Blue Grass Stakes

Grade II thoroughbred horse race

Not to be confused with Bluegrass Stakes.

Horse race

Toyota Blue Grass StakesClass| Grade I

|

Location| Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated| 1911
Race type| Thoroughbred
Website| www.drf.com/blue-grass-stakes/
Race information
Distance| 1+1⁄8 miles (9 Furlongs)
Surface| dirt
Track| Left-handed
Qualification| 3-year-old
Weight| 123 lbs (55.8 kg)
Purse| $1,000,000 (since 2015)[1]

The Blue Grass Stakes, currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is a horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. The race is run at 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $1,000,000. The Blue Grass Stakes was a Grade I event from 1974 (when grading was first introduced) through 1989 and again from 1999 to 2016.[1] It was a Grade II event from 2017 to 2021,[2] and returned to a Grade I in 2022.

It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry.

First run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby.[3] At the Lexington Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926.[4] The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943–1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program.

From 2007 to 2014, the race was held on a synthetic "all-weather" surface. Otherwise, it has been run on a dirt surface.[1]

## Records (Keeneland)

[edit]

Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)

* 1:47.20 – Skip Away (1996)

Most wins by an owner

* 6 – Calumet Farm (1938, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1968, 1978)

Most wins by a jockey

* 6 – Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1982)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2005, 2008, 2015, 2023)

## Winners

[edit]

Year[5] | Winner  | Jockey  | Trainer  | Owner  | Distance  | Time  | Gr.

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2024  | Sierra Leone | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.13  | I
2023  | Tapit Trice | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50:00  | I
2022  | Zandon  | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Jeff Drown  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.35  | I
2021  | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.50  | II
2020  | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Thomas Drury Jr. | Bruce Lunsford | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.11  | II
2019  | Vekoma  | Javier Castellano | George Weaver  | R.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.93  | II
2018  | Good Magic | José Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | eFive Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.18  | II
2017  | Irap  | Julien Leparoux | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing LLC | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.39  | II
2016  | Brody's Cause | Luis Saez | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.20  | I
2015  | Carpe Diem | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.77  | I
2014  | Dance With Fate | Corey S. Nakatani | Peter Eurton | Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.06  | I
2013  | Java's War | Julien Leparoux | Kenneth G. McPeek | Charles E. Fipke | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.27  | I
2012  | Dullahan | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.94  | I
2011  | Brilliant Speed | Joel Rosario | Thomas Albertrani | Live Oak Plantation | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.92  | I
2010  | Stately Victor | Alan Garcia | Michael J. Maker | Thomas F. & Jack Conway | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.69  | I
2009  | General Quarters | Eibar Coa | Thomas R. McCarthy | Thomas R. McCarthy | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.26  | I
2008  | Monba | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.71  | I
2007  | Dominican  | Rafael Bejarano | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hill LLC  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.33  | I
2006  | Sinister Minister | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Mercedes Stable, Lanni Family Trust & Bernard C. Schiappa  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.85  | I
2005  | Bandini | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.85  | I
2004  | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.42  | I
2003  | Peace Rules | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.73  | I
2002  | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado | Ken McPeek | Starlight Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.51  | I
2001  | Millennium Wind | Laffit Pincay Jr. | David Hofmans | David & Jill Heerensperger  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.32  | I
2000  | High Yield | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor, Robert B. Lewis, Sue Magnier | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60  | I
1999  | Menifee | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Arthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60  | I
1998  | Halory Hunter | Gary Stevens | Nick Zito | Celtic Pride Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.80  | II
1997  | Pulpit | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.80  | II
1996  | Skip Away | Shane Sellers | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.20  | II
1995  | Wild Syn  | Randy Romero | Thomas K. Arnemann | Jurgen K. Arnemann  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.20  | II
1994  | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.00  | II
1993  | Prairie Bayou | Mike E. Smith | Tom Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60  | II
1992  | Pistols and Roses | Jacinto Vásquez | George Gianos | Willis Family Stables  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.00  | II
1991  | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.40  | II
1990  | Summer Squall | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Dogwood Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60  | II
1989  | Western Playboy  | Randy Romero | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier & Ray Roncari  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20  | I
1988  | Granacus  | Jacinto Vásquez | Pat Collins | Steve A. Stavro | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.20  | I
1987  | War  | Herb McCauley | D. Wayne Lukas | Tom Gentry  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.40  | I
1986  | Bachelor Beau  | Larry Melancon | Philip Hauswald | Richard A. Waterfield & James B. Tafel | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20  | I
1985  | Chief's Crown | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.60  | I
1984  | Taylor's Special  | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.20  | I
1983  | Play Fellow  | Jean Cruguet | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier, Carl Lauer, Robert Victor  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.40  | I
1982  | Linkage | Bill Shoemaker | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.00  | I
1981  | Proud Appeal  | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley M. Hough | Gainesway Farm et al.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.40  | I
1980  | Rockhill Native  | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.00  | I
1979  | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.00  | I
1978  | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60  | I
1977  | For the Moment  | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Gerald Robins | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.20  | I
1976  | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.40  | I
1975  | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.00  | I
1974  | Judger  | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Woody Stephens | Seth W. Hancock | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.20  | I
1973  | My Gallant  | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Lou Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60  |
1972  | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60  |
1971  | Impetuosity  | Eric Guerin | George Poole | Wendell P. Rosso  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.40
1970  | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20
1969  | Arts and Letters | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.80
1968  | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.80
1967  | Diplomat Way  | Johnny Sellers | John O. Meaux | Harvey Peltier Sr. | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60
1966  | Abe's Hope  | Bill Shoemaker | Del W. Carroll | Grand Prix Stable  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.20
1965  | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.00
1964  | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.80
1963  | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.00
1962  | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza | LeRoy Jolley | Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.60
1961  | Sherluck | Braulio Baeza | Harold Young | Jacob Sher  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60
1960  | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker | Robert L. Wheeler | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60
1959  | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Childs | Fred Turner Jr.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:48.60
1958  | Plion  | David Erb | Tom Jolley | Edward Potter Jr.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.80
1957  | Round Table | Ralph Neves | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:47.40
1956  | Toby B.  | Robert L. Baird | Robert E. Wingfield | Gene Van Deren & O.S. Deming  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.00
1955  | Racing Fool  | Henry Moreno | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Cain Hoy Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.80
1954  | Goyamo  | Eddie Arcaro | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.60
1953  | Correspondent  | Eddie Arcaro | Wally Dunn | Mrs. Gordon Guiberson  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.00
1952  | Güshing Oil  | Steve Brooks | Whitey Jansen | Sam E. Wilson Jr.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.40
1951  | Mameluke  | Raymond Adair | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-1⁄8 | 1:54.40
1951  | Ruhe  | Job Dean Jessop | Robert McGarvey | Jean Denemark  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:54.20
1950  | Mr. Trouble  | Douglas Dodson | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-1⁄8 | 1:50.40
1949  | Halt  | Conn McCreary | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.60
1948  | Coaltown | Newbold L. Pierson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.20
1947  | Faultless | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20
1946  | Lord Boswell  | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.60
1945  | Darby Dieppe  | Melvin Calvert | Charles Gentry | Mrs. W. Graham Lewis  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:53.40
1944  | Skytracer  | Mike Cafferella | Frank J. Baker | Manuel B. Goff  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.60
1943  | Ocean Wave  | Wendell Eads | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:53.80
1942  | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1⁄8 | 1:52.40
1941  | Our Boots | Conn McCreary | Steve Judge | Woodvale Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20
1940  | Bimelech | Fred A. Smith | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.00
1939  | Heather Broom  | Basil James | Earl Sande | John Hay Whitney | 1-1⁄8 | 1:54.20
1938  | Bull Lea | Irving Anderson | Frank J. Kearns | Calumet Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60
1937  | Fencing  | Jack Westrope | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard | 1-1⁄8 | 1:57.20

* 1951 – The race was made up of two heats. Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth.

## Winners of the Lexington Association Blue Grass Stakes

[edit]

Winner
| Winner
| Jockey
| Trainer
| Owner
| Distance
(Miles)
| Time

|
|
|
|
|
|

1926  | Bubbling Over | Eddie Legere | Herbert J. Thompson | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 1-1⁄8 | 1:49.60
1925  | Step Along  | Earl Pool | William Perkins | Frederick M. Grabner  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.60
1924  | Altawood  | Lawrence McDermott  | G. Hamilton Keene | C. Bruce Head  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.80
1923  | Bo McMillan  | Danny Connelly  | Louis Cahn  | Thomas J. Pendergast  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:56.80
1922  | Busy American  | Newton Barrett  | Herbert J. Thompson  | Idle Hour Stock Farm  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:55.80
1921  | Black Servant | Newton Barrett  | Herbert J. Thompson  | Idle Hour Stock Farm  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:54.60
1920  | Peace Pennant  | Mack Garner | Joseph S. Hawkins  | W. F. Polson  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.80
1919  | Regalo  | Frank Murphy  | John C. Gallaher  | Gallaher Bros.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.60
1915–1918  | No races
1914  | Bronzewing  | John McCabe  | Daniel Lehan  | A. P. Humphrey, Jr.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.80
1913  | Foundation  | Charles Peak  | William McDaniel  | Charles W. McKenna  | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.40
1912  | Sprite  | Carroll H. Shilling | William H. Karrick | Harry K. Knapp | 1-1⁄8 | 1:51.20
1911  | Governor Gray | George Molesworth  | James S. Everman  | R. N. Smith & Co.  | 1-1⁄8 | 1.51.20

## See also

[edit]

* Blue Grass Stakes "top three finishers" and starters
* Road to the Kentucky Derby

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Blue Grass Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
2. ^ "Blue Grass, Wood Memorial Downgraded". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
3. ^ Daily Racing Form March 19, 1919 article titled "Lexingtons Interesting New Race: Blue Grass Stakes to Serve as a Trial for the Kentucky Derby Candidates" Retrieved August 12, 2018
4. ^ Daily Racing Form, 1945-06-02, Lexington Association's Blue Grass Stakes history
5. ^ "Blue Grass Stakes History" (PDF). Keeneland Association. 2009-02-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2009-10-24.

## External links

[edit]

* Toyota Blue Grass Stakes official website
* Keeneland official website
* NTRA entry on Toyota Blue Grass Stakes