A field of 10 or 11 is anticipated by Keeneland racing secretary Ben Huffman
for the 87th running of the $750,000, Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 16, centerpiece of the
15-day spring meeting that begins Friday and runs through April 29.
Topping the list of probables is Tom Walters’ Santiva, runner-up in the Grade
1 Breeders’ Futurity here last fall and winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey
Club at Churchill Downs to close out 2010. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Santiva
finished second in his 2011 debut, the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds in
February.
Others considered as probable for the 1 1/8-mile test are Team Valor
International’s Crimson China, Stuart Janney III’s Data Link, Joseph Witek’s
Joes Blazing Aaron, West Point Thoroughbreds’ King Congie, Richlyn Farm’s
Powhatan County, Mill House’s Queen’splatekitten, James Covello and James
Dolan’s Swift Warrior, Gaillardia Racing’s Wilkinson and All In Stable’s Willcox
Inn. Considered as possible for the Blue Grass is California-based Jakesam,
owned by Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds.
Four of the probables are at Keeneland and all four were on the track Monday
morning.
Willcox Inn, third in last fall’s Breeders’ Futurity, galloped Monday for
trainer Mike Stidham. Willcox Inn worked five furlongs in :59 2/5 on Friday and
Stidham said the colt would have his final breeze for the Blue Grass this
weekend. Rosie Napravnik, who was the leading rider at the just concluded Fair
Grounds meet, is scheduled to ride Willcox Inn in the Blue Grass.
Swift Warrior, winner of the Rushaway at Turfway Park in his most recent
start, galloped under exercise rider Eliel De Jesus. Trainer John Terranova is
expected to be at Keeneland on Tuesday.
Heather Craig, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, was aboard for Crimson
China’s gallop, while Dan Blacker, assistant to trainer Tom Albertrani, manned
the reins as King Congie jogged early Monday morning. Both Motion and Albertrani
are scheduled to be at Keeneland this weekend.
Huffman is anticipating a field of eight three-year-old fillies for
Saturday’s 74th running of the Ashland, the first of the meet’s four Grade 1
races.
Topping the list of probables is Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables’
Kathmanblu, a four-time stakes winner trained by Ken McPeek. Scheduled to arrive
at Keeneland on Wednesday, Kathmanblu worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 on
Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
McPeek, who won the 2002 Ashland with Take Charge Lady, has saddled
Kathmanblu to three consecutive victories, highlighted by an 8 1/2-length score
in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs to close out 2010. Kathmanblu also
won the Jessamine here last fall.
Others expected to contest the Ashland include the John Oxley-owned duo of
Dancinginherdreams and Delightful Mary. Dancinginherdreams is trained by John
Ward and stabled at Churchill Downs, while Mark Casse trains Delightful Mary,
who is stabled at Keeneland.
The remaining Ashland probables are Right Time Racing’s Bouquet Booth, G.
Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Grand Style and Beverly Anderson and Edward Seltzer’s
Wyomia, all of whom are stabled at Keeneland, plus Mr. and Mrs. David Randal’s
Draw It and Michael Tabor’s Excited.
Entries for the 1 1/16-mile Ashland will be taken Wednesday.
A field of eight three-year-olds is expected to pass the entry box on Tuesday
for the 23rd running of the Grade 3 Transylvania at 1 1/16 miles on the grass on
Friday, the opening-day feature.
Headlining the list of probables according to Huffman, is Team Valor
International’s Pluck, winner of the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last
fall at Churchill Downs. Trained by Graham Motion, Pluck finished fourth in his
2011 debut on March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Lining up to challenge Pluck will be Grant Heider, John Kuehl and David
Conway’s Lil Bit O’Fun, who defeated Pluck by 2 1/2 lengths in their March
meeting at Tampa. Lil Bit O’Fun is trained by Tom Proctor.
Other likely starters include Stuart Janney III’s Air Support, winner of the
Grade 3 Pilgrim last fall at Belmont Park; Richard Duchossois’ Barrington Road;
Millennium Farms’ Great Mills; Vladmir Kazakov’s Legendary King; Jim Ford, Steve
Russell and Ken Smole’s Memen (Ire); and Bruno DeJulio, Galen Ho’o and Molly Jo
Rosen’s Ronin Dax.