Blue Grass Stakes

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
Grade 1 race
Location Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated 1911
Race type Thoroughbred
Website Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
Race information
Distance 1⅛ miles (9 Furlongs)
Track dirt, Left-handed
Qualification 3-year-old American-bred
Weight 123 lbs (55.8 kg)
Purse US$1,000,000. (2015)

The Blue Grass Stakes, currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.

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. At the Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926. 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.

The race is run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt.

Records

Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of 1⅛ miles)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer: (tied)

Winners of the Blue Grass Stakes

Year[1]
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
(Miles)
Time
Grade
2015 Carpe Diem 3 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm/Stonestreet Stables 1-1/8 1:49.77 I
2014 Dance With Fate 3 Corey S. Nakatani Peter Eurton Alesia/Bran Jam Stable/Ciaglia Racing 1-1/8 1:50.06 I
2013 Java's War 3 Julien Leparoux Kenneth G. McPeek Charles E. Fipke 1-1/8 1:50.27 I
2012 Dullahan 3 Kent Desormeaux Dale Romans Donegal Racing 1-1/8 1:47.94 I
2011 Brilliant Speed 3 Joel Rosario Thomas Albertrani Live Oak Plantation 1-1/8 1:50.92 I
2010 Stately Victor 3 Alan Garcia Michael J. Maker F. Thomas & Jack Conway 1-1/8 1:48.69 I
2009 General Quarters 3 Eibar Coa Thomas R. McCarthy Thomas R. McCarthy 1-1/8 1:49.26 I
2008 Monba 3 Edgar Prado Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Stables et al. 1-1/8 1:49.71 I
2007 Dominican 3 Rafael Bejarano Darrin Miller Silverton Hill LLC 1-1/8 1:51.33 I
2006 Sinister Minister 3 Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Mercedes Stable et al. 1-1/8 1:48.85 I
2005 Bandini 3 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael Tabor 1-1/8 1:48.85 I
2004 The Cliff's Edge 3 Shane Sellers Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1-1/8 1:49.42 I
2003 Peace Rules 3 Edgar Prado Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1-1/8 1:51.73 I
2002 Harlan's Holiday 3 Edgar Prado Ken McPeek Starlight Stable 1-1/8 1:51.51 I
2001 Millennium Wind 3 Laffit Pincay, Jr. David Hofmans D & J Heerensperger 1-1/8 1:48.32 I
2000 High Yield 3 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Tabor/Lewis/Magnier 1-1/8 1:48.60 I
1999 Menifee 3 Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Hancock / Stone 1-1/8 1:48.60 I
1998 Halory Hunter 3 Gary Stevens Nick Zito Celtic Pride Stable 1-1/8 1:47.80 I
1997 Pulpit 3 Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm 1-1/8 1:49.80 I
1996 Skip Away 3 Shane Sellers Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine 1-1/8 1:47.20 I
1995 Wild Syn 3 Randy Romero Thomas K. Arnemann Jurgen K. Arnemann 1-1/8 1:49.20 I
1994 Holy Bull 3 Mike E. Smith Warren A. Croll, Jr. Warren A. Croll, Jr. 1-1/8 1:50.00 I
1993 Prairie Bayou 3 Mike E. Smith Tom Bohannan Loblolly Stable 1-1/8 1:49.60 I
1992 Pistols and Roses 3 Jacinto Vasquez George Gianos Willis Family Stables 1-1/8 1:49.00 I
1991 Strike the Gold 3 Chris Antley Nick Zito BCC Stable 1-1/8 1:48.40 I
1990 Summer Squall 3 Pat Day Neil J. Howard Dogwood Stable 1-1/8 1:48.60 I
1989 Western Playboy 3 Randy Romero Harvey L. Vanier N. Vanier/R. Roncari 1-1/8 1:51.20 I
1988 Granacus 3 Jacinto Vasquez Pat Collins Steve A. Stavro 1-1/8 1:52.20 I
1987 War 3 Herb McCauley D. Wayne Lukas Tom Gentry 1-1/8 1:48.40 I
1986 Bachelor Beau 3 Larry Melancon Philip Hauswald R. A. Waterfield/J. B. Tafel 1-1/8 1:51.20 I
1985 Chief's Crown 3 Don MacBeth Roger Laurin Star Crown Stable 1-1/8 1:47.60 I
1984 Taylor's Special 3 Pat Day William I. Mott William F. Lucas 1-1/8 1:52.20 I
1983 Play Fellow 3 Jean Cruguet Harvey L. Vanier Vanier/Lauer/Victor 1-1/8 1:49.40 I
1982 Linkage 3 Bill Shoemaker Henry S. Clark Christiana Stable 1-1/8 1:48.00 I
1981 Proud Appeal 3 Jeffrey Fell Stanley M. Hough Gainesway Farm et al. 1-1/8 1:51.40 I
1980 Rockhill Native 3 John Oldham Herbert K. Stevens Harry A. Oak 1-1/8 1:50.00 I
1979 Spectacular Bid 3 Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm 1-1/8 1:50.00 I
1978 Alydar 3 Jorge Velasquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:49.60 I
1977 For the Moment 3 Angel Cordero, Jr. LeRoy Jolley Gerald Robins 1-1/8 1:50.20 I
1976 Honest Pleasure 3 Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone 1-1/8 1:49.40 I
1975 Master Derby 3 Darrel McHargue Smiley Adams Golden Chance Farm 1-1/8 1:49.00 I
1974 Judger 3 Laffit Pincay, Jr. Woody Stephens Seth W. Hancock 1-1/8 1:49.20 I
1973 My Gallant 3 Angel Cordero, Jr. Lou Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 1-1/8 1:49.60 I
1972 Riva Ridge 3 Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 1-1/8 1:49.60
1971 Impetuosity 3 Eric Guerin George Poole W. P. Rosso 1-1/8 1:49.40
1970 Dust Commander 3 Mike Manganello Don Combs Robert E. Lehmann 1-1/8 1:51.20
1969 Arts and Letters 3 Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1-1/8 1:47.80
1968 Forward Pass 3 Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:47.80
1967 Diplomat Way 3 Johnny Sellers John O. Meaux Harvey Peltier 1-1/8 1:49.60
1966 Abe's Hope 3 Bill Shoemaker Del W. Carroll Grand Prix Stable 1-1/8 1:49.20
1965 Lucky Debonair 3 Bill Shoemaker Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice 1-1/8 1:49.00
1964 Northern Dancer 3 Bill Hartack Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 1-1/8 1:49.80
1963 Chateaugay 3 Braulio Baeza James P. Conway Darby Dan Farm 1-1/8 1:48.00
1962 Ridan 3 Manuel Ycaza LeRoy Jolley Jolley/Woods/Greer 1-1/8 1:47.60
1961 Sherluck 3 Braulio Baeza Harold Young Jacob Sher 1-1/8 1:48.60
1960 Tompion 3 Bill Shoemaker Robert L. Wheeler C. V. Whitney 1-1/8 1:48.60
1959 Tomy Lee 3 Bill Shoemaker Frank Childs Fred Turner, Jr. 1-1/8 1:48.60
1958 Plion 3 David Erb Tom Jolley Edward Potter, Jr. 1-1/8 1:52.80
1957 Round Table 3 Ralph Neves William Molter Kerr Stable 1-1/8 1:47.40
1956 Toby B. 3 Robert L. Baird R. E. Wingfield Van Deren & Deming 1-1/8 1:51.00
1955 Racing Fool 3 Henry Moreno Loyd Gentry, Jr. Cain Hoy Stable 1-1/8 1:51.80
1954 Goyamo 3 Eddie Arcaro Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm 1-1/8 1:50.60
1953 Correspondent 3 Eddie Arcaro Wally Dunn Mrs. Gordon Guiberson 1-1/8 1:49.00
1952 Gushing Oil 3 Steve Brooks Whitey Jansen Sam E. Wilson, Jr. 1-1/8 1:52.40
1951 Mameluke 3 Raymond Adair Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1-1/8 1:54.40
1951 Ruhe 3 Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Mrs. Emil Denemark 1-1/8 1:54.20
1950 Mr. Trouble 3 Douglas Dodson Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1-1/8 1:50.40
1949 Halt 3 Conn McCreary Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm 1-1/8 1:52.60
1948 Coaltown 3 Newbold L. Pierson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:49.20
1947 Faultless 3 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:51.20
1946 Lord Boswell 3 Eddie Arcaro James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm 1-1/8 1:51.60
1945 Darby Dieppe 3 Melvin Calvert Charles Gentry Mrs. W. G. Lewis 1-1/8 1:53.40
1944 Skytracer 3 Mike Cafferella Frank J. Baker Manuel B. Goff 1-1/8 1:52.60
1943 Ocean Wave 3 Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:53.80
1942 Shut Out 3 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable 1-1/8 1:52.40
1941 Our Boots 3 Conn McCreary Steve Judge Woodvale Farm 1-1/8 1:51.20
1940 Bimelech 3 Fred A. Smith Bill Hurley Edward R. Bradley 1-1/8 1:51.00
1939 Heather Broom 3 Basil James Earl Sande John Hay Whitney 1-1/8 1:54.20
1938 Bull Lea 3 Irving Anderson Frank J. Kearns Calumet Farm 1-1/8 1:49.60
1937 Fencing 3 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.

See also

References

  1. "Blue Grass Stakes History" (pdf). Keeneland Association. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-10-24.

External links