[xxzzfile]

Keeneland Saturday, April 14
$750,000 Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes Preview

By Full Card Reports

(Post Time: 6:18 pm ET) The Grade 1 $750k Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland is one of the premier Kentucky Derby prep races. It last produced a winner of the Run for the Roses in 2007 when Street Sense used his second place finish as a springboard to the Churchill Downs winners circle. This is clearly the best rendition of the race since that Calvin Borel ridden colt competed in it. Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders.

Clearly, the horse to beat is HANSEN (Tapit x Stormy Sunday by Sir Cat). The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ has changed significantly since his juvenile season and now races without blinkers. He was last seen wiping out a good field in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, a race where he sat behind the pace for the first time. Owner Kendall Hansen refers to him as a “Little Ferrari”. From what he has shown on the track, that’s a pretty accurate statement. It’s going to take a very good racehorse to defeat the 6-5 morning line favorite.

The co-second choice in this race at 6-1 is DULLAHAN (Even The Score x Mining My Own by Smart Strike). The half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird started his three-year-old campaign with a second place finish in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes. The closer really had no pace to set things up for him. A much stronger effort is in order for today and the screws are tight according to trainer Dale Romans after a five furlong work in :57 2/5 H over the Keeneland main track.

Todd Pletcher will bring HEAVY BREATHING (Giant’s Causeway x Takesmybreathaway by Gone West) to the Blue Grass Stakes. A first out winner going 7 ½ furlong, he returned from that effort to win a 9 furlong allowance race at Gulfstream by 4 ¼ lengths. Last out, in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes, he faded to third after setting the early pace. He was forced to go very fast early that day and will likely move forward from that effort. Corey Lanerie gets the call to ride at 12-1.

HOWE GREAT (Hat Trick x Ginger Sea by Western Winter) is owned by last year’s Kentucky Derby winning connections, Team Valor International. Their owner, Barry Irwin, lamented that their 6-1 shot probably can’t beat Hansen and he called the white colt the best of the crop. They run the race for a reason though and this is a colt on a four race winning streak. Speed is his weapon and he will look to take them as far as he can under JJ Castellano. The Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes winner will be racing on synthetic for the first time, but has registered three wins on the grass.

PROSPECTIVE (Malibu Moon x Spirited Away by Awesome Again) will get plenty of support at 10-1. The Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby winner is conditioned by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Luis Contreras. He was a winner of two synthetic races at Woodbine as a juvenile, including a triumph in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes. The closer will be moving late as he races with blinkers for the second consecutive time.

Russian trainer Gennadi Dorrochenko brings RUSSIAN GREEK (Giant’s Causeway x Sand Dollar by Grindstone) and Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order (Sharp Humor x Ocean Sprite by Ocean Crest). The latter is racing on 13 days rest after his 109-1 upset at Fair Grounds. Eddie Martin retains the mount and he will be 12-1 here. Russian Greek, 50-1, will be piloted by Miguel Mena after failing to fire in the Spiral Stakes last out.

The $600k purchase EVER SO LUCKY (Indian Charlie x Bally Storm by Summer Squall) enters this race after a sharp :57 H five furlong move at Keeneland that saw him get the six furlongs in 1:09. He has raced just once this year finishing third in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes, a race that saw the winner Trinniberg return to win the Bay Shore Stakes. Ever So Lucky was an impressive first out winner in November before wheeling back on 15 days rest to be second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

John J. Moore

[harthebar]

What are his power ratings .his picks.