LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Blue Grass Stakes remains one of the last major preps for next month’s Kentucky Derby, but even those involved in Saturday’s $750,000 race at Keeneland allow it has lost some luster.
No horse has won the Blue Grass and the Derby since Strike the Gold in 1991, and the track’s move to a synthetic surface in the fall of 2006 has turned the race into a crapshoot.
The four winners since the surface change have all been relative long shots, including Stately Victor’s win after going off at 40-1 last spring.
Santiva comes in as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the 12-horse field. Trainer Eddie Kenneally says his colt is “sitting on gold” and acknowledged Santiva is entered in the race due in part to the absence of other major Derby contenders.
