The fluctuating cast of possible starters for the 87th running of the
$750,000 Blue Grass (G1) 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 SLAM (Grand Slam) and PRAETEREO
(Giant’s Causeway). 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 (Kitten’s Joy).
Sensational Slam has raced
once in 2011, winning the Fred “Cappy” Capossela S. at Aqueduct on March 5.
That followed the chestnut’s only career loss when he finished ninth in the With
Anticipation S. (G3) 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 (Dynaformer), 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 S. at
Gulfstream Park on February 6. Prior to that, the dark bay sophomore just missed
by a nose in the Dania Beach S.
NEWSDAD (Arch), third in his most recent start in the Palm Beach (G3) 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 (Giant’s Causeway), DATA LINK (War
Front), JOES BLAZING AARON (Graeme Hall), KING CONGIE (Badge of Silver), SANTIVA
(Giant’s Causeway), SWIFT WARRIOR (First Samurai), WILKINSON (Lemon Drop Kid)
and WILLCOX INN (Harlan’s Holiday).
Crimson China, King Congie, Swift Warrior and Willcox Inn had routine gallops
at Keeneland Wednesday morning.