Lat Long will start in Blue Grass

Lat Long, who was a maiden special weight winner over Common Defense in December at Oaklawn, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Blue Grass on Saturday at Keeneland, trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday.

Lat Long last raced Jan. 20 and was third in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds. He worked a bullet half-mile in 46.40 seconds Sunday at Churchill Downs.

McPeek also trains Common Defense, who came back to win his maiden at Oaklawn one start after facing Lat Long and later in the meet ran second in the Grade 2 Rebel.

McPeek said Common Defense is being pointed to the Kentucky Derby as his connections monitor the points situation. He was sitting 18th on the list, with 37 points through Sunday.

“We’ve got him nominated to the Lexington and we also could run Footprint in the Lexington,” McPeek said.

McPeek has had a strong season with the barn’s 3-year-olds. Mystik Dan won the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest in February at Oaklawn and was third in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday in his final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

On the same Saturday card, McPeek-trained Thorpedo Anna earned a spot in the Kentucky Oaks with her win in the Grade 2 Fantasy.

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