'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Further Ado (Gun Runner) was tabbed by track oddsmaker Nick Tammaro as the 8-5 morning line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds for Saturday's 102nd running of the $1.25 million GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland said via a press release on Tuesday.
Contested at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, the Blue Grass offers 200 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby.
The winner receives 100 points with a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10 points to the second- through fifth-place finishers. The top 20 point earners and invitees that pass the entry box will comprise the Derby field.
The feature is the centerpiece of an 11-race program Saturday that begins at 1 p.m. ET. The Blue Grass will close the day's activity as the 11th race with a 6:22 p.m. post time.
Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado will attempt to give trainer Brad Cox a second Blue Grass victory to go with Essential Quality (by Tapit) in 2021. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post six.
“He's doing very well and I feel like he's moved forward since the Tampa Bay Derby,” Cox said of Further Ado, who arrived at Keeneland Tuesday morning from Florida. “He obviously likes Keeneland and we're looking forward to giving him an opportunity in a Grade 1 on Saturday.”
Second choice on the morning line at 5-2 is West Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo and Gabriel Duignan's Reagan's Honor (Honor A.P.) for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The colt will exit post four under Jose Ortiz.
WinStar Farm, First Go Racing and CHC Inc.'s Class President (Uncle Mo) is the third choice on the morning line at 3-1. Trained by four-time Toyota Blue Grass winner Todd Pletcher, the GII Rebel Stakes hero from Oaklawn Park will be ridden by two-time race winner John Velazquez from post two.
“I'm happy with the post,” Pletcher said. “He's very adaptable.”
Blue Grass Draw with Nick Tammaro's M/L Odds:
1–Talkin (Good Magic): Gargan/Rosario (12-1)
2–Class President: Pletcher/Velazquez (3-1)
3–Great White (Volatile): Ennis/Achard (15-1)
4–Reagan's Honor: DeVaux/J. Ortiz (5-2)
5–Creole Chrome (Volatile): Sharp/Gaffalione (8-1)
6–Further Ado: Cox/I. Ortiz, Jr. (8-5)
7–Ocelli (Connect): Beckman/Ramos (30-1)
8–Moonstrocity (Tiz the Law): Antonucci/Morelos (30-1)
9–Ottinho (Quality Road): Brown/Prat (20-1)
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