Tag: GI Toyota Blue Grass S.

Sierra Leone Installed as 2-1 Morning-Line Favorite for Blue Grass

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), winner of the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 17, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered for Saturday's 100th running of the $1-million GI Toyota Blue Grass. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Sierra Leone and will exit from post 10.

Dornoch (Good Magic) (post four), a full-brother to GI 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1. Trained by Danny Gargan, Dornoch enters off a front-running victory in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2. Dornoch defeated Sierra Leone by a nose in the GII Remsen S.

“That's a good spot,” Gargan said. “He came out of the three hole in the Fountain of Youth and the Remsen. He will come out of there running and make his way through.”

Third choice on the morning line at 7-2 is Just a Touch (Justify), who enters off a runner-up effort in the GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct Mar. 2. Florent Geroux has the mount from post position 6.

The Toyota Blue Grass offers 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

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Keeneland Spring Meet Tickets On Sale Feb. 20

Tickets for Keeneland's 16-day Spring Meet, which runs April 5-26, go on sale Feb. 20. Headlined by the 100th running of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S., the meet will award more than $8.1m in purse money over 19 stakes races. Tickets can be purchased in advance here and fans are also welcome to tailgate on The Hill without a ticket or reservation. Keeneland will so also host fans for Kentucky Derby Day with general admission and Equestrian Room dining tickets available along with upgraded tailgate packages.

The post Keeneland Spring Meet Tickets On Sale Feb. 20 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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GSW Verifying To Stand At Florida’s Pleasant Acres Stallions

Verifying (Justify–Diva Delite, by Repent), winner of the GIII Indiana Derby and a half-brother to Eclipse winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for an introductory fee of $10,000 in 2024. Trained by Brad Cox after selling for $775,000 as a KEESEP yearling, Verifying began his career at two with a win in his first asking at Saratoga before placing in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont at the Big A in his second start. In addition to winning the Indiana Derby, he placed second in both the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. along with the GIII Matt Winn S. He retired with earnings of nearly $853,000.

“We are always looking for stallions we know will raise the bar in Florida,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions Owner Joe Barbazon. “We've had our eye on Verifying since he ran in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont. Not only has he shown athleticism and talent during his career, he has also lived up to his impeccable pedigree.”

Verifying joins stallions Bodexpress (Bodemeister), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Curlin's Honor (Curlin), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Gone Astray (Dixie Union), Gunnevera (Dialed In), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), No Never No More (Scat Daddy), Simplification (Not This Time) and Sweetontheladies (Twirling Candy), at the farm located just northwest of Ocala.

The post GSW Verifying To Stand At Florida’s Pleasant Acres Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Keeneland’s 2024 Spring Stakes Schedule Features 100th Toyota Blue Grass

In addition to awarding a season record $8.1 million for their 19 stakes races over the course of the meet running from Apr. 5-26, Keeneland will also celebrate the 100th running of the $1-million GI Toyota Blue Grass S. this spring. A total of $1.5 million is being contributed to the stakes purses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“Lucrative purses and outstanding competition make Keeneland's Spring Meet a highlight of the racing calendar for horsemen, horseplayers and fans during the first half of the year,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “We look forward to hosting the country's best horses and their connections here in April.”

A spring fixture for 3-year-olds with an eye on the Kentucky Derby, and an informal Lexington holiday, the Blue Grass has been held at Keeneland since the track's first spring meet in April 1937 and was first sponsored by Toyota in 1996. Run on the first Saturday of the Keeneland season, the race carries a lucrative 100 points for the first Saturday in May for the winner. It leads four others on the day including the GI Madison S., the GII Appalachian S., the GII Shakertown S., and the GIII Commonwealth S.

Running on Keeneland's opening day will be the 86th rendition of the GI Central Bank Ashland S., the GIII Transylvania S., and the Lafayette S. The first named carries 100 points toward the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Early nominations for the Oaks and Derby preps are due by Feb. 17, and late nominations are due Mar. 20.

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