Blue Prize returns in Doubledogdare

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Blue Prize, whose breakout 2018 included a victory last fall in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland, will return to action Friday when she will be favored in a field of eight fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Trained by Ignacio Correas for Merriebelle Stable, Blue Prize shows 13 breezes since mid-January (11 at Tampa Bay Downs and two here) in preparation for her first start since finishing fourth in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill. The Argentine-bred mare will have Joe Bravo back aboard when she breaks from post 2 and faces the capable likes of Electric Forest, Moonlit Garden, Go Google Yourself, and Golden Award.

The Doubledogdare, the ninth of 10 Friday races, is part of a card that also includes three allowances. After Friday, only the twin turf marathons remain on the spring stakes schedule, those being the Grade 2 Dixiana Elkhorn on Saturday and the Grade 3 Bewitch on closing day, April 26.