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Blue Grass Stakes

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(Redirected from Toyota Blue Grass Stakes)
Not to be confused with Bluegrass Stakes.
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
Grade I race
LocationKeeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated1911
Race typeThoroughbred
Websitewww.drf.com/blue-grass-stakes/
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles (9 Furlongs)
Surfacedirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-old
Weight123 lbs (55.8 kg)
Purse$1,000,000 (since 2015)[1]

The Blue Grass Stakes, currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is a horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. The race is run at 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $1,000,000. The Blue Grass Stakes was a Grade I event from 1974 (when grading was first introduced) through 1989 and again from 1999 to 2016.[1] It was a Grade II event from 2017 to 2021,[2] and returned to a Grade I in 2022.

It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry.

First run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby.[3] At the Lexington Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926.[4] The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943–1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program.

From 2007 to 2014, the race was held on a synthetic "all-weather" surface. Otherwise, it has been run on a dirt surface.[1]

Records (Keeneland)

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Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)

Most wins by an owner

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

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Year[5] Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Gr.
2024 Sierra Leone Tyler Gaffalione Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant 1-1⁄8 1:52.13 I
2023 Tapit Trice Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable 1-1⁄8 1:50:00 I
2022 Zandon Flavien Prat Chad C. Brown Jeff Drown 1-1⁄8 1:50.35 I
2021 Essential Quality Luis Saez Brad H. Cox Godolphin 1-1⁄8 1:48.50 II
2020 Art Collector Brian Hernandez Jr. Thomas Drury Jr. Bruce Lunsford 1-1⁄8 1:48.11 II
2019 Vekoma Javier Castellano George Weaver R.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables 1-1⁄8 1:50.93 II
2018 Good Magic José Ortiz Chad C. Brown eFive Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables 1-1⁄8 1:50.18 II
2017 Irap Julien Leparoux Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing LLC 1-1⁄8 1:50.39 II
2016 Brody's Cause Luis Saez Dale L. Romans Albaugh Family Stable 1-1⁄8 1:50.20 I
2015 Carpe Diem John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables 1-1⁄8 1:49.77 I
2014 Dance With Fate Corey S. Nakatani Peter Eurton Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing 1-1⁄8 1:50.06 I
2013 Java's War Julien Leparoux Kenneth G. McPeek Charles E. Fipke 1-1⁄8 1:50.27 I
2012 Dullahan Kent Desormeaux Dale Romans Donegal Racing 1-1⁄8 1:47.94 I
2011 Brilliant Speed Joel Rosario Thomas Albertrani Live Oak Plantation 1-1⁄8 1:50.92 I
2010 Stately Victor Alan Garcia Michael J. Maker Thomas F. & Jack Conway 1-1⁄8 1:48.69 I
2009 General Quarters Eibar Coa Thomas R. McCarthy Thomas R. McCarthy 1-1⁄8 1:49.26 I
2008 Monba Edgar Prado Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing 1-1⁄8 1:49.71 I
2007 Dominican Rafael Bejarano Darrin Miller Silverton Hill LLC 1-1⁄8 1:51.33 I
2006 Sinister Minister Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Mercedes Stable, Lanni Family Trust & Bernard C. Schiappa 1-1⁄8 1:48.85 I
2005 Bandini John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael Tabor 1-1⁄8 1:48.85 I
2004 The Cliff's Edge Shane Sellers Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1-1⁄8 1:49.42 I
2003 Peace Rules Edgar Prado Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1-1⁄8 1:51.73 I
2002 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Ken McPeek Starlight Stable 1-1⁄8 1:51.51 I
2001 Millennium Wind Laffit Pincay Jr. David Hofmans David & Jill Heerensperger 1-1⁄8 1:48.32 I
2000 High Yield Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor, Robert B. Lewis, Sue Magnier 1-1⁄8 1:48.60 I
1999 Menifee Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Arthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone 1-1⁄8 1:48.60 I
1998 Halory Hunter Gary Stevens Nick Zito Celtic Pride Stable 1-1⁄8 1:47.80 II
1997 Pulpit Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.80 II
1996 Skip Away Shane Sellers Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine 1-1⁄8 1:47.20 II
1995 Wild Syn Randy Romero Thomas K. Arnemann Jurgen K. Arnemann 1-1⁄8 1:49.20 II
1994 Holy Bull Mike E. Smith Warren A. Croll Jr. Warren A. Croll Jr. 1-1⁄8 1:50.00 II
1993 Prairie Bayou Mike E. Smith Tom Bohannan Loblolly Stable 1-1⁄8 1:49.60 II
1992 Pistols and Roses Jacinto Vásquez George Gianos Willis Family Stables 1-1⁄8 1:49.00 II
1991 Strike the Gold Chris Antley Nick Zito BCC Stable 1-1⁄8 1:48.40 II
1990 Summer Squall Pat Day Neil J. Howard Dogwood Stable 1-1⁄8 1:48.60 II
1989 Western Playboy Randy Romero Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier & Ray Roncari 1-1⁄8 1:51.20 I
1988 Granacus Jacinto Vásquez Pat Collins Steve A. Stavro 1-1⁄8 1:52.20 I
1987 War Herb McCauley D. Wayne Lukas Tom Gentry 1-1⁄8 1:48.40 I
1986 Bachelor Beau Larry Melancon Philip Hauswald Richard A. Waterfield & James B. Tafel 1-1⁄8 1:51.20 I
1985 Chief's Crown Don MacBeth Roger Laurin Star Crown Stable 1-1⁄8 1:47.60 I
1984 Taylor's Special Pat Day William I. Mott William F. Lucas 1-1⁄8 1:52.20 I
1983 Play Fellow Jean Cruguet Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier, Carl Lauer, Robert Victor 1-1⁄8 1:49.40 I
1982 Linkage Bill Shoemaker Henry S. Clark Christiana Stable 1-1⁄8 1:48.00 I
1981 Proud Appeal Jeffrey Fell Stanley M. Hough Gainesway Farm et al. 1-1⁄8 1:51.40 I
1980 Rockhill Native John Oldham Herbert K. Stevens Harry A. Oak 1-1⁄8 1:50.00 I
1979 Spectacular Bid Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm 1-1⁄8 1:50.00 I
1978 Alydar Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.60 I
1977 For the Moment Ángel Cordero Jr. LeRoy Jolley Gerald Robins 1-1⁄8 1:50.20 I
1976 Honest Pleasure Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone 1-1⁄8 1:49.40 I
1975 Master Derby Darrel McHargue Smiley Adams Golden Chance Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.00 I
1974 Judger Laffit Pincay, Jr. Woody Stephens Seth W. Hancock 1-1⁄8 1:49.20 I
1973 My Gallant Ángel Cordero Jr. Lou Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 1-1⁄8 1:49.60
1972 Riva Ridge Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 1-1⁄8 1:49.60
1971 Impetuosity Eric Guerin George Poole Wendell P. Rosso 1-1⁄8 1:49.40
1970 Dust Commander Mike Manganello Don Combs Robert E. Lehmann 1-1⁄8 1:51.20
1969 Arts and Letters Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1-1⁄8 1:47.80
1968 Forward Pass Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:47.80
1967 Diplomat Way Johnny Sellers John O. Meaux Harvey Peltier Sr. 1-1⁄8 1:49.60
1966 Abe's Hope Bill Shoemaker Del W. Carroll Grand Prix Stable 1-1⁄8 1:49.20
1965 Lucky Debonair Bill Shoemaker Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice 1-1⁄8 1:49.00
1964 Northern Dancer Bill Hartack Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.80
1963 Chateaugay Braulio Baeza James P. Conway Darby Dan Farm 1-1⁄8 1:48.00
1962 Ridan Manuel Ycaza LeRoy Jolley Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer 1-1⁄8 1:47.60
1961 Sherluck Braulio Baeza Harold Young Jacob Sher 1-1⁄8 1:48.60
1960 Tompion Bill Shoemaker Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1-1⁄8 1:48.60
1959 Tomy Lee Bill Shoemaker Frank Childs Fred Turner Jr. 1-1⁄8 1:48.60
1958 Plion David Erb Tom Jolley Edward Potter Jr. 1-1⁄8 1:52.80
1957 Round Table Ralph Neves William Molter Kerr Stable 1-1⁄8 1:47.40
1956 Toby B. Robert L. Baird Robert E. Wingfield Gene Van Deren & O.S. Deming 1-1⁄8 1:51.00
1955 Racing Fool Henry Moreno Loyd Gentry Jr. Cain Hoy Stable 1-1⁄8 1:51.80
1954 Goyamo Eddie Arcaro Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm 1-1⁄8 1:50.60
1953 Correspondent Eddie Arcaro Wally Dunn Mrs. Gordon Guiberson 1-1⁄8 1:49.00
1952 Güshing Oil Steve Brooks Whitey Jansen Sam E. Wilson Jr. 1-1⁄8 1:52.40
1951 Mameluke Raymond Adair Sylvester Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1-1⁄8 1:54.40
1951 Ruhe Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Jean Denemark 1-1⁄8 1:54.20
1950 Mr. Trouble Douglas Dodson Sylvester Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1-1⁄8 1:50.40
1949 Halt Conn McCreary Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm 1-1⁄8 1:52.60
1948 Coaltown Newbold L. Pierson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.20
1947 Faultless Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:51.20
1946 Lord Boswell Eddie Arcaro James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm 1-1⁄8 1:51.60
1945 Darby Dieppe Melvin Calvert Charles Gentry Mrs. W. Graham Lewis 1-1⁄8 1:53.40
1944 Skytracer Mike Cafferella Frank J. Baker Manuel B. Goff 1-1⁄8 1:52.60
1943 Ocean Wave Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:53.80
1942 Shut Out Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1-1⁄8 1:52.40
1941 Our Boots Conn McCreary Steve Judge Woodvale Farm 1-1⁄8 1:51.20
1940 Bimelech Fred A. Smith Bill Hurley Edward R. Bradley 1-1⁄8 1:51.00
1939 Heather Broom Basil James Earl Sande John Hay Whitney 1-1⁄8 1:54.20
1938 Bull Lea Irving Anderson Frank J. Kearns Calumet Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.60
1937 Fencing Jack Westrope Earl Sande Maxwell Howard 1-1⁄8 1:57.20
* 1951 – The race was made up of two heats. Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth.

Winners of the Lexington Association Blue Grass Stakes

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Winner
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Distance
(Miles)
 Time
1926 Bubbling Over Eddie Legere Herbert J. Thompson Idle Hour Stock Farm 1-1⁄8 1:49.60
1925 Step Along Earl Pool William Perkins Frederick M. Grabner 1-1⁄8 1:51.60
1924 Altawood Lawrence McDermott G. Hamilton Keene C. Bruce Head 1-1⁄8 1:51.80
1923 Bo McMillan Danny Connelly Louis Cahn Thomas J. Pendergast 1-1⁄8 1:56.80
1922 Busy American Newton Barrett Herbert J. Thompson Idle Hour Stock Farm 1-1⁄8 1:55.80
1921 Black Servant Newton Barrett Herbert J. Thompson Idle Hour Stock Farm 1-1⁄8 1:54.60
1920 Peace Pennant Mack Garner Joseph S. Hawkins W. F. Polson 1-1⁄8 1:51.80
1919 Regalo Frank Murphy John C. Gallaher Gallaher Bros. 1-1⁄8 1:51.60
1915–1918 No races
1914 Bronzewing John McCabe Daniel Lehan A. P. Humphrey, Jr. 1-1⁄8 1:51.80
1913 Foundation Charles Peak William McDaniel Charles W. McKenna 1-1⁄8 1:51.40
1912 Sprite Carroll H. Shilling William H. Karrick Harry K. Knapp 1-1⁄8 1:51.20
1911 Governor Gray George Molesworth James S. Everman R. N. Smith & Co. 1-1⁄8 1.51.20

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Blue Grass Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Blue Grass, Wood Memorial Downgraded". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. ^ Daily Racing Form March 19, 1919 article titled "Lexingtons Interesting New Race: Blue Grass Stakes to Serve as a Trial for the Kentucky Derby Candidates" Retrieved August 12, 2018
  4. ^ Daily Racing Form, 1945-06-02, Lexington Association's Blue Grass Stakes history
  5. ^ "Blue Grass Stakes History" (PDF). Keeneland Association. 2009-02-24. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
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