Twenty-two of the top 25 point earners on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leader board are among the 191 3-year-olds nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) that will be run April 12 at Keeneland.
Included among the nominees for the $750,000, 1 1/8-mile prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) that offers 100 points on the Road to the Derby are (listed in order of Derby points earned to date) are undefeated Samraat (winner of the Withers-gr. III and Gotham-gr. III), Intense Holiday (Risen Star-gr. II), Wildcat Red (Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth-gr. II), Tapiture (Kentucky Jockey Club-gr. II and Southwest-gr. III), Vicar's in Trouble (Lecomte-gr. III), Cairo Prince (Nashua-gr. II and Holy Bull-gr. II), Tamarando (El Camino Real Derby-gr. III), and Candy Boy (Robert B. Lewis-gr. II). Also nominated is Shared Belief, the 2013 champion 2-year-old male who has not raced this year.
A complete list of 2014 Toyota Blue Grass nominees and their past performances, statistics and a history of the race can be found at Keeneland.com/bluegrass.
A late nomination period for the Toyota Blue Grass closes Wednesday, March 26.
"The depth and quality of this year's Toyota Blue Grass nominations is extraordinary; it is a 'who's who' of today's Derby hopefuls," Keeneland vice president of racing Rogers Beasley said in a statement.
Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher nominated 27 3-year-olds to lead all trainers. Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert are represented by 11 and 10 nominees, respectively.
FOX Sports 1 will provide live coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass from 4:30-6 p.m. ET as part of "The Jockey Club Racing Tour."
Keeneland's 2014 spring meet will be held April 4-25 with racing Wednesday through Sunday except for Easter Sunday, April 20. Post time for the first race (except for Toyota Blue Grass Day) is 1:05 p.m.
Wildcat Red, shown winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes, is nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
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