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Brown: Balance the Books to Blue Grass

Trainer Chad Brown told Keeneland officials April 8 he will enter Balance the Books instead of Noble Tune in the April 13 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Java's War, Falling Sky in Derby Prep Works

Java's War, a contender for the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I), and Falling Sky, headed for the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), posted bullet moves April 7 in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) preps.

Keeneland Expects Full Gate for Blue Grass

When entries for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-olds are taken April 10, Keeneland officials are expecting a full field of 14.

Blue Grass, Special Events Top Keeneland Meet

The $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 13 is one of 16 stakes that will highlight the 16-day Keeneland meet that begins April 5.

Shanghai Bobby Among Blue Grass Nominees

Champion Shanghai Bobby and fellow top Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders Orb and Verrazano lead the 189 nominees to this year's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Top 3 Blue Grass Horses Return to Louisville

Following their efforts in the Toyota Blue Grass, winner Dullahan returned to Churchill Downs and Hansen and Gung Ho, who ran second and third, returned to trainer Mike Maker's barn at Trackside Training Center.

Four Live Broadcasts on HRRN This Week

The Horse Racing Radio Network has scheduled four live broadcasts this week, highlighted by the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park.

Final Works for Four Blue Grass Contenders

Four contenders for the April 14 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) went through their final preparations for the 1 1/8-mile test that is one of the final preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Ever So Lucky Works; Blue Grass the Target

Augustin Stable's Ever So Lucky, third in the Swale Stakes (gr. III) in March, worked five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Keeneland April 3 in preparation for an expected start in the grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

Hansen Breezes at Churchill Training Center

Hansen, the 2-year-old champion of 2011 who is among the favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 March 24 at the Churchill Downs Trackside Training Center.

Blue Grass Attracts 180 Nominees

Champion Hansen, grade I winner Union Rags, and El Padrino head the list of 3-year-olds nominated to the 88th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

Keeneland Stakes Schedule Announced

Five grade I races, including the newly upgraded Jenny Wiley Stakes, headline the 16 stakes worth $3.625 million slated for Keeneland's 2012 spring race meeting that was announced Jan. 19.

Albertrani Back in Derby Picture With 'Speed

A year after he was disappointed by the results of Keeneland's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), trainer Tom Albertrani is heading for the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with Brilliant Speed.

THS: Arkansas Derby 2011

Jason, Tom and Tim handicap the Arkansas Derby and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

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Large Field Expected for Blue Grass Stakes

Keeneland racing secretary Ben Huffman said the Lexington track is expecting field of 10 or 11 for the 87th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) on April 16.

Uncle Mo, Soldat Among Blue Grass Nominees

Many talented 3-year-olds, including champion Uncle Mo, and other graded stakes winners Soldat, The Factor, and Dialed In, are among the 162 nominees to Keeneland's Toyata Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 16.

Final Derby Preps on TV Earn .7 Rating

NBC's coverage of the Toyota Blues Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby earned O.K. ratings numbers April 10 as the network's three-program Derby prep series came to an end

Maker Sets Plans for His Derby Qualifiers

Trainer Mike Maker said April 11 that Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Stately Victor is headed to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May following his 4 1/4-length win at odds of 40-1 a day earlier.

Blue Grass Stakes Notes, April 9

Several Blue Grass starters were on the racetrack April 9, including Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Odysseus and morning-line choice Pleasant Prince.

Keeneland Hopeful to Renew Toyota Sponsorship

Keeneland officials are hopeful the racetrack's partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, sponsor of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), continues, Keeneland president Nick Nicholson said April 7.

Pleasant Prince Works Well for Blue Grass

Ken and Sarah Ramsey aren't sure Pleasant Prince has enough graded-stakes earnings to make the field for the May 1 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), so they plan to race the colt in the April 10 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Small Field Seen for Keeneland's Blue Grass

A probable field of six 3-year-olds, headed by Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Odysseus, is expected for the April 10 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

NBC, Churchill Partner to Show Derby Preps

Churchill Downs Inc. is partnering with NBC Sports to televise three, one-hour programs of key prep races on the Triple Crown trail in 2010, it was announced Jan. 11.

General Quarters Set for Fair Grounds Return

General Quarters, winner of this year's grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, returns to the races at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 26 in an allowance test at six furlongs.

General Quarters Takes Blue Grass

Some thought General Quarters' Sam F. Davis (gr. III) win two starts back was a fluke. But the son of Sky Mesa proved them wrong by powering to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11 at Keeneland, and he will now head to next month's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) as a legitimate contender.

McLaughlin: Charitable Man a 'Top Horse'

When Charitable Man goes to post in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11, it will be his first race in nearly seven months. In his more than 20 years of training, Kiaran McLaughlin cannot remember a time when he entered a horse in a tougher spot.

Blue Grass Notes - April 9

Shadwell Stable's Mafaaz, who will make his U.S. debut in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11, visited the starting gate April 9 at Keeneland and then galloped a mile and a quarter under exercise rider Miguel Moya.

Improving Hold Me Back Heads Blue Grass

Hold Me Back was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11 at Keeneland.

Charitable Man Works at Keeneland

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s undefeated Charitable Man completed his major work for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 11 by working five furlongs in :59.60 under exercise rider Pat Correa April 5 at Keeneland in Lexington.

Mafaaz Headed for U.S. April 4

Peter Shoemark, racing office manager for John Gosden Racing, said that Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes winner Mafaaz was scheduled to depart England early the morning of April 4 with a scheduled arrival in Wilmington, Del., at 9:55 a.m.

ESPN Networks to Air Key Derby Preps

"NTRA Racing to the Kentucky Derby" will air on the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, March 21, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Feb. 27.

Blue Grass Draws 183 Nominations

Godolphin Racing's 2008 champion juvenile colt Midshipman highlights an all-star list of 183 3-year-olds nominated to Keeneland's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), to be held April 11.

Keeneland Reduces Spring Stakes Purses

Seventeen stakes worth $3.8 million will be run during Keeneland's spring meet, which begins April 3 and continues through April 24.

Preakness Profile: Kentucky Bear

Kentucky Bear might have been shut out of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) by a lack of graded-stakes earnings, but the colt is now pointed toward the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Blue Grass Notes, The Day After

One day after his 3-year-olds ran 1-2 in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher said he will take a few days before deciding when Monba and Cowboy Cal will ship to Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Pyro Works Six Furlongs at Keeneland

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Pyro, winner of the Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in his two starts this year, continued his preparations for the April 12 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) by working six furlongs in 1:14.60 March 31 at Keeneland.

Pyro Had the Look of a Winner Early On

It's been said that special Thoroughbreds have a certain look and feel about them that is different than your average horse. Pyro is proof.

Pyro Gallops After Arriving at Keeneland

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Pyro, likely favorite for Keeneland's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) April 12, stretched his legs in an easy mile gallop March 20 over the main Polytrack.

Pyro, Cool Coal Man Top Blue Grass Noms

Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) winner Pyro and Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) winner Cool Coal Man headline a talented roster of 167 3-year-olds nominated to Keeneland's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), to be held Saturday, April 12.

Prepping for the Roses

In a year filled with synthetic surface preps and extended layoffs between races, most of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders are looking to break some kind of trend.

Change of Speed

By Ray Paulick - Conventional wisdom suggests front-running horses have a huge advantage if they are allowed to set the tortoise-like fractions established in this year's Blue Grass. But Polytrack has thrown conventional wisdom out the window.

Kentucky Derby Trail: Bye, Bye Miss American Pie

The death of Buddy Holly on Feb. 3, 1959 was "the day the music died." April 14, 2007 was the day dirt racing in America died. That may sound harsh and premature, but if races like the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) are what we have to look forward to in the future, then we have indeed seen the beginning of the end of dirt racing as we know it.

Great Hunter Dispute Settled

A dispute over the ownership of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contender Great Hunter has been settled by J. Paul Reddam and Fifth Third Bank.

Blue Grass Draw: Four on the Floor for Street Sense

Street Sense drew post four for Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. James Tafel's homebred champion was also made the 4-5 morning line favorite for the nine-furlong race. Great Hunter, the 9-5 second choice, will break from the outside seven post.

Toyota Blue Grass Post Draw Live on TVG

TVG will provide live, on-site coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) post-position draw from Keeneland April 11.

TVG Ramps Up Coverage of Keeneland Spring Meet

TVG will air a record number of live broadcasts from Keeneland when the Lexington racetrack's meet begins April 6.

Keeneland Announces Record $4.3 Million Spring Stakes Schedule

Keeneland will offer a record $4,275,000 million in stakes purses during its 2007 spring race meet, to be held April 6-27, up $50,000 from the 2006 spring meeting.

Downey Profile Analysis: We Take Bluegrass Cat in the Blue Grass Stakes

Inside speed rules at Keeneland, and though we don't expect him to grab the lead at the outset, our choice to win the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) is the aptly-named Bluegrass Cat.

Haskin's Weekend Preview: Two Stakes Not All About the Favorites

Put up or shut up; now or never; do or die. You get the picture. With the running of Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), we finally will have a good idea who will be in the starting lineup for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

First Samurai Draws Post Position 5 as Blue Grass Favorite

First Samurai was installed as the 8-5 favorite when he drew post position five in the nine-horse field entered for Saturday's 82nd running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.