November 20, 2024

Full field projected for Blue Grass

Last updated: 3/31/14 5:09 PM











Bobby’s Kitten tops the prospective cast…
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)





A full gate of 14 runners is looking like a strong possibility for the 90th
running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass on April 12, the centerpiece of the
15-day Keeneland Spring Meet that opens Friday.

According to Racing Secretary Ben Huffman and Stakes Coordinator Scott Jones,
13 horses are considered as probable and another three are possible for the 1
1/8-mile test that offers 170 points toward the 140th Kentucky Derby, with 100
points going to the winner and a guaranteed spot in the starting gate.

The Blue Grass is limited to 14 starters. If more than 14 are entered April
9, preference will be given to graded stakes winners and then highest earnings.
Only three runnings of the Blue Grass have attracted 14-horse fields: 1954, 1974
and 2013.

Heading the list of probables is Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Bobby’s Kitten.
Trained by Chad Brown, Bobby’s Kitten won the Pilgrim last fall at Belmont and
finished third as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa
Anita. Bobby’s Kitten won his 2014 debut at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9.

Also on the probable list are the one-two finishers from the Palm Beach at
Gulfstream, Gala Award and Mr Speaker, and the respective second through fifth
finishers from the Spiral — Harry’s Holiday, Coastline, Asserting Bear and Big
Bazinga.

Expected to venture to Keeneland from California is Dance With Fate,
runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate in his most recent start.
Trained by Peter Eurton, Dance With Fate finished second in the FrontRunner and
Del Mar Futurity as a two-year-old.

Other probables for the race, which Java’s War won in 2013, are Divine Oath,
Extrasexyhippzster, Pablo Del Monte, Vinceremos and Woodfield Springs. Possible
entrants include Cleburne, Danza and Ring Weekend. Cleburne and Ring Weekend
were both entered in this Saturday’s Calder Derby, which is not a points-scoring
race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Three-year-olds will also be in the spotlight during Keeneland’s opening
weekend.

The first of the meet’s five Grade 1s is Saturday’s $500,000 Ashland at 1 1/16 miles
on the Polytrack. Entries will be taken Wednesday for the race. As of Monday 10
fillies were considered as probable for the race, according to Jones, and
topping that list are Testa Rossi and Rosalind.










…while stablemate Testa Rossi is expected in the Ashland
(S V Photography)





Testa Rossi, a stablemate of Bobby’s Kitten’s from the Brown barn, won the
Miss Grillo and ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to
complete 2013. In her 2014 debut, she won the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs.

Rosalind, trained by Ken McPeek, finished second in the Alcibiades here and
was a narrowly beaten third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa
Anita. McPeek won the 2002 Ashland with Take Charge Lady.

Other probables include Candy Kitty, Interrupted, Naive Enough, On the
Backstreets, Resistivity, Room Service, Seeking Her Glory and Thank You Marylou.
Possible entrants include Macaroon and Saturday Bliss.

The 26th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Transylvania at 1 1/16 miles on the
turf on Friday figures to attract at least seven runners when entries are taken
Tuesday. Topping the probables for the race are three-time stakes winner
Storming Inti and Generous winner Global View.

Also considered likely for the race are Hesinfront, Kody With a K, Laddie
Boy, Picozza and Pleuven with Ry’s the Man considered as possible.



The remainder of the Grade 1 races, highlighted by the Blue Grass Stakes,
will be run during the second week of the meet. The $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile is
scheduled for Friday, April 11 and may mark the 2014 debut of two-time Horse of
the Year Wise Dan. Also pointing to the race are Lochte, Reload and Za Approval.

Other Grade 1s offered on the Blue Grass program on Saturday, April 12, are
the $300,000 Jenny Wiley for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf
and the $300,000 Madison for fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main
track. Probables for the Jenny Wiley include 2013 winner Centre Court, Abaco,
Cloud Scapes, Egg Drop, Kitten’s Point, Stephanie’s Kitten and Tapicat.
Probables for the Madison include Apropos, Ciao Bella Luna, Cozze Up Lady,
Discreet Marq, Heir Kitty, Judy the Beauty and Wildcat Lily.



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