Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted February 20 Journalists Share Posted February 20 Keeneland's 101st running of the $1.25 million GI Toyota Blue Grass on Saturday, Apr. 5 has attracted 133 nominees, including champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), according to a release on Thursday from the track. With a $250,000 purse increase this year, the Blue Grass joins the GI Coolmore Turf Mile as Keeneland's two $1.25 million races, which are the richest in track history. The Turf Mile reached that level during the 2024 Fall Meet. “Keeneland is proud of the enhanced stature of the Toyota Blue Grass, and we thank the owners and trainers who have nominated another quality group of horses to the historic race,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “The Toyota Blue Grass has produced a long list of major winners, including 2024 winner Sierra Leone, who went on to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and become the champion 3-year-old male. We look forward to showcasing another exceptionally talented field of 3-year-olds for this year's race.” Run on the second day of Keeneland's 15-day Spring Meet, the Blue Grass, held at nine panels on the dirt, is one of five graded stakes worth a combined $3.15 million on the 11-race card, which has a first post of 1 p.m. ET. Other stakes that day are the 24th running of the $650,000 GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on the dirt; the 37th running of the $500,000 GII Appalachian Stakes, presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies racing a mile on the turf; the 29th running of the $400,000 GII Valvoline Global Shakertown Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf; and the 38th running of the $350,000 GIII Commonwealth Stakes for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the dirt. Good Cheer scores the Rachel Alexandra | Hodges Photography The Toyota Blue Grass is the 10th race with a tentative post time of 5:52 p.m. ET. Every race during the Spring Meet will be live streamed free of charge on the track's website. 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. Click here for the list of Toyota Blue Grass nominees and here for their past performances. On Friday, Apr. 4 with 10 races carded, the 88th running of the $750,000 GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes is featured. The year's first top level stakes for 3-year-old fillies offers GI Kentucky Oaks points to the first five finishers–100, 50, 25, 15 and 5, respectively. A total of 96 horses led by Godolphin's undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) were nominated. Click here for a list of Central Bank Ashland nominees and here for their past performances. The post Keeneland’s $1.25m GI Toyota Blue Grass Attracts Champion Citizen Bull Among 133 Nominees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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