Tapit Trice getting the victory and the Derby points in the Tampa Bay Derby (SV Photography)
Derby Dispatch
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice is the 5-2 morning line choice in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 99th running of the $1 million Blue Grass (GI) at 1 1/8 miles on Keeneland’s main track.
A major test for 3-year-olds and a steppingstone to the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) to be run May 6 at Churchill Downs, the Blue Grass offers 200 points toward qualification to this year’s Derby on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Derby is limited to the top 20-point earners and invitees that pass the entry box.
The Blue Grass will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 11-race program with a 5:15 p.m. post time (all times Eastern). First post time for the card that features five graded stakes is 12:30 p.m.
Trained by three-time Blue Grass winner Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice brings a three-race win streak into Saturday’s race highlighted by a two-length victory as the 1-2 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) on March 11. Luis Saez, a Blue Grass winner with Brody’s Cause in 2016 and Essential Quality in 2021, has the mount on Tapit Trice and will break from the rail.
Pletcher’s Blue Grass winners are Bandini (2005), Monba (2008) and Carpe Diem (2015).
The second choice on the morning line set by Nick Tammaro at 3-1 is Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Verifying. Trained by Brad Cox, who won this race in 2021 with Essential Quality, Verifying is a winner of two of five starts and finished second to Blazing Sevens in the Champagne (GI). In his most recent start, Verifying was fourth in the Rebel (GII) that was run over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25.
Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Verifying and will break from post position three.
Andrew and Rania Warren’s Gotham (GIII) winner Raise Cain is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2. Trained by Ben Colebrook, Raise Cain won the Gotham by 7 ½ lengths in what was his graded stakes debut. Raise Cain, a maiden winner at Keeneland last fall, was third in the Bowman Mill and then runner-up in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds to close his 2022 campaign.
Joel Rosario, who won the Blue Grass in 2011 on Brilliant Speed, has the mount on Raise Cain and will break from post 10.
Colebrook will send out a second runner for the Warrens in Scoobie Quando (15-1). Scoobie Quando was runner-up in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park on March 4 in his most recent start.
Luan Machado has the mount on Scoobie Quando and will exit post position six.
The fourth choice at 6-1 on the morning line is Rodeo Creek Racing’s Blazing Sevens Trained by Chad Brown, who won the Blue Grass last year with Zandon, Blazing Sevens won the Champagne last fall and completed his 2022 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Blazing Sevens finished eighth in the Fountain of Youth (GII) in his lone 2022 start. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount Saturday and will break from post position eight.
Brown, who also won the Blue Grass in 2018 with Good Magic, is seeking to become the fourth trainer to win the race in consecutive years and the first since LeRoy Jolley in 1976-1977.
In addition to Pletcher, Brown and Cox, two other trainers will be seeking to add to their Blue Grass victory totals.
Kenny McPeek, who won the race in 2002 with Harlan’s Holiday and in 2013 with Java’s War, will send out three runners.
Leading the McPeek contingent is R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine’s Sun Thunder (10-1) enters Saturday’s race off a fifth-place finish in the March 25 Twinspires Louisiana Derby (GII). Prior to that effort, Sun Thunder finished second in the Risen Star presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford (GII).
Florent Geroux has the mount on Sun Thunder and will break from post position seven.
McPeek also will send out Dixiana Farms’ homebred Hayes Strike (15-1). Two-time graded stakes placed, Hayes Strike enters Saturday’s race off a victory in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 18. James Graham has the mount and will break from post position five.
McPeek’s third entrant is Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables and Team Stallion’s Mendelssohns March (20-1), who will be making his stakes debut. Undefeated in two starts, Mendelssohns March will break from post position 11 and be ridden by BrianHernandez Jr., who won this race in 2020 with Art Collector.
Two-time Blue Grass winner D. Wayne Lukaswill saddle Major Blue (30-1) for his wife Laurie and Bob and Ann Ghent. A two-time winner last month at Oaklawn, Major Blue will be ridden by David Cabrera and break from post position nine.
One other rider will be seeking to add to his win total in the race: Javier Castellano, who won the 2019 edition of the Blue Grass on Vekoma. He has the call Saturday on Gary Barber’s Classic Car Wash (12-1).
Trained by Mark Casse, Classic Car Wash was runner-up to Tapit Trice in the Tampa Bay Derby and prior to that third in the Sam F. Davis (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. Classic Car Wash will break from post four.
Blue Grass Quotes
Todd Pletcher, trainer, Tapit Trice: “It’s not exactly where we wanted to draw but he did win the allowance race at Gulfstream Park from post one.”
Brad Cox, trainer, Verifying: “He ran decent last time in the Rebel. We’ve had him based down at Fair Grounds and shipped him over to Keeneland last week for one work. He breezed very well in company with Hit Show who goes in the Wood Memorial. He was in a great position in the Rebel and just sort of lost it around the turn. He went from being third or fourth to eighth or ninth in a few strides. Then he re-rallied and came on again. He’s still a little bit green but he’s getting better. He’s getting better with experience, but he still needs to step up on Saturday. He probably won’t be the favorite, but I do think he’s a horse that is very talented and can step up to compete in Grade I races.”
Kenny McPeek, trainer, Hayes Strike, Mendelssohns March, Sun Thunder: “Hayes Strike got back in form in his last start. It’s a tough spot for him but he’s doing well and deserves a chance. He is a 1 1/8-mile type of horse, and I felt the Blue Grass is a better spot for him than the Lexington that I won with his half-brother Senior Investment in 2017.
“Mendelssohns March drew the outside but it’s a long way around there, so he ought to be fine. I know we are throwing him into the deep end, but he is very talented and seems to be a horse that can handle it. … I tried to run him in the John Battaglia (at Turfway) but the race overfilled and we couldn’t get in. So, I was forced to run him in an allowance at Oaklawn.
“Sun Thunder’s last race was a paceless race and he really didn’t get to run until the last part. He seems none worse for the wear and the partnership is keen to try him again.”
