2016 Blue Grass Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes comes our way this Saturday, April 9 from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. Some of the best three year olds around will take to Keeneland's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's share of the $1 million purse and the 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the first through fourth place finishers.

An overflow field of 14 plus two Alternate Entries have been confirmed for the Blue Grass Stakes - race 10 on Keeneland's stacked Saturday card. Post time is 6:00 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 16 possible combatants for this lucrative, intriguing and important Grade 1 Road to the Kentucky Derby stakes.

2016 Blue Grass Stakes Race Preview at Keeneland

Zulu 5-2 - impressive lightly raced Todd Pletcher trained colt has three career starts and two wins (by a combined 9 1/4 lengths) and a second place finish. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished a good second behind Mohaymen in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream February 27. Before that were an impressive Allowance Optional Claiming score by 7 1/4 lengths January 14 and a maiden score at first asking December 5 - both results at Gulfstream. He hopes for his first stakes score and looks to be in good position to do so. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle of the morning line favorite from gate 4.

Brody's Cause 4-1 - will race for the sixth time for trainer Dale Romans having recorded two wins and a third place finish. Last time out was a career worst effort - a seventh as favorite in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 12 after a third on this track as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Nyquist and Swipe, a terrific win in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity also here and a maiden score in September. He has been OK so far and looks for a strong bounceback Saturday. Luis Saez has been tabbed with accomplishing that goal on the morning line second choice from gate 6.

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Donegal Moon 5-1 - has two wins, a second and a third place finish in eight career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. Last time out was an Allowance score by an incredible 13 1/2 lengths at Parx March 5 in which he recorded a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. It followed a fifth in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct January 30, a DNF after he lost his rider on that track in the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes January 2 and a rather disappointing stakes debut - a fifth after setting the pace and fading in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes here November 28. He had a maiden score in gate-to-wire fashion October 23 but didn't look great after that before last time out. Donegal has been a tad tough to figure out but off a win should be a confident entry. Martin Garcia has been tabbed with getting Donegal Moon his first stakes win from gate 2 as the third betting choice.

Star Hill 10-1 - George Arnold trained colt has a win and three third place finishes in five career starts. He finally broke maiden two starts back at Gulfstream Park February 13 after a third in a MSW in January and a sixth in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs September 13. Last time out was a respectable third in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes March 12. Star Hill was respectable last time out and hopes to build on that effort from post 13 Saturday. Emisael Jaramillo is scheduled to ride from post 13.

My Man Sam 10-1 - Chad Brown trained colt has a win and a second place finish in three career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a runner-up finish in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct March 6. Before that was a maiden score on that track January 31 and a fifth in his debut December 19. My Man Sam has shown some form and could be in the mix Saturday from an unfortunate outside post 14. Julien Leparoux gets the call.

Laoban 12-1 - will hit the track for the fifth time for trainer Eric Guillot having recorded two seconds and one third place finish so far. Last time out was a respectable second in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct March 5 after a troubled third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita January 9 and a second in a MSW at Los Alamitos December 5. He was fifth in his debut November 15. Laoban has been OK in his last three starts and off a career best effort could be a factor. Jose Lezcano gets the call from the post 7.

Cherry Wine 12-1 - Dale Romans trained colt has seven career starts with two wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a fourth in his stakes debut - the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 19 after two straight wins including an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream Park January 9. Cherry Wine has been competitive so far, hopes for his third win in his last four starts and will be chasing his first stakes score from post 3. Corey Lanerie gets the mount.

Twizz 12-1 - has placed in all four career starts for trainer Michael Maker - a win and three third place finishes. He makes his stakes debut Saturday having finally broken maiden last time out - at Fair Grounds March 18 and having finished third in his first three starts. Twizz has certainly been trending upward and hopes for a breakthrough from gate 8 Saturday. Mitchell Murrill rides.

Crescent Drive 20-1 - Tom Amoss trained colt has placed in all four career starts - a win, a second and two third place finishes. He makes his graded stakes debut off a pair of third place finishes - the minor Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston February 27 and the minor Display Stakes at Woodbine in November and a maiden score in October. Crescent Drive has been in every race so far and hopes to be so again Saturday from post 5 with James Graham in the reins.

Goats Town 20-1 - has yet to win in five career starts but does have a runner-up finish and three thirds. He makes his stakes debut off a second in a MSW at Oaklawn Park March 19 and three straight thirds in MSW races earlier this year. He steps up in so-so form looking for his first win from post 9. Robby Albarado will be in the reins.

American Dubai 20-1 - won his debut for trainer Rodney Richards and went on to a pair of thirds including the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes February 15. Last time out was a career-worst effort - a thirteenth place finish in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 19. American Dubai looks for his first stakes win Saturday but enters in less-than-spectacular form. Chris Landeros will be in the saddle hoping to change all of that from gate 10.

Cards of Stone 20-1 - James Bond trained gelding hits the track for the fifth time Saturday having posted two wins and a second place finish - all at Aqueduct. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score by an impressive 13 lengths March 5 after a fifth in his only stakes action to date - the minor Gander Stakes February 5 a second Allowance Optional Claiming score January 10 and a win at first asking December 6. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday looking OK with Paco Lopez aboard.

Zapperini 30-1 - Gregory Foley trained colt has a win and a second place finish in three career starts. Last time out was a somewhat disappointing fifth in his stakes debut - the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds February 20 after a maiden score January 21 and a second in his debut in November. Zapperini looks as though he's over his head in this one and departs from post 12 with Francisco Torres guiding him.

Lookin for a Kiss 50-1 - Michael Tomlinson trained colt has a win and a second place finish in two career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a second place finish in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Tampa Bay March 6 and a maiden score at first asking - at Gulfstream February 6. He has looked decent so far but takes an enormous step up in competition Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione rides from the rail.

Pinson 30-1 - Alternate Entry Michael Maker trainee has just one win in five career starts - that coming last time out at Fair Grounds March 6. He wasn't close to the podium in his other four starts.

Hint of Roses 30-1 - Alternate Entry Michael Maker trained colt has five career starts with just one third place finish to show for it - that result coming March 19 at Gulfstream. Although he's improved every time out not a lot will be expected if he does indeed draw a start.

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2016 Blue Grass Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Keeneland's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:00 PM.