Tipsheet: 2024 Blue Grass Stakes

A talented field of 11 three-year-olds will travel nine furlongs on the Keeneland main oval in Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass S. (G1). The ever-important 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will offer a total of 200 qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) that will go to the top five finishers in the event. 

Blue Grass Stakes Picks

• #10 Sierra Leone
• #6 Just A Touch
• #4 Dornoch
• #11 Encino

Blue Grass Stakes Wagers

• $40 win #10 Sierra Leone
• $10 exacta 10 with 4,6,11
• 50-cent superfecta 10 with 4,6,11 with 4,6,11 with all 

Blue Grass Stakes Contenders

#1 TOP CONOR: The $1 million son of Twirling Candy was a smart debut winner going one mile at Gulfstream Park and takes a massive class hike on this occasion. Chad Brown's charge looks like a nice prospect, but this is a very ambitious placement, and others seem more likely to me. Jose Ortiz retains the mount.

#2 BE YOU: The Todd Pletcher pupil finally broke through with a victory in Florida in his most recent offering and could peak making a third run off the shelf. The Grade-1 placed son of Curlin will enjoy the added ground on Saturday, and he could be an exotics type with a clear voyage beneath Irad Ortiz. 

#3 SEIZE THE GREY: The Arrogate colt came home third in the Jeff Ruby (G3) last time out and has a chance at a top-four finish with a forward move on this occasion. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained gray was a nice allowance victor at Oaklawn Park two prior, and the Kentucky-bred will be fit coming back in just two weeks, as well. Nik Juarez retains the ride. 

#4 DORNOCH: The full brother to Mage was a measured winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his sophomore bow, and will look to run his win streak to four for Danny Gargan. The son of Good Magic has done little wrong to this stage of his development and looms large with improvement while making his second run off the shelf against this group. He will be forwardly placed with Luis Saez in the silks. 

#5 GOOD MONEY: The second from the Brown shedrow stayed on well to finish less than a length back in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his second showing and has obvious room to move forward, being so lightly raced. The Calumet color bearer must get faster to run with this field. However, he would be something of a surprise with Javier Castellano in the stirrups. 

#6 JUST A TOUCH: This Justify colt romped on debut and followed that up with a nice second in a good rendition of the Gotham S. (G3) last time out. The Brad Cox trainee is a wildcard, having never run on a dry oval or gone two turns, but he is fast and has to be given a chance with Florent Geroux taking the reins. He will be in range from the break on Saturday. 

#7 LAT LONG: This Liam Map’s colt has finished in the money in each lifetime try to date, including a third-place result in the Lecomte S. (G3) in his latest appearance. The Kenny McPeek pupil comes in fresh with a sizzling half-mile drill as of late, but he needs to show improvement to be in the mix inside the final furlong on this occasion. Brian Hernandez, Jr. stays in the silks. 

#8 EPIC RIDE: The John Ennis trainee has been first or second in all four tries to date and finished a clear second in the Battaglia S. most recently. The Blame colt is a mystery trying the dirt for the initial time, but if his synthetic form translates to Keeneland, then he could make the frame at a fair price beneath Adam Beschizza. 

#9 MUGATU: Being outside in the heat, he was unplaced in both of his stakes tries to date, but also missed the board in two career dirt efforts, as well. This Blofeld colt would be a total shocker under Joe Talamo. 

#10 SIERRA LEONE: Classy Gun Runner colt roared home to a strong Risen Star S. (G2) triumph in his 2024 debut and is the one to beat for Chad Brown. The $2.3 million yearling purchase possesses a devastating turn of foot, and his best performance will make him especially tough to fend off in the lane with Tyler Gaffalione retaining the ride. 

#11 ENCINO: Intriguing Godolphin homebred has shown improvement in each lifetime run to date and gets on the dirt for the initial time. This Cox charge has a very high ceiling, and despite drawing widest of all, the dark bay has a lot of appeal at a price with Prat taking the reins.