Full field expected for Blue Grass Stakes

The names of about a dozen 3-year-olds are expected to be in the entry box at Keeneland on Wednesday, when entries are drawn for the Blue Grass Stakes, including five members of the current Top 20 in Daily Racing Form’s weekly Derby Watch.

Art Collector, Basin, Enforceable, Mr. Big News, and Shivaree all are expected for the Grade 2, $600,000 Blue Grass, which will be run Saturday for the 94th time. The 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass is a 100-40-20-10 points qualifier toward the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Shivaree will be in from Gulfstream Park for Ralph Nicks, who spent much of his professional career in Kentucky prior to making Florida his main circuit several years ago. Shivaree was 80-1 when finishing second to Tiz the Law, the eventual Belmont Stakes winner and current Derby favorite, in the March 28 Florida Derby. The colt had his final pre-race breeze, going five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday morning at Gulfstream.

“He’s a throwback horse, tough and durable,” Nicks said. “This is a pretty big ask, but he deserves a chance and we’re glad to give it to him.”

In addition to the Derby Watch group and the possibility of the star filly Swiss Skydiver being entered, these were the other confirmed Blue Grass runners as of Monday: Attachment Rate, Finnick the Fierce, Hard Lighting, Hunt the Front, Man in the Can, and Rushie. As many as 14 can start.

Hunt the Front, a one-time winner from seven starts, is trained by Nick Zito, a three-time Blue Grass winner with Strike the Gold (1990), Halory Hunter (1998), and The Cliff’s Edge (2004).

Aside from TVG, there is no network television coverage confirmed for the Blue Grass, marking the first time in many years the race will not be televised to a broader audience. In fact, the only scheduled network telecast during this meet is the Elkhorn on a two-hour Sunday show (5-7 p.m. Eastern) on NBCSN.