Filly Swiss Skydiver to face males in Toyota Blue Grass
LEXINGTON, KY – Post positions for Saturday’s 96th running of the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and 83rd running of the Central Bank Ashland (G1) were drawn today at Keeneland. The two races are part of Keeneland’s five-day Summer Meet from July 8-12.
Fillies in the Toyota Blue Grass
Multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver is scheduled to become the second filly to run in the race since it debuted at Keeneland during the track’s inaugural Spring Meet in April 1937.The first is Hyman Friedberg’s homebred Harriet Sue, who in 1944 won the Ashland and next was fifth to Skytracer in the Blue Grass. That year, Keeneland’s Spring Meet was held at Churchill Downs. In 1948, future Hall of Famer Bewitch was scratched from the Blue Grass. Note about sponsor: This year’s Toyota Blue Grass marks the 25th year the race has been sponsored by Toyota.
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Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland are Classic preps
For 3-year-olds, the Toyota Blue Grass and the Central Bank Ashland are respective major preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Sept. 5 and Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Sept. 4. The Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland both carry 170 qualifying points for the Derby and Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first four finishers.
Saturday’s card: Ten races begin at 1:05 p.m.
Complete stats on Equibase
https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE071120USA-EQB.html
Saturday graded stakes lineup: Six graded stakes are worth a total of $1.9 million.
Race 4 (2:45 p.m.) $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association
Race 5 (3:18 p.m.) $250,000 Madison (G1)
Race 6 (3:51 p.m.) $150,000 Shakertown (G2)
Race 7 (4:24 p.m.) $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1)
Race 8 (4:57 p.m.) $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1)
Race 9 (5:30 p.m.) $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2)
Saturday wagering: $500,000 Guaranteed All — Stakes Pick Five and $500,000 Guaranteed All Pick Four.
Summer Meet filled with Wagering Action and Options
Keeneland is offering a variety of handicapping action for people who will be watching and wagering during the Summer Meet from Wednesday through Sunday.
On Saturday, Keeneland will host its first online live bankroll tournament, the Keeneland Summer Challenge. Entry fee for the contest, which will cover the day’s 10 races, is $3,000. As many as six berths to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge https://www.breederscup.com/bcbc and 10 berths to the NTRA National Handicapping Championship https://www.ntra.com/nhc/ will be awarded (based on 200 entries). Players may participate through Xpressbet or TVG.
The deadline to enter the Keeneland Summer Challenge is Friday at noon. Click https://tickets.keeneland.com/specialeventtype/keeneland-summer-challenge-live-bankroll-tournament/ to enter Keeneland Summer Challenge.
Also, sign up for a new account with Keeneland Select https://www.keeneland.com/select and receive a special $50 back after you wager $100 on Keeneland’s Summer Meet. This is on top of Keeneland Select’s lucrative sign-up bonus that will earn you $100 after you wager $300 in the first 30 days.
Here’s an overview of additional wagering features of the Summer Meet:
Every race day:
Toyota Super High 5 Jackpot: New for the Summer Meet, this wager will be offered on all Keeneland races with a minimum seven-horse field. With no winning tickets, 100 percent of the net pool will carry over to the next eligible race. Jackpot pays to a single winning ticket; multiple winning tickets trigger consolation payoff and partial carryover.
Complimentary digital program: Click here https://www.keeneland.com/racing/digital-race-day-program to download a complimentary digital program with Equibase past performances. Patrons may choose a full program or just the past performances.
Current scratches and changes will be available at https://www.keeneland.com.
TV coverage: Beginning at 11:30 a.m., “Today at Keeneland” is a 30-minute race-day preview show with handicapping picks and discussion of horses of interest. Racing analysts Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton host the program, which airs live on TVG2, The CW Lexington and WKYT.com and is streamed live on https://www.keeneland.com, Keeneland Select and Keeneland’s Facebook Live and YouTube.
Watch live coverage of the Summer Meet on TVG beginning at 1 p.m. The full card also will be streamed live on Keeneland.com, Keeneland Select and Keeneland’s Facebook Live and YouTube. On Sunday, NBCSN will have live coverage that includes the TVG Elkhorn (G2) from 5-7 p.m.
Enhanced Paddock analysis: During Gaudet and Hazelton’s Paddock analysis, fans will see a greater emphasis on showing contenders and expanded commentary on the horses’ physical assessments.
New daily handicapping podcast: Racing analyst Tom Leach will host “The Daily Double, Keeneland’s Podcast for Handicappers.” Leach will talk to several notable horseplayers, who will discuss their history and interest in horse racing and will analyze the day’s Keeneland card. Guests will receive a $100 bankroll from Keeneland Select to use for the day, and they will share their wagers. Podcast is available through Apple podcasts and Spotify.
@BetKeeneland: Keeneland’s dedicated Twitter handle provides on-demand wagering content.
Drive-thru wagering at Red Mile: Available Wednesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. through the final post at Keeneland. Simulcasting also will be open at Red Mile, which is located at 1200 Red Mile Road near downtown Lexington.
Visit Keeneland at Home Presented by Central Bank https://www.keeneland.com/racing/keeneland-home for more information about the Summer Meet and learn about a variety of creative and fun ways for fans to remotely enjoy the season.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Keeneland Race Track
