Battle of the Blue Grass – The Thoroughbred Edition

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On the 4th day of Keeneland’s historical first July Meet there will be 6 graded stakes on a card of 10 races! You have got to catch them all! Listed here by race:

1. The Uncle Mo Julep Cup posts at 1:05 PM ET, $70,000, 1 and 1/16 miles, dirt, maiden.
2. The American Pharoah Julep Cup, 1:39, $70,000, 6 furlongs, dirt, maiden.
3. The Justify Julep Cup, 2:12, $77,000, 6 and 1/2 furlongs, dirt, allowance.
4. The 32nd Running of The Appalachian Stakes, 2:45, $150,000, 1 mile, turf, Grade 2!
5. The 19th Running of The Madison Stakes, 3:18, $250,000, 7 furlongs, dirt, Grade 1!
6. The 24th Running of the Shakertown Stakes, 3:51, $150,000, 5 and 1/2 furlongs, turf, Grade 2!
7. The 83rd Running of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes, 4:24, $400,000, 1 and 1/16 miles, dirt, Grade 1! Awards 100-40-20-10 points on The Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
8. The 32nd Running of the Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes, 4:57, $350,000, 1 and 1/16 miles, turf, Grade 1!
9. The 96th Running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, 5:30, $600,000, 1 and 1/8 miles, dirt, Grade 2! Awards 100-40-20-10 points on The Road to the Kentucky Derby.
10. The Munnings Julep Cup, 6:03, $79,000, 1 and 3/16 miles, turf, allowance.

As the meet’s races are spectator free, I will most regret not watching the Kentucky Derby hopefuls live. The Blue Grass Stakes has produced 19 KY Derby winners! This is the 25th running of the Blue Grass that Keeneland has hosted. It is the 96 edition of this stakes. The inaugural race was in Lexington, KY at The Kentucky Association Track in 1911. The race is sponsored by Toyota, with a $600,000 purse. It is a Grade II dirt stakes for 3 year-old Thoroughbreds on a 1 and 1/8 mile track. The race awards 100-40-20-10 points on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. The 9th race at Keeneland on 7/11/20 posts at 5:30 PM ET. Check out the field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds and more:

1. Shivaree/John R. Velazquez/Ralph E. Nicks/Jacks or Better Farm, Inc/8-1/already 11th of the KY Derby leaderboard!
2. Finnick the Fierce/Jose L. Ortiz/Rey Hernandez/Arnaldo Monge and Rey Hernandez/12-1/a gelding, 18th place on the KY Derby leaderboard
3. Art Collector/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Thomas Drury, Jr./Bruce Lunsford/5-1/coming off of 2 allowance wins at Churchill Downs.
4. Mr. Big News/Mitch Murrill/W. Bret Calhoun/Allied Racing Stable, LLC. (Chester Thomas)/10-1/homecoming race for Mr. Big News who started his career at Keeneland.
5. Man in the Can/Tyler Gaffalione/Ron Moquett/JRita Young Thoroughbreds,LLC./10-1/winner of 4 of 5 races.
6. Hard Lightening/Rafael Bejarano/Alexis Delgado/Partner Stable, LLC./50-1/jockey Bejarano is a B G Stakes winner.
7. Swiss Skydiver/Mike E. Smith/Kenneth G. McPeek/Peter J. Callahan/3-1/the only filly in the field!
8. Basin/Ricardo Santana Jr./Steven M. Asmussen/Jackpot Farm/8-1/9th on the KY Derby leaderboard!
9. Attachment Rate/ Luis Saez/Dale L. Romans/Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister/20-1/24th on the KY Derby leaderboard!
10. Rushie/Javier Castellano/Michael W. McCarthy/Jim and Donna Daniell/5-1/gray horse, Castellano won the B G Stakes last year.
11. Hunt the Front/Corey J. Lanerie/Nicholas P. Zito/Dream Walkin Farms, Inc./30-1/Zito is tied for most B G stakes wins for a trainer.
12. Enforceable/Joel Rosario/Mark E. Casse/John C. Oxley/10-1/gray horse, 15th on the KY Derby leaderboard!
13. Tiesto/Flavien Prat/William I. Mott/LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing/15-1/trainer Mott has won the B G stakes.

Thank you to my fans for continuing to be supportive of Thoroughbred U by reading and sharing. A special thanks to the well respected horseman and friend who shared all of these Keeneland Summer Meet opening day photos with me. I can not wait until the day we may meet at the races again. Until then, stay safe and enjoy #KeenelandatHome and all the fine Thoroughbred racing on television and other streaming. TVG will cover all of Blue Grass Stakes day racing live from Keeneland.

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