Flameaway, photo by Gary Tasich
A full field of talented thoroughbreds will be lining up for Saturdays $1 million, Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse. Every move made by the horses in this race will be critical, as this is one of the final prep races before the prestigious "Run for the Roses". When the starting gates open on Saturday, the men will separate themselves from the boys as the true contenders step forward to prove themselves worthy of a ticket to Louisville.
With a full field of fourteen horses and a forecast of snow set for Saturday, chaos is sure to ensue when the starting gates open at Keeneland. With so many quality thoroughbreds lining up for battle, there are a lot of different ways this race could end. However, when you step back and study the contenders, there are three horses in particular that stand out.
The first horse that stands out in the Blue Grass Stakes is the gallant son of Scat Daddy, Flameaway. This colt is the definition of determination, having won five of his eight lifetime starts, on surfaces that include synthetic, turf, dirt, and mud. This unflappable athlete has shown the ability to perform well both on and off the lead, giving him a distinct advantage when it comes to him establishing a position in the race. Flameaway is a gritty horse that has an uncanny desire for victory. He shows up and runs his heart out every time he's asked, and I expect Saturday to be no different.
Flameaway's consistency and competitive nature isn't the only thing that makes him stand out in this race. When you look at his past performances you will see that he might have some advantages on Saturday. For starters, Flameaway already has a win over the Keeneland strip. When he was a 2-year-old, he won the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland after it was moved from the turf to the main track due to rain. He may encounter similar conditions this weekend, as rain and snow is expected to unleash its fury over the "Bluegrass State" on Friday and Saturday. The weather won't matter to Flameaway this weekend since he is undefeated on an off track, and has already proven that he is undaunted when it comes to different surfaces and race conditions. The horse doesn't care what he has to compete on. He just wants to run his race.
As tough as Flameaway looks in the Blue Grass Stakes, there is a big hurdle that he will have to overcome. He drew post #12 in this large field, which means that a clean start will be critical for him. If Flameaway doesn't get away from the gate quick enough, he runs the risk of getting shuffled back and stuck in traffic. The good news is, Flameaway is a naturally fast horse, so as long as he has a good start he should be able to sweep up to the front and establish a safe position. With morning line odds of 6-1, there is no reason not to include this horse on your ticket on Saturday.
Another horse to keep an eye on for Saturday is Kanthaka. Kanthaka is shipping in from California, and when Jerry Hollendorfer ships his horses, you better pay attention. When Hollendorfer ships his horses they usually run well, as he is not a trainer that will send his horses out unless he believes they can win.
Kanthaka has shown talent and potential from the very start. This copper colt has already won two of his four career races, including a breathtaking victory in the Grade 2, San Vicente. Kanthaka's latest effort came in the Grade 2, San Felipe Stakes, where he ran a game third behind the two heavyweight champions, Bolt d'Oro and McKinzie. Since his defeat, Kanthaka has been training very forwardly for his start in the Blue Grass Stakes. He will have jockey Julian Leparoux in the saddle, which can only help since Leparoux is one of Keeneland's leading riders. With juicy odds of 10-1, Kanthaka is a long shot that you should not ignore on Saturday.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Champion Two-Year-Old, Good Magic has the potential to be a major player in the Blue Grass Stakes. His latest race in the Fountain of Youth Stakes left much to be desired, when Good Magic staggered home to finish no better than third. However, it was his first race of the year for the flashy son of Curlin, meaning that he had room to grow. Now that Good Magic has had a race under his belt for the year, he should be coming into this race fit and ready to improve.
Good Magic has never finished worse than third throughout his career. He is a horse that you can count on to show up and be a factor, and has consistently competed against quality horses. While he may only have one win to his name, the victory came when it mattered the most. Good Magic took down a highly talented group of runners in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall, leaving every challenger well behind in his wake of glory. If he can once again find the same stride that made magic come to life, the other horses will be in big trouble on Saturday. This will be Good Magic's final chance to prove that he belongs in the Kentucky Derby, and I am confident that Chad Brown will have this horse geared up for a performance that will really count.
My honorable mention for the Blue Grass Stakes is Free Drop Billy. Free Drop Billy is interesting in this race since Keeneland is a racetrack that this colt really seems to love. At the age of two, Free Drop Billy romped Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, looking every bit like a future star. However, this strapping son of Union Rags has not been to the winner's circle since then. He ran a troubled ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but then rebounded to run a solid second in the Holy Bull Stakes. After that, he ran a distant third in the Gotham Stakes. While he didn't look flashy or impressive in his latest performance, I do think he has license to improve in this spot. The 1 1/8 mile distance of the Blue Grass Stakes should be more to his liking, as his breeding suggests that his performances will improve as the races get longer. Free Drop Billy's pedigree is loaded with stamina, so we might see a different horse this time around than we saw in the one-mile Gotham Stakes.
Free Drop Billy, photo by Gary Tasich
Thank you to Gary Tasich for the amazing photos!
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