Meet the Contenders: 2024 Blue Grass Stakes
Sierra Leone winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)
April 3rd, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Top Conor wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#1 Top Conor **
Pro: $1 million purchase won on debut in mid-February; plenty of upside.
Con: Dives into a deep spot second out; others look more likely.
Be You wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#2 Be You *
Pro: Earned belated maiden win last out at Gulfstream, albeit over a shorter seven furlongs.
Con: Does best with a robust pace and might not get that here.
Seize the Grey (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Seize the Grey **
Pro: Return to dirt should help following decent run in Jeff Ruby (G3) two weeks ago.
Con: Better than he was but hasn’t yet proved up to this level.
#5 Seize the Grey wins the @oaklawnracing opener off the bench under @nikjuarez for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner @myracehorse! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 24, 2024
The 3-year-old colt went off at 5/1.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/1rngaUSGlK
Dornoch breaking his maiden at Keeneland (Photo by Keeneland Photos)
#4 Dornoch ****
Pro: Full brother to Mage figures hard to run down with best try.
Con: Took advantage of speed bias in Remsen (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2) field fell apart.
Dornoch makes his 3yo debut on Saturday in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park after his stunning rebreak against Sierra Leone in the Remsen at Aqueduct.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 29, 2024
He is one of 5️⃣ horses to follow in @James_Scully111's Expert Stable!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/Z4I1kr94aB pic.twitter.com/mhkdNgT1YD
Good Money wins at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
#5 Good Money *
Pro: Has run well in both starts, though behind Sierra Leone in Brown pecking order.
Con: Exits slow renewal of Tampa Bay Derby (G3); much more required here.
Keeneland (Photo courtesy of Keeneland)
#6 Just a Touch ****
Pro: Late developer has run strongly in both starts; bred to get a distance.
Con: Relative inexperience a concern and hasn’t yet run over a fast track.
#4 Just a Touch wins easy in R2 at Fair Grounds under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 27, 2024
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/tIRkpfOfEs
Lat Long at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Lat Long **
Pro: Enters fresh off even third-place effort in Lecomte (G3).
Con: Seemingly has much to prove stepping up in class.
Epic Ride (Photo by Coady Media)
#8 Epic Ride ***
Pro: One of the leading three-year-olds at Turfway over the winter, albeit against softer.
Con: In addition to class concerns, hasn’t yet raced over a dirt surface.
Epic Ride returns on Saturday @TurfwayPark in the Battaglia after winning the Leonatus last month. @ScottShap34 includes him in his 5️⃣ horses to follow on the Road to Kentucky Derby 150 Expert Stable!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/LmUXEQ6eIL pic.twitter.com/dJPJgokapT
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 1, 2024
Mugatu wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#9 Mugatu *
Pro: Has yet to try two turns on a dirt surface, which might prove his calling.
Con: Very much the outsider of the field from a class perspective.
Sierra Leone winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)
#10 Sierra Leone *****
Pro: Leading Kentucky Derby candidate won strong renewal of Risen Star (G2).
Con: Closing style not always the best to have over a fast Keeneland strip.
Encino winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#11 Encino ***
Pro: Consistent start to his career with two wins and a second from three starts.
Con: Like Epic Ride, lacks experience running on dirt.
Encino gained 20 points on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150 on Saturday night @TurfwayPark with a win in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 4, 2024
Click the link below to add the @bradcoxracing trainee to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/TQDDOx9jXK pic.twitter.com/Ph6SFyAm4i
