Keeneland Photo
As large field is expected to be entered in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, led by a grade I winner and a promising graded stakes-placed colt from the barn of Todd Pletcher.
The grade I winner is Brody’s Cause, winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland last fall before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). Brody’s Cause didn’t fire when finishing off the board as the favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) last month, but has trained well since then and is could rebound in the Blue Grass while returning to his favorite track.
Todd Pletcher, who won the Blue Grass in 2015 with Carpe Diem, will send out Zulu for this year’s renewal. The son of Bernardini won his first two starts at Gulfstream in impressive fashion before finishing second to Mohaymen in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). The Blue Grass Stakes will mark Zulu’s first race away from Gulfstream Park, but he has done his training this year at Palm Beach Downs, where he breezed four furlongs in :49.07 on April 2nd in company with the older graded stakes winner Itsaknockout.
Zulu for @StonestreetFarm is a @KentuckyDerby candidate. Breezing on the inside at the top of the lane yesterday. pic.twitter.com/SOWaJJbZJF
— Dave Norton (@Play_Da_Ponies) April 3, 2016
According to Keeneland, the other expected starters in the Blue Grass Stakes are American Dubai, third in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III); Crescent Drive, who finished third in the Texas Heritage Stakes last time out; Donegal Moon, an impressive allowance winner at Parx; Goats Town, runner-up to the promising American Pioneer in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn; Hint of Roses, third in a maiden special weight on turf at Gulfstream; Laoban, runner-up in the Gotham Stakes (gr. III); My Man Sam, runner-up to Matt King Coal in an allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct; Pinson, winner of a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds; Star Hill, third in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II); Twizz, another maiden special weight winner from Fair Grounds; and Zapperini, who finished fifth in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II).
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