Blue Grass tops among 19 stakes
Keeneland Race Course released its spring stakes schedule Wednesday with minimal changes and an announced value of more than $4.2 million for the 19-race schedule.
As usual, the meet will be front-loaded with major races, with the first seven days of racing to include the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes, Grade 2 Madison, Grade 2 Beaumont, Grade 2 Maker's Mark Mile, Grade 2 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup, Grade 2 Jenny Wiley, and the traditional meet highlight, the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on April 15.
Notable races later at the Lexington, Ky., track include the April 21 Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings, a Grade 1 steeplechase, and the Grade 2 Lexington on April 22.
As previously announced, both the Madison and the Jenny Wiley have been elevated to Grade 2's.
Fourteen of the 19 stakes are graded, and at least one stakes will be run every day of the 15-day meet, which runs April 7-28.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,April 7 | Transylvania (G3) | 3YO | 1 mile (T) | $150,000 |
| Sat.,April 8 | Ashland (G1) | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 500,000 |
| Sun.,April 9 | Lafayette | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Wed.,April 12 | Madison (G2) | F&M, 4YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Thur.,April 13 | Beaumont (G2) | 3YO F | 7 furlongs, 184 ft. | 250,000 |
| Fri.,April 14 | Maker's Mark Mile (G2) | 4YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 250,000 |
| Fri.,April 14 | Shakertown (G3) | 3YO & Up | 5 1/2 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,April 15 | Blue Grass (G1) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 750,000 |
| Sat.,April 15 | Commonwealth B.C. (G2) | 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 400,000 |
| Sat.,April 15 | Jenny Wiley (G2) | F&M, 4YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Wed.,April 19 | Doubledogdare | F&M, 4YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Thur.,April 20 | Forerunner | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri.,April 21 | Royal Chase/Spt. of Kings (NSA-G1) | 4YO & Up | 2 1/2 miles (h) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Lexington (G2) | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 325,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Giant's Causeway | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 1/2 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sun.,April 23 | Appalachian | 3YO F | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Wed.,April 26 | Bewitch (G3) | F&M, 4YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Thur.,April 27 | Ben Ali (G3) | 4YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 150,000 |
| Fri.,April 28 | Elkhorn (G3) | 4YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 200,000 |