Shanghai Bobby Among Blue Grass Nominees

Champion Shanghai Bobby   and fellow top Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders Orb  , Verrazano  , and Hear the Ghost lead the 189 3-year-olds nominated to this year's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) scheduled Saturday, April 13 at Keeneland.

The complete list of 2013 Toyota Blue Grass nominees and past performances for each horse are available at Keeneland.com. A late nomination period closes Wednesday, March 27.

Currently, 23 of the top 25 point earners on the Road to the Kentucky Derby are nominated to the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass, one of the nation's richest 3-year-old preps.

Champion 2-year-old colt and Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Shanghai Bobby headlines the 189 nominees, which are up from last year's total of 180. Also nominated are the winners of nearly every major Derby prep to date, including Orb (Fountain of Youth Stakes, gr. II), Verrazano (Tampa Bay Derby, gr. II), Hear the Ghost (San Felipe, gr. II), Flashback (Robert B. Lewis Stakes, gr. II), Goldencents (Sham Stakes, gr. III), Falling Sky (Sam F. Davis Stakes, gr. III), Oxbow   (Lecomte Stakes, gr. III), Itsmyluckyday (Holy Bull Stakes, gr. III), Overanalyze   (Remsen Stakes, gr. II), Power Broker   (FrontRunner Stakes, gr. I), and Super Ninety Nine (Southwest Stakes, gr. III). 

"The Toyota Blue Grass nominees represent the most talented 3-year-old colts currently on the Derby trail," said Keeneland vice president of racing W.B. Rogers Beasley. "We appreciate the strong support of our horsemen, and look forward to an exciting spring meet."

Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 20 Toyota Blue Grass nominees, highlighted by Shanghai Bobby and Verrazano. Bob Baffert is represented by 15 nominees, among them Flashback, Power Broker, Super Ninety Nine, and San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) winner Shakin It Up, while Kiaran McLaughlin nominated 12.

Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable led owners with eight nominations, followed by Gary and Mary West with seven, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey with six.