2020 blue grass stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Triple Crown News Minute Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Blue Grass In July

If anything is stranger in American horse racing than a Kentucky Derby in September, it's a Blue Grass Stakes in July. But that's where we find ourselves in this year of the coronavirus pandemic: nothing is normal, and we're grateful that racing, unlike most other sports, has been able to continue along a slightly erratic path.

The Grade 2 Blue Grass, with a $600,000 purse, is run at its traditional 1 1/8 miles and will offer 100-40-20-10 qualifying points for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. It's drawn a field of 13, including a well-traveled filly, multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver from the barn of Kenny McPeek. She's run at five different tracks in her five starts this year, winning her last three.

In this edition of the Triple Crown News Minute, Ray Paulick and news editor Chelsea Hackbarth take a look at the leading contenders in the Blue Grass,including the up-and-coming Art Collector, a 3-year-old by Bernardini making his return to graded stakes following a pair of impressive allowance victories at Churchill Downs.

They also analyze the field for the G1 Ashland Stakes, a qualifying points race for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. Despite only drawing a field of six, the Ashland Stakes has a solid field of contenders ready to take on the 6-5 morning line favorite, Venetian Harbor.

Watch the latest Triple Crown News Minute below:

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‘A Very Good Work’: Florida Derby Runner-Up Shivaree Preps For Blue Grass

Jacks or Better Farm's Shivaree breezed five furlongs in 1:01.65 Saturday at Gulfstream Park in South Florida in preparation for a scheduled start in the next Saturday's $600,000 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland.

“It was a very good work – 1:01 and change and 1:14 and change in the gallop out,” trainer Ralph Nicks said.

Shivaree, who finished second behind early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Tiz the Law in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 28, is scheduled to ship to Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday for a start in the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds.

“I hope he reproduces his Florida Derby race in the Blue Grass, then he'll get a big piece of it. If he doesn't get it all, he'll get a big piece of it,” trainer Ralph Nicks said.

The homebred son of Awesome of Course has demonstrated a tenacious racing style and an ability to 'fire' every time he has run since breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park West last November. He followed up his maiden score with back-to-back stakes victories in the six-furlong Limehouse and the Buffalo Man to open the 2019-2020 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park. Shivaree continued on to finish second in the seven-furlong Swale (G2) and the six-furlong Hutcheson before stretching out around two turns to finish a gritty second behind Tiz the Law in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby.

“He reminds me of the old-fashioned horses we had in the '90s when I was with Bill Mott. We had the [Allen] Paulson horses, horses that showed up every time,” said Nicks, who served as assistant trainer to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who conditioned such greats as two-time Horse of the Year Cigar, Fraise, Ajina, Escena and Geri. “They enjoyed what they did and didn't need much time between races.”

A half-brother to precocious multiple-stakes winner Garter and Tie, Shivaree could manage only one in-the-money finish in his first four career starts, which included a pair of even efforts in Florida Sire Stakes action, before breaking through with his eye-catching 9 ½-length maiden victory.

“After that he's like a different horse. I don't know what turned the key to him, but for some reason he has been a different animal than he was,” Nicks said.

Shivaree most recently finished third in a July 10 stakes-quality allowance while running for the first time since the Florida Derby, beaten 1 ½ lengths by Tampa Bay Derby (G2) runner-up Sole Volante after being involved in a contested early pace.

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Finnick The Fierce, Man In The Can Breeze In Advance Of Blue Grass

Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez's Finnick the Fierce and JRita Young Thoroughbreds' Man in the Can, two horses expected to make their next starts in the July 11, $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) during Keeneland's unprecedented Summer Meet, each turned in bullet works on the fast track at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday morning.

According to Keeneland clockers, Finnick the Fierce worked a half-mile in :46.20, the fastest of 90 works at the distance, and Man in the Can covered five furlongs in :59.60. His time was the fastest of 18 works at the distance.

Finnick the Fierce, a gelding by Dialed In, was third in the second division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and at Fair Grounds was fourth in the Jan. 18 Lecomte (G3) and seventh in the Feb. 15 Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). He is coming off a third-place finish behind another Toyota Blue Grass hopeful, Art Collector, in a June 13 allowance race at Churchill Downs.

A colt by Can the Man, Man in the Can has won his past three races: Rainbow Stakes on April 17 and Arkansas Breeders' Championship on May 1, both at Oaklawn, and an allowance race at Churchill on June 12. The latter win was by 1½ length over eventual Ohio Derby (G3) winner Dean Martini.

Ron Moquett was pleased with the work turned in by Man in the Can, who will be his first starter in Keeneland's most famous race.

“He handled the track really well,” Moquett said about the Arkansas-bred. “I was really glad to see that. It should set him up well for the race.”

Asked about the COVID-19 pandemic that is resulting in the Toyota Blue Grass being run in July during the unique Summer Meet, Moquett said, “We're living in uncertain times. With everything going on, it's been a really good thing to know we can continue to do what we need to do, and that's to take care of these horses.”

Moquett said Grade 1 winner Whitmore, who has earned more than $3 million, is scheduled to turn in a second work at Keeneland on Sunday. He said the 7-year-old gelding by Pleasantly Perfect, who races for Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables and Head of Plains Partners, is being pointed at the Oct. 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) on opening day of Keeneland's Fall Meet with the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland the ultimate goal.

Among the other potential Summer Meet stakes horses that worked Saturday are:

July 10 stakes

Maker's Mark Mile (G1) – M and J Thoroughbreds and Riverside Bloodstock's Emmaus (IRE) (4 furlongs on turf in :50.40) for trainer Conor Murphy; Calumet Farm's Everfast (4 furlongs on turf in :50.20) for trainer Jack Sisterson.

July 11 stakes

Central Bank Ashland (G1) – Juddmonte Farm's Bonny South (5 furlongs on dirt in 1:00.40) for trainer Brad Cox.

Shakertown (G2) – Owner and trainer Wesley Ward's Bound for Nowhere (5 furlongs on turf in 1:05); Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson's Leinster (4 furlongs on turf in :50.2) for trainer Rusty Arnold; Inchy Bridge Stables' Sabador (FR) (4 furlongs on turf in :51.00) for trainer Conor Murphy; Jim and Susan Hill's Totally Boss (4 furlongs on dirt in :48.20) for Arnold.

Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association – Michael and Reiko Baum's Ivyetsu (4 furlongs on dirt in :49.00) for trainer Rusty Arnold; Manganero Bloodstock'sMariafoot (GB) (4 furlongs on dirt in :49.20) for trainer Cherie DeVaux; Marc Detampel, TSF Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen's Outburst (GB) (4 furlongs on turf in :51.00) for trainer Eddie Kenneally; Merriebelle Stable's Walk In Marrakesh (IRE) (4 furlongs on turf in :49.00) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV.

July 12 stakes

TVG Elkhorn (G2) – Silverton Hill's Hellorhighwater (5 furlongs on turf in 1:05) for trainer Darrin Miller; Bloom Racing Stable's Henley's Joy (5 furlongs on turf in 1:01.80) for trainer Steve Asmussen.

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