Not a whole lot was settled by the surprising results of the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland: The top five finishers in the field of seven all have enough qualifying points and appear likely to run back May 6 in the Kentucky Derby.
The road to the 2017 Kentucky Derby took yet another bizarre twist Saturday when Irap, previously a maiden, posted a 31-1 upset in the 93rd running of the Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes, the annual spring showcase at Keeneland.
Classic Empire and Petrov, who are among the leading contenders for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 15, both put in final works for the race Saturday. They are part of an anticipated field of 10 or 11 for the 1 1/8-mile race that closes out the meet at Oaklawn.
The fields for the seven stakes races making up the $3.45 million Racing Festival of the South, which runs from Thursday through Saturday at Oaklawn, are taking shape, with a large group of 3-year-olds anticipated for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.
Mo Town and Irish War Cry seek rejuvenation. Battalion Runner and Cloud Computing seek validation. All four are seeking an invitation to the Kentucky Derby when they meet in Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Now that West Coast 3-year-old leader Mastery is out of the picture with an injury, the Santa Anita Derby drew a huge field of 13. Four of the runners have never even run in a stakes race.
In a search for a price, I'm going with Practical Joke in Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Some of the most promising 3-year-olds in the land will take part Saturday in the 93rd running of the Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass. McCraken, Tapwrit, Practical Joke, and J Boys Echo are among a field of seven in what many are calling the deepest prep race on the road to the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
My feeling is the allowance route last month in which Battle of Midway held off Reach the World will have a big impact in Saturday' Santa Anita Derby. Battle of Midway was wide all the way around the track that day and held determinedly, but I'm going with Reach the World.