Happy River is First Winner for Prospective
Freshman sire and grade 2 winner stands at Ocala Stud. Happy River also was his first starter.
Toyota Blue Grass S
Race 11 at Keeneland on
- 1 1/8 miles
- $750,000g
- 6:18 PM
- News
- Contenders
Farewell to a Friend: RIP Holy Bull
Steve Haskin reflects on the legacy of 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.
Maker a Triple Threat in Arlington Classic
Trainer Mike Maker has three sophomores for the May 27 Arlington Classic Stakes (G3T), including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner Fast and Accurate.
Roses Already for Two Sires with Derby Starters
Two stallions represented in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) already bear the mantle of Derby-winning sire. Their racing careers and their paths as stallions could not be more different.
Dr. Kendall Hansen Relaxes with Longshot Derby Hope
Having gone through the Derby experience once with Hansen five years ago, Dr. Kendall Hansen is enjoying his second grab for the gusto with Spiral Stakes winner Fast and Accurate.
Bode Miller Buys Interest in Fast and Accurate
Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller has purchased an interest in Kendall Hansen’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopeful Fast and Accurate, it was announced April 21.
Blue Grass Hero Irap Steady in One-Mile Move
Irap, who broke his maiden with a three-quarter-length win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 8, put in his first move since that shocker, working a mile in 1:44 at Keeneland Friday morning.
McCraken Back to Business in Four-Furlong Move
Back at his home track, Churchill Downs, McCraken showed composure before and during his half-mile drill April 18 in :47 4/5.
ABR Wired: Blue Grass Saturday
ABR Films spent an action-packed day of racing on Blue Grass Stakes day at Keeneland with trainer Kenny McPeek and went behind the scenes to learn about his training strategies and witness the excitement of horse racing at its highest level.
Blue Grass Hero Irap in Good Order After Shocking Win
The relative quiet surroundings of Keeneland's Barn 43 provided the perfect setting for the connections of Irap the morning of April 9 as they went about digesting what the son of Tiznow pulled off the evening before.
Wilkes Retains Confidence After Blue Grass Loss
Trainer Ian Wilkes had his humor intact and his perspective on point Sunday morning less than 24 hours after McCraken finished third in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 8, the colt's first loss in five career starts.
Weekend Stakes Rundown: Derby Prep Trifecta
Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America. This week we have massive stakes cards at Aqueduct Racetrack, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park built around three top Triple Crown preps.
Litfin: Look For Battalion Runner to Step Up in Wood
- By Dave Litfin
- Thoroughbred Racing, Handicapping, Southeast Region, Southwest Region, West Region, Kentucky
Horse players will need three sets of eyes to keep track of this week's action, as Aqueduct Racetrack, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park all run 170-point qualifiers to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Tapwrit Enters Blue Grass Looking Like a Million Bucks
As his connections watched their $1.2 million purchase finish last in the field of 10 in his Saratoga Race Course debut, they were hit with the sinking feeling that the potential they thought they saw the summer before had led them awry.
McCraken Makes It Look Easy in Four-Furlong Move
Unbeaten McCraken soared through his final move in preparation for the April 8 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), covering a half-mile in :49 2/5 at Keeneland.
Tapwrit Tunes Up for Blue Grass Stakes
The high energy level Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Tapwrit has flaunted in recent weeks was on display March 31, when he tuned up for the April 8 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) with a half-mile move at Palm Beach Downs.
Another A. P. Indy Line?
A.P. Indy has a son out there whose own sons have yet to show their potential—and each of the most promising ones has his first foals about to race.
Classic Empire to Arkansas Derby After Impressive Work
Following a strong five-furlong work March 28 at Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala, Fla., the connections of Classic Empire set the Arksansas Derby (G1) as the next target for last year's champion juvenile male.
Gunnevera Leads Busy Sophomore Work Slate
Peacock Racing Stables' multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera put in his final breeze March 25 for the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream Park, leading a coast-to-coast slate of sophomore works.
After Not Working, Classic Empire Gallops in Ocala
John Oxley's reigning juvenile champion Classic Empire did not break off in a scheduled workout March 19 at Palm Meadows Training Center, according to trainer Mark Casse.
Unbeaten McCraken Returns to Work Tab
Trainer Ian Wilkes breathed a sigh of relief March 11 when he sent unbeaten McCraken out for an easy half-mile move at Palm Meadows Training Center, the first work for the colt since a mild ankle strain was discovered in his left front Feb. 28.
McCraken Resumes Galloping, Blue Grass Still the Target
Janis Whitham's unbeaten homebred McCraken has resumed galloping at Palm Meadows Training Center the past few days and remains on track to start in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 8.
Classic Empire Still Targeting Blue Grass Stakes
John Oxley's reigning juvenile male champion Classic Empire is still targeting the April 8 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland trainer Mark Casse confirmed, despite having a workout aborted March 3.
Florida Derby in Play for El Areeb
Add the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream Park to the list of Triple Crown preps being considered for M M G Stables' impressive 3-year-old El Areeb, a winner of his last four races including back-to-back graded stakes.
Keeneland Announces Spring Meet Stakes Schedule
Keeneland announced Jan. 19 a $4.325 million stakes schedule for its 2017 Spring Meet that offers 16 stakes, featuring the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Bergerac | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Comedero | Michael Stidham |
|
| Dullahan | Dale L. Romans |
|
| El Gran Sol | Jorge Melendez |
|
| Ever So Lucky | Jonathan E. Sheppard |
|
| Gung Ho | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Hansen | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Heavy Breathing | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Hero of Order | Gennadi Dorochenko |
|
| Holy Candy | John W. Sadler |
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| Howe Great | Thomas M. Bush |
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| Lonesome Street | Michael J. Maker |
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| Midnight Crooner | Bob Baffert |
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| Philippe | James E. Baker |
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| Plutonium | Jeremiah C. Englehart |
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| Politicallycorrect | McLean Robertson |
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| Prospective | Mark E. Casse |
|
| Right One (FR) | Christophe Clement |
|
| Russian Greek | Efren Loza, Jr. |
|
| Scatman | Eddie Kenneally |
|
Upcoming Stakes Entries
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cougar II H. (G3) | DMR | |
| Jonathan Kiser Novice S. | SAR | |
| Honorable Miss H. (G2) | SAR | |
| Prairie Gold Lassie S. | PRM | |
| A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. (G1) | SAR |
