Blue Grass and Ashland Pave Way to Kentucky

By Emily Shields 

It has been 27 years since the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes won the Kentucky Derby – it was Strike the Gold in the case of 1991. But Street Sense hit the board in the Blue Grass in 2007, and went on to impress in the Run for the Roses. Meanwhile, the Central Bank Ashland (G1) has produced a strong hand of Kentucky Oaks winners, including Monomoy Girl last year and Lovely Maria in 2015. Both races are on tap at Keeneland Saturday, going as the 9^thand 10^thevents on an 11-race program.

The Blue Grass Stakes, worth 100 points and thus a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate to the winner, has a field of 14. #1 Somelikeithotbrown (10-1) will be a longshot play for many, as the son of Big Brown is coming off two straight wins at Turfway Park after being grade 1 placed on the turf last year. Has has only been worse than third once in seven tries, and that was his debut sprinting last July.

#2 Vekoma (9-5) was a grade 3 winner last year before tackling the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream on March 2. The son of Candy Ride was third that day, rallying strongly in the lane after being a little close to the pace early, and picks up new rider Javier Castellano. #3 Signalman (5-1) also exits the Fountain of Youth, where he was seventh, but he was a grade 2 winner at Churchill Downs last fall after being second in a grade 1 event over this course. #8 Win Win Win will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard after the pair finished third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) last out. Before that, the son of Hat Trick won the Pasco Stakes by 7 ¼ lengths.

The Ashland drew a field of eight. All eyes will be on #4 Jaywalk (8-5), who was heavily favored going into the Davona Dale (G2) last out after a stellar juvenile campaign where she won four races and three stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by 5 ½ lengths. Jaywalk was fourth in her return to the races after pressing the pace, and will also pick up Castellano after regular rider Joel Rosario rides in California. 

#5 Feedback (3-1) could be the danger; the unbeaten filly has won her two starts by 8 ½ lengths, including a grade 3 at Gulfstream on February 2. #6 Restless Rider (5-2) is already a grade 1 winner on this course from last fall, and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). This is her 2019 debut.