Multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver is scheduled to become the second filly to run in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes since it debuted at Keeneland during the track's inaugural Spring Meet in April 1937.
The 3-year-old daughter of Daredevil drew post seven of 13 entrants in Saturday's contest, which offers the winner 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver already tops the points standings for the Kentucky Oaks, with wins in the Gulfstream Oaks, Fantasy Stakes, and Santa Anita Oaks on her resume.
The Blue Grass will be the filly's first start against males, and she'll again be partnered by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
The first filly to run in the Blue Grass was Hyman Friedberg's homebred Harriet Sue, who in 1944 won the Ashland and next was fifth to Skytracer in the Blue Grass. That year, Keeneland's Spring Meet was held at Churchill Downs. In 1948, future Hall of Famer Bewitch was scratched from the Blue Grass.
This year's Blue Grass field is as follows:
| Post |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
| 1 |
Shivaree |
Ralph Nicks |
John Velazquez |
| 2 |
Finnick the Fierce |
Rey Hernandez |
Jose Ortiz |
| 3 |
Art Collector |
Tom Drury Jr. |
Brian Hernandez Jr. |
| 4 |
Mr. Big News |
Bret Calhoun |
Mitchell Murrill |
| 5 |
Man in the Can |
Ron Moquett |
Tyler Gaffalione |
| 6 |
Hard Lighting |
Alexis Delgado |
Rafael Bejarano |
| 7 |
Swiss Skydiver |
Kenny McPeek |
Mike Smith |
| 8 |
Basin |
Steve Asmussen |
Ricardo Santana Jr. |
| 9 |
Attachment Rate |
Dale Romans |
Luis Saez |
| 10 |
Rushie |
Michael McCarthy |
Javier Castellano |
| 11 |
Hunt the Front |
Nick Zito |
Corey Lanerie |
| 12 |
Enforceable |
Mark Casse |
Joel Rosario |
| 13 |
Tiesto |
Bill Mott |
Flavien Prat |
The post Swiss Skydiver Entered In Blue Grass; McPeek Trainee Only Second Filly To Contest Keeneland’s Biggest Derby Prep appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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