2026 Blue Grass Stakes Contenders at Keeneland

Blue Grass Stakes Awards 100-50-25-15-10 Qualifying Points for Kentucky Derby

Keeneland's 102nd running of the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) will take run on Saturday, April 4.

The Toyota Blue Grass offers 200 points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the first- through fifth-place finishers toward the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) to be run at Churchill Downs on May 2.

Horseplayers from around the United States can watch and wager on the Blue Grass Stakes with OffTrackBetting.com online OTB!

The Toyota Blue Grass is the centerpiece of an 11-race program Saturday that begins at 1 p.m. ET. The Toyota Blue Grass will close the day's activity as the 11th race with a 6:22 p.m. post time.

** UPDATE ** April 2 - Per trainer Todd Pletcher, Class President will scratch from Blue Grass Stakes. "Just didn't like the way he went today. Not saying he's off the Derby trail. We'll check him out."

Nine 3-year-olds were entered Tuesday for the 102nd running of the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) with Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado named the morning-line favorite at 8-5.

Further Ado, 21st on the Derby leaderboard, comes into Saturday's race off a runner-up effort in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 7. He closed his 2-year-old campaign with a 20-length maiden victory here followed by a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill.

Brad Cox, who saddled Essential Quality to victory in the 2021 Toyota Blue Grass, trains Further Ado with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding from post 6.

"He's doing very well and I feel like he's moved forward since the Tampa Bay Derby," Cox said of Further Ado, who arrived at Keeneland Tuesday morning from Florida. "He obviously likes Keeneland and we're looking forward to giving him an opportunity in a Grade 1 on Saturday."

West Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo and Gabriel Duignan's Reagan's Honor, trained by Cherie DeVaux, is the second choice on the morning line at 5-2. Reagan's Honor has won two of three starts and will exit post 4 under Jose Ortiz, who won the 2018 Toyota Blue Grass on Good Magic.

WinStar Farm, First Go Racing and CHC Inc.'s Class President, 10th on the Derby leaderboard, is the third choice on the morning line at 3-1.

Class President comes to Keeneland off a victory in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 1. Trained by four-time Toyota Blue Grass winner Todd Pletcher, Class President will be ridden by two-time race winner John Velazquez from post 2.

"I'm happy with the post," Pletcher said. "He's very adaptable."

Pletcher's Toyota Blue Grass winners are Bandini (2005), Monba (2007), Carpe Diem (2015) and Tapit Trice (2023) with Velazquez being the pilot on Bandini and Carpe Diem.

In addition to Velazquez and Jose Ortiz, three other riders will be attempting to add to their win totals in the race.

Tyler Gaffalione, who won aboard Sierra Leone in 2024, has the mount on Three Diamond Farm's Creole Chrome for trainer Joe Sharp. A winner of three of four starts and the fourth choice on the morning line at 8-1, Creole Chrome will exit post 5.

"That is a great post. I wasn't too worried about the post because he is a pretty quick horse and should be handy enough to get a forward position," Sharp said. "The race came up a little tough but we are looking forward to seeing what we have on Saturday. We had a lot of confidence after his work (on March 29 at Keeneland)."

Joel Rosario, who won aboard Brilliant Speed in 2011, has the call on Talkin for trainer Danny Gargan. Owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R. A. Hill Stable, Talkin (12-1) is 39th on the Derby leaderboard and comes in off a fifth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby. He will exit post 1.

"I get the 1 hole always," Gargan said. "He's going to have to break running and sit third or fourth."

Three Chimneys Farm will have two runners in the race: Ottinho and Great White.

Trained by three-time Toyota Blue Grass winner Chad Brown, Ottinho (20-1) is cross-entered in Saturday's Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino but is expected to run here.

Third in the Withers (L) in his most recent start, Ottinho will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 9 as he attempts to join Good Magic, Zandon and Sierra Leone as winners for Brown in the race. Prat won the 2022 race on Zandon.

Ottinho is 42nd on the Derby leaderboard.

Three Chimneys Farm owns Great White (15-1) in partnership with trainer John Ennis. Making his debut on dirt, Great White has won two of three starts on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park including the John Battaglia Memorial (L) in his most recent start.

Great White is 30th on the Derby leaderboard. Alex Achard has the mount from post 3.

Contested at 1�...> miles on the main track, the Toyota Blue Grass offers 200 qualifying points on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The winner of the Toyota Blue Grass receives 100 points with a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10 points to the second- through fifth-place finishers. The top 20 point earners and invitees that pass the entry box will comprise the Derby field.

Reagan's Honor & Creole Chrome Eye Blue Grass (G1)

March 30 - On a brisk Saturday morning at Keeneland, two prospective entrants for the $1,250,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on Saturday, April 4 put in half-mile works over a fast track.

First was Three Diamonds Farm's Creole Chrome, who worked the half-mile in :49 in company with trainer Joe Sharp aboard.

Working in company with 3-year-old maiden winner Stepping Stones and 4-year-old allowance winner Awesomesauce, Creole Chrome started a length behind his stablemates and finished 2 lengths in front.

"We wanted to put him behind horses and he was very relaxed and when the rail opened up, he just took off," Sharp said. "He gave me a good feeling galloping out."

The Toyota Blue Grass will be the first venture into open company for the Louisiana-bred Creole Chrome, who has won three of four starts.

His most recent race resulted in a 6¾-length romp in his two-turn debut. The performance led to Sharp and owner Kirk Wycoff thinking about a bigger stage for the Volatile colt.

"We considered the Wood Memorial (G2) or the (Stonestreet) Lexington (G3) but after this work I'd say he is 80% Blue Grass," Sharp said. "He can run out of his own stall, so we will take a swing."

Sharp said Tyler Gaffalione would have the mount.

"I think Tyler will fit this horse well," Sharp said.

Closely following Creole Chrome's work was a half-mile breeze in :48 for West Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo and Gabriel Duignan's Reagan's Honor for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Working with the undefeated Remember Mamba, Reagan's Honor turned in his fourth breeze since a dominating allowance victory at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19.

"He had worked here before (last spring) and it was an easy work for him, steady throughout and he galloped out well," DeVaux said.

Jose Ortiz, who won the 2018 Toyota Blue Grass on Good Magic, has the call on Reagan's Honor.

Great White Preps for Grade 1 Blue Grass

March 30 - Three Chimneys Farm and trainer John Ennis' Great White tuned up for his dirt racing debut in Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass (G1) by working a half-mile in company in :47.60 over a fast track Sunday morning.

Working with the 3-year-old maiden Just Munny and exercise rider Omar Torres, Great White started 2 lengths behind his stablemate and finished 2 lengths in front with fractions of :35.60, :47.60 and galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:01.20.

"He started off slow but then flew down the lane and (jockey) Alex (Achard) had a hard time pulling him up," Ennis said. "It was a sharper work compared to last week (a half-mile in :52.60) when we wanted him to get a feel for the track."

Great White is based at the nearby The Thoroughbred Center, where he returned after the work. Ennis said Great White would come back to Keeneland Wednesday or Thursday and would have a morning Paddock schooling session prior to the Toyota Blue Grass.

Great White has won two of three starts over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park, taking the Feb. 21 John Battaglia Memorial (L) in his most recent race. That is the same race Epic Ride ran in two years ago prior to his dirt debut in the Toyota Blue Grass in which he finished third behind Sierra Leone. Epic Ride then raced in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

"They are different horses and this one is probably a better horse. He has a high cruising speed," Ennis said. "Epic Ride has some distance limitations but a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter is not an issue with (Great White). It would be interesting to go to the (Kentucky) Derby with him."

2026 Blue Grass Stakes Draws 91 Nominees

Feb 23 - The 102nd running of the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on Saturday, April 4 at Keeneland Racecourse has attracted 91 nominees - Paladin, the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and 20-length maiden winner Further Ado.

"The Toyota Blue Grass is a true spring tradition and a key stage for talented 3-year-olds," Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. "It sets the tone for the Spring Meet, and we're grateful to the owners and trainers who consistently target this race. Their support is what makes it such a competitive kickoff to the season."

Post positions for the Toyota Blue Grass and all races on April 4 will be drawn Tuesday, March 31.

On April 4, the Toyota Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt is the 11th and final race of the day, headlining five graded stakes worth a combined $3.15 million. First post is 1 p.m. ET for the card, which includes the 25th running of the $650,000 Resolute Racing Madison (G1) for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on the dirt; the 38th running of the $500,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 mile on the turf; the 30th running of the $400,000 Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs on the turf; and the 39th running of the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 7 furlongs on the dirt.

Post time for the Toyota Blue Grass is 6:22 p.m.

Every race during the Spring Meet will be streamed live OffTrackBetting.com.

The winner of the Toyota Blue Grass will earn 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, while the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishers receive 50, 25, 15 and 10 points, respectively.

In total, 14 of the top 20 point earners toward the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2 are nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass.

Paladin, one of eight Toyota Blue Grass nominees trained by three-time race winner Chad Brown, is the top point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by virtue of his victory in the Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds in his 2026 debut. Paladin closed 2025 with a victory in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.

Brown won the Toyota Blue Grass with Zandon in 2022 and future champion Sierra Leone in 2024; both colts used the Risen Star as the final prep before their Keeneland victories. Brown also won the 2018 Toyota Blue Grass with champion Good Magic.

Paladin is owned by the partnership of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith and breeder Summer Wind Equine.

Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado closed his 2025 campaign with a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in November following a 20-length maiden victory at Keeneland in his two-turn debut. Brad Cox, who saddled champion Essential Quality to victory in the 2021 Toyota Blue Grass, trains Further Ado, one of six of his nominees to the race and a graduate of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale.

Other prominent Toyota Blue Grass nominees include Bob Baffert trainees Brant, winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and third in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance; Buetane, who is three times graded stakes-placed; and Desert Gate, a two-time Grade 1 runner-up and winner of the Best Pal (G3). In total, Baffert has seven runners nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass.

Other nominees include Blackout Time, runner-up in last fall's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland; Great White, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial (L); Intrepido, winner of the American Pharoah (G1) Presented by DK Horse and runner-up in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in his 2026 debut; Napoleon Solo, winner of the Champagne (G1); Nearly, winner of the Holy Bull (G3) in his most recent start with his past three victories coming by a combined 20 lengths; Pavlovian and Express Kid, the 1-2 finishers in the Feb. 15 Sunland Park Derby (L); Renegade, winner of the Sam F. Davis (L) in his 2026 debut and runner-up to Paladin in the Remsen; and Silent Tactic, winner of the Southwest (G3).

Trainer Todd Pletcher, a four-time Toyota Blue Grass winner, leads with nine nominees to this year's race.

The late nomination deadline for the Toyota Blue Grass is Wednesday, March 18.

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