The Blue Grass Stakes was scheduled for Saturday at Kenneland Racetrack.
But with a weather forecast that calls for several days of thunderstorms and potential widespread flooding in the Lexington area, the race has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8th.
Keeneland increased the purse for the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 1 Blue Grass to a record $1.25 million dollars for 2025 and will also distribute qualifying points to the Derby to the top five finishers on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10.
Here then is a brief look at the field for the 101st edition of the Blue Grass Stakes:
1. RIVER THAMES [ML 5-2] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. This fast, talented colt ships from South Florida to Kentucky in search of a top three finish that should give him enough points to make the Kentucky Derby. RIVER THAMES pedigree is a bit suspect for racing longer than a mile but there’s plenty of potential remaining to be tapped. A main Win threat for four-time Blue Grass Stakes-Winning trainer Todd Pletcher.
2. RENDER JUDGMENT [ML 20-1] Jockey: Sheldon Russell. Trainer: Ken McPeek. After three consecutive disappointing finishes in Derby points races, RENDER JUDGMENT finally showed signs of reaching competitive form in his most recent start as he rallied late to nab 2nd in the Virginia Derby on March 15th. Based on his so-so record in Derby preps and taking into consideration his better effort at Colonial Downs, the tail end of the Trifecta or Superfecta would seem to be the best to hope for from this one.
3. BURNHAM SQUARE [ML 4-1] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. This gelding has run well in all five of his career starts and projects as a main win candidate in a competitive Blue Grass Stakes. He returns to the track where he started his racing career last fall. In his last out- the Fountain of Youth Stakes, BURNHAM SQUARE rallied too late and finished 4th by three lengths to SOVEREIGNTY on March 1st at Gulfstream. He could be primed for a rebound under first-time rider Brian Hernandez Jr.
4. OWEN ALMIGHTY [ML 3-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Brian Lynch. He’s never finished worse than 2nd in six starts and his last out was a visually impressive 3 ½-length Victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby on March 8th. Since he’s all but secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, there’s a possibility that the Blue Grass and its extra sixteenth of a mile is serving as a final test to determine if the connections of OWEN ALMIGHTY should ship him to Churchill Downs for the 1 ¼-mile classic.
5. EAST AVENUE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Luan Machado. Trainer: Brendan Walsh. A bit of a wild card here. He turned heads last summer and fall with back-to-back pacesetting romps in his first two starts. Then in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in November he lost any chance after stumbling at the start. EAST AVENUE will try blinkers for the first time in the Bluegrass to help him focus, as he will need a career-best effort to rejoin the top rank of Kentucky Derby contenders.
6. CHANCER MCPATRICK [ML 7-2] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Chad Brown. He has lost some luster as a leading Kentucky Derby prospect following a disappointing 3-year-old debut but has the talent to make amends Saturday. He’s yet to Win around two turns but is bred to handle route racing. Look for CHANCER MCPATRICK to be rallying from near the back of the pack.
7. ADMIRAL DENNIS [ML 20-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Brad Cox. He was sent off as the post-time favorite in his first four career starts, and he Won two of them. His last out was February 23rd in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, where he went off as a 18-1 longshot. In the Rebel ADMIRAL DENNIS started slow, trailed the field in 13th through a half mile, he then made a belated rally on the far turn and swung six wide in the stretch to finish a non-threatening 6th. This colt is bred for stamina, and his recent workouts at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs suggest he could be ready for a top effort.
Assuming everything remains the same after the postponement; the Blue Grass Stakes is slated as race 10 on a card of 11 with a scheduled post Time of 5:55.
Best of luck however you play it.
