Keeneland Moves Blue Grass

Keeneland Racecourse released its 2015 Spring Meet stakes schedule Friday, with its most-notable change that the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. will be held one week earlier, on the first Saturday of the meet, Apr. 4. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds will offer 100 GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a $1-million purse, up from $750,000 and making it the second seven-figure race to be held at Keeneland after the Fall Meet’s GI Shadwell Turf Mile. The Blue Grass card will also include the $500,000 GI Central Bank Ashland S. for sophomore fillies (100 GI Kentucky Oaks points); $350,000 GI Madison S. for older female sprinters; the $300,000 GIII Commonwealth S. for male sprinters; and the GIII Shakertown S. sprinting on the grass. “By moving the Toyota Blue Grass up a week on the calendar, to be a month before the Kentucky Derby, and elevating the purse to a million dollars, we further enhance its stature as a nationally prominent classic prep,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing W.B. Rogers Beasley said. “The coupling of these two Keeneland icons–the Blue Grass and the Ashland–will make for a spectacular day of racing and give fans the opportunity to see top Derby and Oaks contenders.” This will be the first year that the Blue Grass will be contested on conventional dirt since 2006. The GIII Coolmore Lexington S., also for 3-year-olds, has been moved up a week to Apr. 11 with a purse increase from $200,000 to $250,000. The $300,000 GI Jenny Wiley S. is one of three additional stakes slated for the Lexington card; while the $300,000 GI Maker’s 46 Mile will be held Apr. 10. Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs was also announced yesterday as the sponsor for the GII Beaumont S. for 3-year-old fillies run over Keeneland’s Beard Course at seven furlongs and 184 ft. The purse for the Apr. 12 event has been increased from $200,000 to $250,000. “Adena Springs represents excellence in Thoroughbred breeding and racing, and we are very proud to welcome them to the Keeneland family,” said Beasley. The 15-day Spring Meet begins Apr. 3, with racing Wednesdays through Sundays, besides Easter Sunday, Apr. 5. For the complete stakes schedule, click here.