The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby continues its unprecedented summer tour with a stop this Saturday at a historic, picturesque locale that’s usually reserved for early spring competition – Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
Postponed from April 4th, the $600,000, dollar Grade 2 Bluegrass Stakes offers 170 qualifying points for the September 5th Kentucky Derby, distributed on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers.
So just for fun, let’s take a look at the Blue Grass Stakes by the numbers:
0 – The number of times the race has been run in July. This year will be the first due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
0 – The number of fillies who have Won the race. SWISS SKYDIVER could be the first. She will be ridden by Mike Smith.
1 1/8 miles – The distance of the race.
1:47 1/5 – The record time for the race, set by SKIP AWAY in 1996.
$2.10 – The lowest payoff on a $2 Win bet in Blue Grass history, when SPECTACULAR BID Won in 1979.
3 – The record-tying number of Wins trainer Nick Zito has in the race, along with four other trainers. Zito could make it four Wins if long-shot HUNT THE FRONT is Victorious Saturday.
6 – The number of geldings that have Won the race, most recently DOMINICAN in 2007. FINNICK THE FIERCE or WINNING IMPRESSION could join that group this year.
15 lengths – The record margin of Victory when eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up ARTS AND LETTERS Won the 1969 Blue Grass.
23 – The number of Blue Grass runners who went on to Win the Kentucky Derby, the most recently being STREET SENSE in 2007.
60% – Success rate of the betting favorite in the last five years. Three have Won, including CARPE DIEM in 2015, GOOD MAGIC in 2018, and VEKOMA last year.
$82.20 – Record Win payoff in the race, when 40-1 long-shot STATELY VICTOR Won in 2010.
96th – This year is the 96th running of the Blue Grass, first run in 1911 at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington. It was run there through 1914 and again from 1919-1926 before moving to Keeneland in 1937.
40,617 – The number of fans that packed Keeneland for Blue Grass day 2012. It was the highest attendance of any day in the track’s history.
$25,809,200 – Total dollars bet on Blue Grass day 2019, a record.
On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a closer look at this years edition of the race. With an expected field of 13 we are certain to find some Value.
So be sure to stop back and compare your choices with ours.
