Grade II thoroughbred horse race
Horse race
The Blue Grass Stakes , currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation , is a horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky . The race is run at 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $1,000,000. The Blue Grass Stakes was a Grade I event from 1974 (when grading was first introduced) through 1989 and again from 1999 to 2016.[ 1] It was a Grade II event from 2017 to 2021,[ 2] and returned to a Grade I in 2022.
It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky , characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry.
First run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby .[ 3] At the Lexington Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926.[ 4] The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943–1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program.
From 2007 to 2014, the race was held on a synthetic "all-weather" surface . Otherwise, it has been run on a dirt surface.[ 1]
Records (Keeneland)[ edit ]
Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles)
Most wins by an owner
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer :
Year[ 5]
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Gr.
2024
Sierra Leone
Tyler Gaffalione
Chad C. Brown
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier , Michael Tabor , Westerburg , Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.13
I
2023
Tapit Trice
Luis Saez
Todd A. Pletcher
Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:50:00
I
2022
Zandon
Flavien Prat
Chad C. Brown
Jeff Drown
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.35
I
2021
Essential Quality
Luis Saez
Brad H. Cox
Godolphin
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.50
II
2020
Art Collector
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Thomas Drury Jr.
Bruce Lunsford
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.11
II
2019
Vekoma
Javier Castellano
George Weaver
R.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.93
II
2018
Good Magic
José Ortiz
Chad C. Brown
eFive Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.18
II
2017
Irap
Julien Leparoux
Doug O'Neill
Reddam Racing LLC
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.39
II
2016
Brody's Cause
Luis Saez
Dale L. Romans
Albaugh Family Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.20
I
2015
Carpe Diem
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.77
I
2014
Dance With Fate
Corey S. Nakatani
Peter Eurton
Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.06
I
2013
Java's War
Julien Leparoux
Kenneth G. McPeek
Charles E. Fipke
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.27
I
2012
Dullahan
Kent Desormeaux
Dale Romans
Donegal Racing
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.94
I
2011
Brilliant Speed
Joel Rosario
Thomas Albertrani
Live Oak Plantation
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.92
I
2010
Stately Victor
Alan Garcia
Michael J. Maker
Thomas F. & Jack Conway
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.69
I
2009
General Quarters
Eibar Coa
Thomas R. McCarthy
Thomas R. McCarthy
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.26
I
2008
Monba
Edgar Prado
Todd A. Pletcher
Starlight Racing
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.71
I
2007
Dominican
Rafael Bejarano
Darrin Miller
Silverton Hill LLC
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.33
I
2006
Sinister Minister
Garrett Gomez
Bob Baffert
Mercedes Stable , Lanni Family Trust & Bernard C. Schiappa
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.85
I
2005
Bandini
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
Michael Tabor
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.85
I
2004
The Cliff's Edge
Shane Sellers
Nick Zito
Robert V. LaPenta
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.42
I
2003
Peace Rules
Edgar Prado
Robert J. Frankel
Edmund A. Gann
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.73
I
2002
Harlan's Holiday
Edgar Prado
Ken McPeek
Starlight Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.51
I
2001
Millennium Wind
Laffit Pincay Jr.
David Hofmans
David & Jill Heerensperger
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.32
I
2000
High Yield
Pat Day
D. Wayne Lukas
Michael Tabor , Robert B. Lewis , Sue Magnier
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
I
1999
Menifee
Pat Day
W. Elliott Walden
Arthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
I
1998
Halory Hunter
Gary Stevens
Nick Zito
Celtic Pride Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.80
II
1997
Pulpit
Shane Sellers
Frank L. Brothers
Claiborne Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.80
II
1996
Skip Away
Shane Sellers
Sonny Hine
Carolyn Hine
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.20
II
1995
Wild Syn
Randy Romero
Thomas K. Arnemann
Jurgen K. Arnemann
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.20
II
1994
Holy Bull
Mike E. Smith
Warren A. Croll Jr.
Warren A. Croll Jr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.00
II
1993
Prairie Bayou
Mike E. Smith
Tom Bohannan
Loblolly Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
II
1992
Pistols and Roses
Jacinto Vásquez
George Gianos
Willis Family Stables
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.00
II
1991
Strike the Gold
Chris Antley
Nick Zito
BCC Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.40
II
1990
Summer Squall
Pat Day
Neil J. Howard
Dogwood Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
II
1989
Western Playboy
Randy Romero
Harvey L. Vanier
Nancy A. Vanier & Ray Roncari
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
I
1988
Granacus
Jacinto Vásquez
Pat Collins
Steve A. Stavro
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.20
I
1987
War
Herb McCauley
D. Wayne Lukas
Tom Gentry
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.40
I
1986
Bachelor Beau
Larry Melancon
Philip Hauswald
Richard A. Waterfield & James B. Tafel
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
I
1985
Chief's Crown
Don MacBeth
Roger Laurin
Star Crown Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.60
I
1984
Taylor's Special
Pat Day
William I. Mott
William F. Lucas
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.20
I
1983
Play Fellow
Jean Cruguet
Harvey L. Vanier
Nancy A. Vanier , Carl Lauer, Robert Victor
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.40
I
1982
Linkage
Bill Shoemaker
Henry S. Clark
Christiana Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.00
I
1981
Proud Appeal
Jeffrey Fell
Stanley M. Hough
Gainesway Farm et al.
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.40
I
1980
Rockhill Native
John Oldham
Herbert K. Stevens
Harry A. Oak
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.00
I
1979
Spectacular Bid
Ronnie Franklin
Bud Delp
Hawksworth Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.00
I
1978
Alydar
Jorge Velásquez
John M. Veitch
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
I
1977
For the Moment
Ángel Cordero Jr.
LeRoy Jolley
Gerald Robins
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.20
I
1976
Honest Pleasure
Braulio Baeza
LeRoy Jolley
Bertram R. Firestone
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.40
I
1975
Master Derby
Darrel McHargue
Smiley Adams
Golden Chance Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.00
I
1974
Judger
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Woody Stephens
Seth W. Hancock
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.20
I
1973
My Gallant
Ángel Cordero Jr.
Lou Goldfine
Arthur I. Appleton
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
1972
Riva Ridge
Ron Turcotte
Lucien Laurin
Meadow Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
1971
Impetuosity
Eric Guerin
George Poole
Wendell P. Rosso
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.40
1970
Dust Commander
Mike Manganello
Don Combs
Robert E. Lehmann
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
1969
Arts and Letters
Bill Shoemaker
J. Elliott Burch
Rokeby Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.80
1968
Forward Pass
Ismael Valenzuela
Henry Forrest
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.80
1967
Diplomat Way
Johnny Sellers
John O. Meaux
Harvey Peltier Sr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
1966
Abe's Hope
Bill Shoemaker
Del W. Carroll
Grand Prix Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.20
1965
Lucky Debonair
Bill Shoemaker
Frank Catrone
Ada L. Rice
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.00
1964
Northern Dancer
Bill Hartack
Horatio Luro
Windfields Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.80
1963
Chateaugay
Braulio Baeza
James P. Conway
Darby Dan Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.00
1962
Ridan
Manuel Ycaza
LeRoy Jolley
Moody Jolley , Ernest Woods, John L. Greer
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.60
1961
Sherluck
Braulio Baeza
Harold Young
Jacob Sher
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
1960
Tompion
Bill Shoemaker
Robert L. Wheeler
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
1959
Tomy Lee
Bill Shoemaker
Frank Childs
Fred Turner Jr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:48.60
1958
Plion
David Erb
Tom Jolley
Edward Potter Jr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.80
1957
Round Table
Ralph Neves
William Molter
Kerr Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:47.40
1956
Toby B.
Robert L. Baird
Robert E. Wingfield
Gene Van Deren & O.S. Deming
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.00
1955
Racing Fool
Henry Moreno
Loyd Gentry Jr.
Cain Hoy Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.80
1954
Goyamo
Eddie Arcaro
Woody Stephens
Woodvale Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.60
1953
Correspondent
Eddie Arcaro
Wally Dunn
Mrs. Gordon Guiberson
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.00
1952
Güshing Oil
Steve Brooks
Whitey Jansen
Sam E. Wilson Jr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.40
1951
Mameluke
Raymond Adair
Sylvester Veitch
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
1-1 ⁄8
1:54.40
1951
Ruhe
Job Dean Jessop
Robert McGarvey
Jean Denemark
1-1 ⁄8
1:54.20
1950
Mr. Trouble
Douglas Dodson
Sylvester Veitch
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
1-1 ⁄8
1:50.40
1949
Halt
Conn McCreary
Woody Stephens
Woodvale Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.60
1948
Coaltown
Newbold L. Pierson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.20
1947
Faultless
Douglas Dodson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
1946
Lord Boswell
Eddie Arcaro
James W. Smith
Maine Chance Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.60
1945
Darby Dieppe
Melvin Calvert
Charles Gentry
Mrs. W. Graham Lewis
1-1 ⁄8
1:53.40
1944
Skytracer
Mike Cafferella
Frank J. Baker
Manuel B. Goff
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.60
1943
Ocean Wave
Wendell Eads
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:53.80
1942
Shut Out
Eddie Arcaro
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
1-1 ⁄8
1:52.40
1941
Our Boots
Conn McCreary
Steve Judge
Woodvale Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
1940
Bimelech
Fred A. Smith
Bill Hurley
Edward R. Bradley
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.00
1939
Heather Broom
Basil James
Earl Sande
John Hay Whitney
1-1 ⁄8
1:54.20
1938
Bull Lea
Irving Anderson
Frank J. Kearns
Calumet Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
1937
Fencing
Jack Westrope
Earl Sande
Maxwell Howard
1-1 ⁄8
1:57.20
* 1951 – The race was made up of two heats.
Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth.
Winners of the Lexington Association Blue Grass Stakes [ edit ]
Winner
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance (Miles)
Time
1926
Bubbling Over
Eddie Legere
Herbert J. Thompson
Idle Hour Stock Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:49.60
1925
Step Along
Earl Pool
William Perkins
Frederick M. Grabner
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.60
1924
Altawood
Lawrence McDermott
G. Hamilton Keene
C. Bruce Head
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.80
1923
Bo McMillan
Danny Connelly
Louis Cahn
Thomas J. Pendergast
1-1 ⁄8
1:56.80
1922
Busy American
Newton Barrett
Herbert J. Thompson
Idle Hour Stock Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:55.80
1921
Black Servant
Newton Barrett
Herbert J. Thompson
Idle Hour Stock Farm
1-1 ⁄8
1:54.60
1920
Peace Pennant
Mack Garner
Joseph S. Hawkins
W. F. Polson
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.80
1919
Regalo
Frank Murphy
John C. Gallaher
Gallaher Bros.
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.60
1915–1918
No races
1914
Bronzewing
John McCabe
Daniel Lehan
A. P. Humphrey, Jr.
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.80
1913
Foundation
Charles Peak
William McDaniel
Charles W. McKenna
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.40
1912
Sprite
Carroll H. Shilling
William H. Karrick
Harry K. Knapp
1-1 ⁄8
1:51.20
1911
Governor Gray
George Molesworth
James S. Everman
R. N. Smith & Co.
1-1 ⁄8
1.51.20