The fluctuating cast of possible starters for the 87th running of the
$750,000, Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 16 grew to 13 on Wednesday
morning with four probable additions.
Chief among the additions to racing secretary Ben Huffman’s list are two
colts trained by Todd Pletcher: Sensational Clam and Praetereo. The pair are scheduled to fly to Louisville, Kentucky, on
Thursday and be stabled at Churchill Downs along with Pletcher’s other Blue
Grass probable, Queen’splatekitten.
Sensational Slam has raced
once in 2011, winning the Fred “Cappy” Capossela at Aqueduct on March 5.
That followed the chestnut’s only career loss when he finished ninth in the
Grade 3 With
Anticipation at Saratoga in September. Praetereo, on the other hand, has
yet to face stakes company. The gray colt just broke his maiden in his sixth try on
March 12 at Gulfstream Park.
Also added to the Blue Grass picture was Brilliant Speed, who is
trained by Tom Albertrani. Currently stabled at Palm Meadows, Brilliant Speed
has not raced since being elevated to second place in the Hallandale Beach at
Gulfstream Park on February 6. Prior to that, the dark bay sophomore just missed
by a nose in the Dania Beach.
Newsdad, third in his most recent start in the Grade 3 Palm Beach at
Gulfstream Park on March 12, has joined the probable Blue Grass cast. Stabled in
Barn 25, Newsdad is trained by Bill Mott, who is expected to be at Keeneland on
Thursday.
Other probables include Crimson China, Data Link, Joes Blazing Aaron, King Congie, Santiva, Swift Warrior,
Wilkinson and Willcox
Inn.
Crimson China, King Congie, Swift Warrior and Willcox Inn had routine gallops
at Keeneland Wednesday morning.