Jolley | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.20 |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza / LeRoy Jolley | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.40 |
| 1975 | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue / Smiley Adams | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.00 |
| 1974 | Judger | Laffit Pincay, Jr. / Woody Stephens | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.20 |
| 1973 | My Gallant | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Lou Goldfine | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte / Lucien Laurin | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1971 | Impetuosity | Eric Guerin / George Poole | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.40 |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello / Don Combs | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.20 |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | Bill Shoemaker / J. Elliott Burch | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.80 |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela / Henry Forrest | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.80 |
| 1967 | Diplomat Way | Johnny Sellers / John O. Meaux | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1966 | Abe's Hope | Bill Shoemaker / Del W. Carroll | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.20 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker / Frank Catrone | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.00 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack / Horatio Luro | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.80 |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza / James P. Conway | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.00 |
| 1962 | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza / LeRoy Jolley | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.60 |
| 1961 | Sherluck | Braulio Baeza / Harold Young | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1960 | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker / Robert L. Wheeler | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker / Frank Childs | 1-1⁄8 / 1:48.60 |
| 1958 | Plion | David Erb / Tom Jolley | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.80 |
| 1957 | Round Table | Ralph Neves / William Molter | 1-1⁄8 / 1:47.40 |
| 1956 | Toby B. | Robert L. Baird / Robert E. Wingfield | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.00 |
| 1955 | Racing Fool | Henry Moreno / Loyd Gentry Jr. | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.80 |
| 1954 | Goyamo | Eddie Arcaro / Woody Stephens | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.60 |
| 1953 | Correspondent | Eddie Arcaro / Wally Dunn | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.00 |
| 1952 | Güshing Oil | Steve Brooks / Whitey Jansen | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.40 |
| 1951 | Ruhe | Job Dean Jessop / Robert McGarvey | 1-1⁄8 / 1:54.20 |
| 1951 | Mameluke | Raymond Adair / Sylvester Veitch | 1-1⁄8 / 1:54.40 |
| 1950 | Mr. Trouble | Douglas Dodson / Sylvester Veitch | 1-1⁄8 / 1:50.40 |
| 1949 | Halt | Conn McCreary / Woody Stephens | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.60 |
| 1948 | Coaltown | Newbold L. Pierson / Ben A. Jones | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.20 |
| 1947 | Faultless | Douglas Dodson / Ben A. Jones | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.20 |
| 1946 | Lord Boswell | Eddie Arcaro / James W. Smith | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.60 |
| 1945 | Darby Dieppe | Melvin Calvert / Charles Gentry | 1-1⁄8 / 1:53.40 |
| 1944 | Skytracer | Mike Cafferella / Frank J. Baker | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.60 |
| 1943 | Ocean Wave | Wendell Eads / Ben A. Jones | 1-1⁄8 / 1:53.80 |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro / John M. Gaver Sr. | 1-1⁄8 / 1:52.40 |
| 1941 | Our Boots | Conn McCreary / Steve Judge | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.20 |
| 1940 | Bimelech | Fred A. Smith / Bill Hurley | 1-1⁄8 / 1:51.00 |
| 1939 | Heather Broom | Basil James / Earl Sande | 1-1⁄8 / 1:54.20 |
| 1938 | Bull Lea | Irving Anderson / Frank J. Kearns | 1-1⁄8 / 1:49.60 |
| 1937 | Fencing | Jack Westrope / Earl Sande | 1-1⁄8 / 1:57.20 |