The stable areas at Churchill Downs and Keeneland are about to get crowded. With the final round of major preps for the spring classics underway and southern tracks wrapping up their seasons, various trainers will begin setting up a spring base of operations – including Kentucky Derby candidates lining up their final preparations for the classic.
The backstretch at Churchill Downs opened March 18, and less than a week later, Tiztastic was the first of the major-prep winners to arrive, settling in along with several who finished behind him in the Louisiana Derby. The March 22 Louisiana Derby is among seven U.S. races offering points toward the Kentucky Derby on the 100-50-25-15-10 scale.
The other March 22 major-prep winner, Jeff Ruby hero Final Gambit, is also expected to train at Churchill as his Juddmonte connections and trainer Brad Cox decide if he can handle the dirt surface after racing exclusively on turf and synthetic. If he does not run in the Kentucky Derby, he could run in the Grade 1, $1 million American Turf on the undercard.
Of the major-prep winners last Saturday, Arkansas Derby winner Sandman was scheduled to ship Monday to Churchill, while Florida Derby winner Tappan Street was expected to remain in the Sunshine State another week due to expected wet weather in Kentucky.
The three final North American preps scheduled to offer 100 points to their respective winners, pending field size, are this Saturday. Keeneland, which opens its spring meet Friday, gets in on the action with the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes. Blue Grass candidates were on the track in both Lexington and Louisville on Saturday, led by East Avenue, a Grade 1 winner at Keeneland last fall, who breezed a half-mile in 47 seconds.
“I think he likes it here,” Paul Madden, assistant to trainer Brendan Walsh, said of East Avenue. “I’ve seen a different look in his eyes. I hope I’m right.”
As of Saturday morning, owner-breeder Godolphin had not yet named a rider for East Avenue in the Blue Grass. Regular rider Tyler Gaffalione broke his ankle last week at Gulfstream Park and is expected to be out about two months.
Also at Keeneland Saturday morning, Render Judgment worked five furlongs in 1:02.20. Meanwhile, at Churchill, Burnham Square worked five furlongs in 59.60.
According to Keeneland’s publicity office, other probable entrants for the Blue Grass, which will have posts drawn on Tuesday, include Owen Almighty and Chancer McPatrick, one-two in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, and Caldera and River Thames.
The Blue Grass is one of 10 stakes and three Grade 1s in the first three days of the Keeneland meet. The Grade 1, $750,000 Ashland Stakes, a major Kentucky Oaks prep, highlights opening day. The field was to be drawn Monday, with probable runners including La Cara, Muhimma, Running Away, and Take Charge Milady.
The other Grade 1 of opening weekend is the Grade 1, $650,000 Madison on Saturday. Keeneland counted Dazzling Move, Emery, Justique, Mystic Lake, and Scylla as probable entrants.
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