Wild Shot Carries Calumet Tradition Into Blue Grass

Keeneland's short-but-sweet April meet is a rite of spring in Central Kentucky and arguably no Thoroughbred owner is a more appropriate visitor to the winner's circle at the storied track than its next-door neighbor, Calumet Farm. Owned by billionaire businessman Brad Kelley since 2012, the iconic farm previously won the centerpiece of Keeneland's spring meet, the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., a record six times. The final victory in the farm's golden era came in 1978 when Alydar scored in preparation for a series of grueling battles with rival Affirmed in each leg of the Triple Crown. But after a period of decline in subsequent years, Kelley and his on-site staff have revived the Versailles Road property with an extensive breeding and racing strategy.

Kelley's year-old operation captured the 2013 GI Preakness S. with Oxbow (Awesome Again), but the sense remains that a win in the Blue Grass would reaffirm Calumet's rightful place of prominence in heart of Horse Country. The team will have their chance to do just that Saturday when Grade I-placed Wild Shot (Trappe Shot) goes postward in the $1-million main event.

“We take great pride in the Calumet name,” said Calumet General Manager Eddie Kane. “A win in the Blue Grass would be a tremendous honor.”

Calumet scooped up the Claiborne Farm-bred mare Ranter (Storm Cat) for $55,000 with Wild Shot in utero at the 2013 Keeneland November Sale. While the impeccably bred dark bay never made it to the racetrack herself, Wild Shot has proven to be a gem of consistency. Following his second-out maiden victory sprinting at Churchill Downs last September, Wild Shot returned to Lexington to run third in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity behind eventual juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). The Rusty Arnold trainee closed out 2016 with a runner-up finish in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. back at Churchill and wintered in Florida with a pair of honest efforts when fourth and third in Tampa Bay's Feb. 11 GIII Sam F. Davis S. and Mar. 11 GII Tampa Bay Derby, respectively. On Saturday, the speedy colt returns home once again for the Blue Grass–a race that is an appropriate fit for a number of reasons.

“We have liked Wild Shot since day one,” said Kane. “With his outstanding physical and quality pedigree, he was always on the list for our racing string. His dam is a sibling to Pulpit, who won the Blue Grass in 1997, so the race certainly fits the family. He has been consistent in every start and we are excited to see what the future holds.”

While the famed “devil” red and blue Calumet silks have been replaced by Kelley's black and gold, the farm's success-driven outlook remains the same: a win at Keeneland is a win worth savoring. Calumet has a total of seven horses entered for the track's three-day opening day weekend in the hands of four different trainers.

“To win at Keeneland is a magnificent feeling,” Kane explained. “Not only is it in our backyard, but also you face the toughest competition. That certainly is the case with this year's Blue Grass, which could be the toughest prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.”

CALUMET-OWNED BLUE GRASS WINNERS

Bull Lea (1938)

Ocean Wave (1943)

Faultless (1947)

Coaltown (1948)

Forward Pass (1968)

Alydar (1978)