Blame shipping back to Kentucky

Blame, winner of the Clark Handicap in his final start of 2009 and perhaps the top older horse stabled at Fair Grounds this winter, is about ready to head north and begin final preparations for his 2010 debut. Blame either will ship to Kentucky this weekend or a few days later, trainer Al Stall said.

Blame is scheduled to make his first start of the year on April 30 in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs, where he won the Clark in November.

"The Alysheba to the Stephen Foster is our tentative game plan," Stall said.

Blame has gotten up to a half-mile in his Fair Grounds works but is ready to work five-eighths, Stall said. Whether his first longer breeze comes at Fair Grounds or after he ships hasn't yet been determined, Stall said.

"I'm not in that big of a hurry with him, because he didn't get soft, didn't get mushy, and his mind is on it, too," Stall said.

* The Friday feature at Fair Grounds is race 8, an entry-level, two-turn allowance race for older horses that drew a field of seven. Peahi and Brilliantbrilliant, two-three in a similar race on Feb. 12, figure to be among the favorites.