Offlee Wild and Lots of Sizzle, both pointed toward Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, made their final moves over the Central Kentucky oval Tuesday morning.
Offlee Wild, trained by T.V. Smith for Azalea Stables, backed down the stretch, turned around and cantered to the mile post where he was joined by the outrider. Turned loose nearing the three-quarter pole, the son of Wild Again cruised to the five-eighths and never got out of a high lope while under stout restraint by his rider, stopping clocker Tom Bridges' watch in 1:03 2/5.By contrast, Lots of Sizzle, who is owned by Everest Stables, wearing blue blinkers emblazoned with his trainer Dallas Keene's logo, also backed up in the company of an outrider, broke off nearing the half, was encouraged by a tap of the stick at the eighth pole and was in full stride at the wire, zipping four furlongs in:47 1/5.In other Blue Grass news, Tom and Bonnie Hamilton's Southwest Stakes winner Great Notion will start in the Blue Grass instead of the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) to be run the same day.
The Kentucky-bred son Elusive Quality was an $82,000 purchase at Keeneland's 2001 September Yearling Sale. He has three victories and two second-place finishes in five lifetime starts. Larry Melancon has the call for trainer Darrin Miller.
Offlee Wild defeats Powerful Touch in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
