Looking ahead: trainers Pletcher and McPeek seek to secure Derby berth in Blue Grass

Apr 04, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

River Thames wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

The Blue Grass S. (G1) is the final 100-point prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the race was moved to Tuesday due to forecasts of severe weather and potential flooding. A total of 200 qualifying points will be awarded to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

This race presents the final opportunity for powerhouse trainers Todd Pletcher and Kenny McPeek to secure a spot in the Run for the Roses.

River Thames, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, comes in a neck short of a perfect record from three career starts. The Pletcher trainee dominated his first two races at Gulfstream Park, winning by a combined 11 1/4 lengths. However, in his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), victory slipped away in the final strides as Sovereignty surged past him.

“He kind of got to looking around a little bit late,” Pletcher said. “Jockey Johnny Velazquez said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.”

Pletcher has called in five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Blue Grass second-choice Owen Almighty to victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

Pletcher’s other remaining Derby hopeful, Grande, will take his shot in the Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday.

At 20-1 odds, Render Judgement is on the Derby bubble and must finish in the top three to punch his ticket to the Derby. A runner-up in the Virginia Derby, he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs when stretching out to 1 1/16 miles. His sophomore debut saw him take third in the Gun Runner S., followed by an unplaced effort in the Risen Star S. (G2).

American Promise was dominant in the Virginia Derby @ColonialDowns to earn 50 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby!

It earned him honors of TS Stable Alerts Horse of the Week!

Use the link below to add him to your stable.

Never Miss A Winner ⤵️ https://t.co/bwxmQocG8y pic.twitter.com/wLJyCcobgD

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 18, 2025

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who swept last year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks with Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, has also campaigned Maximum Promise on the Derby Trail. However, Maximum Promise is now being pointed toward the American Turf S. (G2) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.

Render Judgement is a son of Blame, whose six graded stakes victories include the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Churchill Downs’ Stephen Foster S. (G1).

The 11-race Blue Grass card includes five stakes worth a combined $3.15 million.