Blue Grass Stakes
- Location: Keeneland Racecourse, Kentucky
- Inaugural Race: 1911
- Current Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- Status: Grade 2
- 2018 Purse: $1,000,000
- 2018 Race Date: Saturday, April 7th
2018 Blue Grass Stakes Entries and Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Good Magic | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | $5.20 | $3.60 | $2.80 |
| 12 | Flameaway | Jose Lezcano | Mark E. Casse | $5.00 | $3.80 | |
| 10 | Free Drop Billy | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Dale L. Romans | $3.60 | ||
| 2 | Sporting Chance | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas | |||
| 7 | Blended Citizen | Kyle Frey | Doug F. O'Neill | |||
| 4 | Kanthaka | Julien R. Leparoux | Jerry Hollendorfer | |||
| 9 | Tiz Mischief | Corey J. Lanerie | Dale L. Romans | |||
| 6 | Marconi | Ryan L. Moore | Todd A. Pletcher | |||
| 1 | Zing Zang | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | |||
| 3 | California Night | James Graham | Michael J. Maker | |||
| 8 | Gotta Go | Chris Landeros | Ian R. Wilkes | |||
| 13 | Machismo | Jacob Radosevich | Anthony T. Quartarolo | |||
| 14 | Determinant | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark E. Casse | |||
| 15 | Arawak | Fernando De La Cruz | Doug F. O'Neill |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $2 Exacta (11-12) $25.40
- $2 Trifecta (11-12-10) $94.00
- $2 Superfecta (11-12-10-2) $535.20
Recent Blue Grass Stakes News
Good Magic Returns to the Spotlight Following Blue Grass Victory (4/9/2018) - A champion racehorse is back in the spotlight, and not a moment too soon. The horse in question is Good Magic, the champion two-year-old male ...Read More
BARN Podcast 4/9/18 (4/8/2018) - One of the biggest weekends of the year so far didn't disappoint and we look back at all the great racing from Santa Anita, Aqueduct, ...Read More
How to Bet the Blue Grass Stakes (4/5/2018) - Despite the potential of weather that emulates the winter, it is opening weekend at beautiful Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The track that will ...Read More
Good Magic Seeks Rebound in Blue Grass Stakes (4/4/2018) - #11 Good Magic might be the champion two-year-old male of 2017, but he certainly didn’t scare off the competition in Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass ...Read More- An Early Preview of the Blue Grass Stakes (4/1/2018) - With the Grade 1 Florida Derby in the rearview mirror it is time to start looking ahead to the trio of Triple Crown prep races ...Read More
Watch the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes History
The Blue Grass Stakes has been an important lead-up to the Kentucky Derby since its first edition in 1911. That year the runner-up, Meridian, went on to win the Run for the Roses. Originally held at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington, it moved to Keeneland in 1937.
The importance of the race is marked by its status as one of the eight leading races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. It’s one of three major races held four weeks prior to the Derby – the others are the Wood Memorial and the Santa Anita Derby – and like those races, the first four finishers get points in the series on a 100-40-20-10 basis. It means the winner definitely gets a place in the Kentucky Derby field, and most likely the runner-up as well.
So far there have been 23 Kentucky Derby winners that have used the Blue Grass Stakes as a prep race; only the Florida Derby (24) has had more success at producing winners of the Run for the Roses. Interestingly, only 11 of the 23 won the Blue Grass, so it’s worth looking behind the winner for potential Derby prospects.
The importance of the Blue Grass as a guide to the Derby isn’t quite what it once was. Since 1996 only one Blue Grass runner, Street Sense in 2007, went on to win at Churchill Downs. However, it’s worth noting that the editions between 2007 and 2014 were all on a synthetic track, much different to the dirt track at Churchill Downs, and the return to dirt at Keeneland may make it a better Derby guide.
Blue Grass Stakes Trivia
How many winners of the Blue Grass have also won the Kentucky Derby?
10
Ten Blue Grass winners have also won the Kentucky Derby: Strike the Gold, Spectacular Bid, Riva Ridge, Dust Commander, Forward Pass, Lucky Debonair, Northern Dancer, Chateaugay, Tomy Lee and Shut Out.
When was the last time a Blue Grass winner won the Kentucky Derby?
1991
No Blue Grass winner has won the Kentucky Derby since 1991, when Strike the Gold won both. Before that, it had not been won by a Blue Grass winner since Spectacular Bid in 1979.
How many Triple Crown winners have won the Blue Grass?
Zero
Though many have come close and won the first two legs, no horse to date has won the Blue Grass before sweeping the Triple Crown.
Which jockey has the most wins in the Blue Grass?
Bill Shoemaker
Bill Shoemaker has won the Blue Grass six times, in 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969 and 1982.
Previous Winners of the Blue Grass
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Irap | Julien R. Leparoux | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing LLC |
| 2016 | Brody's Cause | Luis Saez | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stable |
| 2015 | Carpe Diem | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm/Stonestreet Stables |
| 2014 | Dance With Fate | Corey S. Nakatani | Peter Eurton | Alesia/Bran Jam Stable/Ciaglia Racing |
| 2013 | Java's War | Julien Leparoux | Kenneth G. McPeek | Charles E. Fipke |
| 2012 | Dullahan | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing |
| 2011 | Brilliant Speed | Joel Rosario | Thomas Albertrani | Live Oak Plantation |
| 2010 | Stately Victor | Alan Garcia | Michael J. Maker | F. Thomas & Jack Conway |
| 2009 | General Quarters | Eibar Coa | Thomas R. McCarthy | Thomas R. McCarthy |
| 2008 | Monba | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Stables et al. |
| 2007 | Dominican | Rafael Bejarano | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hill LLC |
| 2006 | Sinister Minister | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Mercedes Stable et al. |
| 2005 | Bandini | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor |
| 2004 | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta |
| 2003 | Peace Rules | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann |
| 2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado | Ken McPeek | Starlight Stable |
| 2001 | Millennium Wind | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | David Hofmans | D & J Heerensperger |
| 2000 | High Yield | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Tabor/Lewis/Magnier |
| 1999 | Menifee | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Hancock / Stone |
| 1998 | Halory Hunter | Gary Stevens | Nick Zito | Celtic Pride Stable |
| 1997 | Pulpit | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm |
| 1996 | Skip Away | Shane Sellers | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine |
| 1995 | Wild Syn | Randy Romero | Thomas K. Arnemann | Jurgen K. Arnemann |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll, Jr. | Warren A. Croll, Jr. |
| 1993 | Prairie Bayou | Mike E. Smith | Tom Bohannan | Loblolly Stable |
| 1992 | Pistols and Roses | Jacinto Vasquez | George Gianos | Willis Family Stables |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable |
| 1990 | Summer Squall | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Dogwood Stable |
| 1989 | Western Playboy | Randy Romero | Harvey L. Vanier | N. Vanier/R. Roncari |
| 1988 | Granacus | Jacinto Vasquez | Pat Collins | Steve A. Stavro |
| 1987 | War | Herb McCauley | D. Wayne Lukas | Tom Gentry |
| 1986 | Bachelor Beau | Larry Melancon | Philip Hauswald | R. A. Waterfield/J. B. Tafel |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable |
| 1984 | Taylor's Special | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Jean Cruguet | Harvey L. Vanier | Vanier/Lauer/Victor |
| 1982 | Linkage | Bill Shoemaker | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable |
| 1981 | Proud Appeal | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley M. Hough | Gainesway Farm et al. |
| 1980 | Rockhill Native | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm |
| 1977 | For the Moment | Angel Cordero, Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Gerald Robins |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone |
| 1975 | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm |
| 1974 | Judger | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Woody Stephens | Seth W. Hancock |
| 1973 | My Gallant | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Lou Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable |
| 1971 | Impetuosity | Eric Guerin | George Poole | W. P. Rosso |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm |
| 1967 | Diplomat Way | Johnny Sellers | John O. Meaux | Harvey Peltier |
| 1966 | Abe's Hope | Bill Shoemaker | Del W. Carroll | Grand Prix Stable |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm |
| 1962 | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza | LeRoy Jolley | Jolley/Woods/Greer |
| 1961 | Sherluck | Braulio Baeza | Harold Young | Jacob Sher |
| 1960 | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker | Robert L. Wheeler | C. V. Whitney |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Childs | Fred Turner, Jr. |
| 1958 | Plion | David Erb | Tom Jolley | Edward Potter, Jr. |
| 1957 | Round Table | Ralph Neves | William Molter | Kerr Stable |
| 1956 | Toby B. | Robert L. Baird | R. E. Wingfield | Van Deren & Deming |
| 1955 | Racing Fool | Henry Moreno | Loyd Gentry, Jr. | Cain Hoy Stable |
| 1954 | Goyamo | Eddie Arcaro | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm |
| 1953 | Correspondent | Eddie Arcaro | Wally Dunn | Mrs. Gordon Guiberson |
| 1952 | Gushing Oil | Steve Brooks | Whitey Jansen | Sam E. Wilson, Jr. |
| 1951 | Mameluke | Raymond Adair | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney |
| 1951 | Ruhe | Job Dean Jessop | Robert McGarvey | Mrs. Emil Denemark |
| 1950 | Mr. Trouble | Douglas Dodson | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney |
| 1949 | Halt | Conn McCreary | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm |
| 1948 | Coaltown | Newbold L. Pierson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1947 | Faultless | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1946 | Lord Boswell | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm |
| 1945 | Darby Dieppe | Melvin Calvert | Charles Gentry | Mrs. W. G. Lewis |
| 1944 | Skytracer | Mike Cafferella | Frank J. Baker | Manuel B. Goff |
| 1943 | Ocean Wave | Wendell Eads | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1941 | Our Boots | Conn McCreary | Steve Judge | Woodvale Farm |
| 1940 | Bimelech | Fred A. Smith | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1939 | Heather Broom | Basil James | Earl Sande | John Hay Whitney |
| 1938 | Bull Lea | Irving Anderson | Frank J. Kearns | Calumet Farm |
| 1937 | Fencing | Jack Westrope | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard |
