2019 Blue Grass Stakes Study Guide
Apr 04, 2019
A massive field of 14 sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the main Keeneland surface in Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G2) . This key prep will offer points’ on a 100-40-20-10 basis on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1), with the top two-finishers likely to move on to the Run for the Roses on May 4.
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Here is the field:
Somelikeithotbrown Career Racing Stats
7 Starts
3 Wins
2 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $363,478
Top BRIS Speed rating (93) for third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1)
Owner: Sand Dollar Stable and Skychai Racing LLC
Breeder: Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables (NY)
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Sire: Big Brown
Dam: Marilyn Monroan
Color: Bay
This win contender led throughout in a facile victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park most recently. The talented sophomore has speed and the rail as a wire-to-wire contender at fair odds.
Vekoma Career Racing Stats
3 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $188,850
Top BRIS Speed rating (101) in Nashua Stakes (G3) win
Owner: Gatsas Stable LLC and R A Hill Stable
Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY)
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Mona de Momma
Color: Chestnut
The 9-5 morning-line choice had a good prep for this event when third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park . Grade-3 winner will be formidable with improvement second time off the layoff.
Signalman Career Racing Stats
6 Starts
2 Wins
2 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $452,990
Top BRIS Speed rating (99) for third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
Owner: Tommie M. Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demaree, David A. Bersen, Jim Chambers and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Monticule (KY)
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Sire: General Quarters
Dam: Trip South
Color: Bay
The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) victor was seven lengths in arrears in the Fountain of Youth in his seasonal bow. The late-running Kentucky-bred was runner-up in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in his prior Keeneland performance and is working rapidly in advance of his local return.
Market King Career Racing Stats
7 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $145,785
Top BRIS Speed rating (88) for third in Rebel Stakes (G2)
Owner: Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack
Breeder: Flaxman Holdings Ltd. (KY)
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Jon Court
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Divine Presence
Color: Bay
The Rebel Stakes (G2) third is steadily improving in preparation of his this graded test. The Kentucky-bred will vie for the lead early on and could hang on for a piece with a step forward.
Chess Chief Career Racing Stats
5 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $33,590
Top BRIS Speed rating (86) in maiden win
Owner: Estate of James Coleman Jr.
Breeder: Morgan Ford’s Farm (VA)
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Un Blessed
Color: Dark Bay
This recent maiden winner takes a huge class hike in his second two-turn try. The bay colt would be a surprise facing winners for the initial time.
Dream Maker Career Racing Stats
5 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $72,850
Top BRIS Speed rating (91) in allowance win
Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: John C. Oxley (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Sire: Tapit
Dam: To Dream About
Color: Gray/Roan
The talented three-year-old lacks consistency but is more than capable on his best day. The Tapit colt sizzled a bullet half-mile in :46 from the gate here in readying for this assignment.
Admire Career Racing Stats
4 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $58,060
Top BRIS Speed rating (95) for fifth in Withers Stakes (G3)
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones (KY)
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Visavis
Color: Bay
This $300,000 yearling purchased was unplaced in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Withers Stakes (G3) from a pair of 2019 outings. The Kentucky-bred could challenge for a top-three placing with improvement in his local debut.
Win Win Win Career Racing Stats
5 Starts
3 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $167,300
Top BRIS Speed rating (101) in Pasco Stakes win
Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Breeder: Live Oak Stud (FL)
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Sire: Hat Trick
Dam: Miss Smarty Pants
Color: Dark Bay
The 7-2 second choice set a track mark in the Pasco Stakes two back, prior to rallying for a third-place result in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) last out. This win contender has won or placed in every lifetime performance and keeps Irad Ortiz Jr. in the silks.
Sir Winston Career Racing Stats
7 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $99,550
Top BRIS Speed rating (96) for fourth in Withers Stakes (G3)
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Tracy Farmer (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Sire: Awesome Again
Dam: La Gran Bailadora
Color: Chestnut
This sneaky contender closed belatedly in both the Withers and Tampa Bay Derby from two outings this campaign. The homebred should offer his best making a third run off the layoff at a big price.
Lucky Lee Career Racing Stats
4 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $58,600
Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in allowance win
Owner: Cash is King LLC
Breeder: Shim Racing LLC (KY)
Trainer: John Servis
Jockey: Chris Landeros
Sire: Flatter
Dam: Miss Shegaas
Color: Dark Bay
The Withers seventh didn’t impress in his stakes debut last out, though he figures to move forward second time out this year. The Flatter colt has early foot and will be forwardly placed in his Keeneland bow.
So Alive Career Racing Stats
4 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $72,569
Top BRIS Speed rating (89) in allowance score
Owner: Robert V. Lapenta
Breeder: John D. Gunther (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Sire: Super Saver
Dam: Mythical Bride
Color: Bay
The Kentucky-bred was a winner on debut at Keeneland in the fall when putting in a big late run en route to victory. The bay was a distant third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) in his latest showing and will need a big step forward in the Blue Grass.
Parsimony Career Racing Stats
8 Starts
0 Wins
4 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $56,700
Top BRIS Speed rating (88) for second in maiden sprint
Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Breeder: Maria Montez Haire (PA)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Sire: Dominus
Dam: Lil Cora Tee
Color: Gray/Roan
This $400,000 two-year-old purchase will look for his initial win in his ninth career start. The gray colt was outrun in the Rebel Stakes last time but faces a more reasonable field in his second graded attempt. The Keystone State-bred could challenge for a placing with a lifetime best.
Moonster Career Racing Stats
8 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $60,549
Top BRIS Speed rating (86) in Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) third
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Mark Stansell
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: John McKee
Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Mema
Color: Bay
This one-run closer has been beaten by double-digit lengths in his last five races on the dirt. The outsider will need a total pace collapse to make an impact against this cast.
Aquadini Career Racing Stats
4 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $36,060
Top BRIS Speed rating (93) for second in allowance run
Owner: Andrew Farm and On Our Own Stable LLC
Breeder: Hargus and Sandra Sexton (KY)
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Sire: Bernardini
Dam: Indian Pond
Color: Bay
This developing three-year-old has shown improvement since stretching out two races prior. The sneaky contender has early speed but must get a sensible trip drawing widest of all in the field.
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