And their off! Live racing returns to Keeneland today. This opening weekend of the Spring Meet will feature eight grades stakes races with purses equaling $2.75 million dollars. The 16 day meet is packed with quality Thoroughbred racing. I hope many of you get the opportunity to visit Keeneland soon and for those who can not, my favorite race of the meet, the Blue Grass Stakes, will be aired live on NBC Sports Network. Here is what we have to look forward to at Keeneland this weekend.
Keeneland opened in 1936. The grounds contain a library, a sales pavilion and a racetrack that are vital parts of Thoroughbred racing on a global scale. Keeneland is situated beautifully in The Horse capital of the World, Lexington, KY.
Keeneland Spring Meet opens Friday, April 6th and continues thru April 27th. Gates open on race days at 11:00 A.M. EDT and the first race posts at 1:05 P.M. EDT. Thoroughbred racing is live Wednesdays thru Sundays.
This Friday features 10 races. The finest race of the day is the 9th race, the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes, posting at 5:30 P.M. EDT. The 30th running of the Transylvania stakes has a full field of 12 contenders. The Grade III turf race for 3 year-olds. It is 1 and 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) and the purse is $150,000.
Saturday, April 7th, features 11 races. Races 6 thru 10 are all graded stakes. These are the Commonwealth Stakes, the Shakertown Stakes, the Madison Stakes, the Central Bank Ashland Stakes and the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes. Post times for theses stakes are 4, 4:35, 5:10, 5:45 and 6:23 P.M. EDT.
Sunday, April 8th has a card of 9. The 7th race posting at 4:24 P.M. EDT is the Beaumont Stakes and the 8th race is the Appalachian Stakes at 4:57.
Of all the great racing at Keeneland this weekend, I am in the most anticipation of the Blue Grass Stakes. The road to the Kentucky Derby passes thru Keeneland three times. The first stop at Keeneland was the Breeders’ Futurity in October. The Blue Grass Stakes is the second KY Derby prep race at Keeneland and the final stop on the road is the Lexington Stakes on 4/14.
The Bluegrass Stakes was inaugurated in 1911. It is a Grade II dirt race for 3 year-old thoroughbreds. The race is an important KY Derby prep awarding 170 points among the first four finishers. Historically, 23 KY Derby winners prepped in the Blue Grass Stakes. The 94th edition of the race will post at 6:23 P.M. EDT on Saturday. It carries a purse of $1 million dollars and a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). A max number of 14 contenders are entered. They are as follows by post-postion/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:
- Zing Zang/Shaun Bridgmohan/Steven Asmussen/Jackpot Farm/30-1
- Sporting Chance/Luis Saez/D. Wayne Lukas/Robert Baker and William Mack/10-1
- California Night/Tyler Gaffalione/Michael Maker/Three Diamonds Farm/30-1
- Kanthaka/Julien Leparoux/Jerry Hollendorfer/Spendthrift Farm LLC./10-1
Quip- Marconi/Ryan Moore/Todd Pletcher/Brushwood Stable/15-1
- Blended Citizen/Kyle Frey/Doug O’Neill/Greg Hall and Sayjay Racing LLC./15-1
- Gotta Go/Chris Landeros/Ian Wilkes/Lothenbach Stables, Inc./30-1
- Tiz Mischief/Corey Lanerie/Dale Romans/Frank Jones, Jr./30-1
- Free Drop Billy/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Dae Romans/Albaugh Family Stables/5-1
- Good Magic/Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown/e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stable LLC./2-1
- Flameaway/Jose Lezcano/Mark Casse/John C. Oxley/6-1
- Machismo/Jacob Lezcano/Anthony Quartaroio/Ron Paolucci, Ashley Quartarolo, Raquel Ritchie and Christina Ritchie/20-1
- Arawak/Fernando De La Cruz/Doug O’Neill/R3 Racing LLC., Steven Keh and CTR Stables LLC./30-1
- Determinant/
Tyler Gaffalione/Mark Casse/John C. Oxley/20-1
Quip has scratched and will aim for the Arkansas Derby. Determinant will draw in for the race capped at 14 contenders. Gaffalione will not be jockey for 2 horses so I’m awaiting word on Determinents rider.
Snow is expected for Lexington, KY this weekend which will make racing more difficult. I am more than ready to bundle up and head out to pick my KY Derby favorite. I’ll be at Keeneland snapping photos to share with all of you. Check out NBC Sports Network from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. EDT on Saturday to catch the other KY Derby prep races, the Wood Memorial and the Santa Anita Derby.
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