Blue Grass Stakes
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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />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)
Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles)
- 1:47.20 – Skip Away (1996)
Most wins by an owner
- 6 – Calumet Farm (1938, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1968, 1978)
Most wins by a jockey
- 6 – Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1982)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2005, 2008, 2015, 2023)
Winners
| Year[5] | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Burnham Square | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.33 | I |
| 2024 | Sierra Leone | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.08 | I |
| 2023 | Tapit Trice | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | I |
| 2022 | Zandon | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Jeff Drown | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.35 | I |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.50 | II |
| 2020 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Thomas Drury Jr. | Bruce Lunsford | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.11 | II |
| 2019 | Vekoma | Javier Castellano | George Weaver | R.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.93 | II |
| 2018 | Good Magic | José Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | eFive Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.18 | II |
| 2017 | Irap | Julien Leparoux | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing LLC | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.39 | II |
| 2016 | Brody's Cause | Luis Saez | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | I |
| 2015 | Carpe Diem | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.77 | I |
| 2014 | Dance With Fate | Corey S. Nakatani | Peter Eurton | Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.06 | I |
| 2013 | Java's War | Julien Leparoux | Kenneth G. McPeek | Charles E. Fipke | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.27 | I |
| 2012 | Dullahan | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.94 | I |
| 2011 | Brilliant Speed | Joel Rosario | Thomas Albertrani | Live Oak Plantation | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.92 | I |
| 2010 | Stately Victor | Alan Garcia | Michael J. Maker | Thomas F. & Jack Conway | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.69 | I |
| 2009 | General Quarters | Eibar Coa | Thomas R. McCarthy | Thomas R. McCarthy | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.26 | I |
| 2008 | Monba | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.71 | I |
| 2007 | Dominican | Rafael Bejarano | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hill LLC | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.33 | I |
| 2006 | Sinister Minister | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Mercedes Stable, Lanni Family Trust & Bernard C. Schiappa | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.85 | I |
| 2005 | Bandini | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.85 | I |
| 2004 | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.42 | I |
| 2003 | Peace Rules | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.73 | I |
| 2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado | Ken McPeek | Starlight Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.51 | I |
| 2001 | Millennium Wind | Laffit Pincay Jr. | David Hofmans | David & Jill Heerensperger | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.32 | I |
| 2000 | High Yield | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor, Robert B. Lewis, Sue Magnier | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | I |
| 1999 | Menifee | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Arthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | I |
| 1998 | Halory Hunter | Gary Stevens | Nick Zito | Celtic Pride Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.80 | II |
| 1997 | Pulpit | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.80 | II |
| 1996 | Skip Away | Shane Sellers | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.20 | II |
| 1995 | Wild Syn | Randy Romero | Thomas K. Arnemann | Jurgen K. Arnemann | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | II |
| 1993 | Prairie Bayou | Mike E. Smith | Tom Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | II |
| 1992 | Pistols and Roses | Jacinto Vásquez | George Gianos | Willis Family Stables | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | II |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.40 | II |
| 1990 | Summer Squall | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Dogwood Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | II |
| 1989 | Western Playboy | Randy Romero | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier & Ray Roncari | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | I |
| 1988 | Granacus | Jacinto Vásquez | Pat Collins | Steve A. Stavro | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | I |
| 1987 | War | Herb McCauley | D. Wayne Lukas | Tom Gentry | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.40 | I |
| 1986 | Bachelor Beau | Larry Melancon | Philip Hauswald | Richard A. Waterfield & James B. Tafel | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | I |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.60 | I |
| 1984 | Taylor's Special | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | I |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Jean Cruguet | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier, Carl Lauer, Robert Victor | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.40 | I |
| 1982 | Linkage | Bill Shoemaker | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.00 | I |
| 1981 | Proud Appeal | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley M. Hough | Gainesway Farm et al. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.40 | I |
| 1980 | Rockhill Native | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | I |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | I |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | I |
| 1977 | For the Moment | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Gerald Robins | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | I |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.40 | I |
| 1975 | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | I |
| 1974 | Judger | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Woody Stephens | Seth W. Hancock | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | I |
| 1973 | My Gallant | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Lou Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1971 | Impetuosity | Eric Guerin | George Poole | Wendell P. Rosso | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.40 | |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.80 | |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.80 | |
| 1967 | Diplomat Way | Johnny Sellers | John O. Meaux | Harvey Peltier Sr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1966 | Abe's Hope | Bill Shoemaker | Del W. Carroll | Grand Prix Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.80 | |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.00 | |
| 1962 | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza | LeRoy Jolley | Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.60 | |
| 1961 | Sherluck | Braulio Baeza | Harold Young | Jacob Sher | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | |
| 1960 | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker | Robert L. Wheeler | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Childs | Fred Turner Jr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | |
| 1958 | Plion | David Erb | Tom Jolley | Edward Potter Jr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.80 | |
| 1957 | Round Table | Ralph Neves | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:47.40 | |
| 1956 | Toby B. | Robert L. Baird | Robert E. Wingfield | Gene Van Deren & O.S. Deming | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.00 | |
| 1955 | Racing Fool | Henry Moreno | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Cain Hoy Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | |
| 1954 | Goyamo | Eddie Arcaro | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | |
| 1953 | Correspondent | Eddie Arcaro | Wally Dunn | Mrs. Gordon Guiberson | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | |
| 1952 | Güshing Oil | Steve Brooks | Whitey Jansen | Sam E. Wilson Jr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.40 | |
| 1951 | Mameluke | Raymond Adair | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:54.40 | |
| 1951 | Ruhe | Job Dean Jessop | Robert McGarvey | Jean Denemark | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:54.20 | |
| 1950 | Mr. Trouble | Douglas Dodson | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:50.40 | |
| 1949 | Halt | Conn McCreary | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.60 | |
| 1948 | Coaltown | Newbold L. Pierson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | |
| 1947 | Faultless | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | |
| 1946 | Lord Boswell | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.60 | |
| 1945 | Darby Dieppe | Melvin Calvert | Charles Gentry | Mrs. W. Graham Lewis | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:53.40 | |
| 1944 | Skytracer | Mike Cafferella | Frank J. Baker | Manuel B. Goff | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.60 | |
| 1943 | Ocean Wave | Wendell Eads | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:53.80 | |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:52.40 | |
| 1941 | Our Boots | Conn McCreary | Steve Judge | Woodvale Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | |
| 1940 | Bimelech | Fred A. Smith | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.00 | |
| 1939 | Heather Broom | Basil James | Earl Sande | John Hay Whitney | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:54.20 | |
| 1938 | Bull Lea | Irving Anderson | Frank J. Kearns | Calumet Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1937 | Fencing | Jack Westrope | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:57.20 |
<templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />
* 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
| Winner |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | Eddie Legere | Herbert J. Thompson | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | ||
| 1925 | Step Along | Earl Pool | William Perkins | Frederick M. Grabner | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.60 | ||
| 1924 | Altawood | Lawrence McDermott | G. Hamilton Keene | C. Bruce Head | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | ||
| 1923 | Bo McMillan | Danny Connelly | Louis Cahn | Thomas J. Pendergast | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:56.80 | ||
| 1922 | Busy American | Newton Barrett | Herbert J. Thompson | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:55.80 | ||
| 1921 | Black Servant | Newton Barrett | Herbert J. Thompson | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:54.60 | ||
| 1920 | Peace Pennant | Mack Garner | Joseph S. Hawkins | William F. Polson | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | ||
| 1919 | Regalo | Frank Murphy | John C. Gallaher | Gallaher Bros. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.60 | ||
| 1915–1918 | No races | |||||||
| 1914 | Bronzewing | John McCabe | Daniel Lehan | A. P. Humphrey, Jr. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | ||
| 1913 | Foundation | Charles Peak | William McDaniel | Charles W. McKenna | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.40 | ||
| 1912 | Sprite | Carroll H. Shilling | William H. Karrick | Harry K. Knapp | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | ||
| 1911 | Governor Gray | George Molesworth | James S. Everman | R. N. Smith & Co. | 1-<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄8 | 1.51.20 | ||
See also
References
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Daily Racing Form, 1945-06-02, Lexington Association's Blue Grass Stakes history
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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