$1.25 Million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Big Step Towards Kentucky Derby
Run at Keeneland since 1937, the Blue Grass Stakes has long been an important race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. This year's race offers a $1.25 million purse.
Further Ado is the morning line favorite and our top pick in the 2026 Blue Grass Stakes Julie Clark The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 4 is one of the last major stepping stones towards Kentucky Derby 152. Over the years, this race has seen more than its fair share of highly accomplished Thoroughbreds. Names like Bull Lea, Northern Dancer, Riva Ridge, Alydar, Spectacular Bid, Strike The Gold, Holy Bull, Essential Quality, and Sierra Leone decorate the list of winners.
The last time this race produced a Kentucky Derby champion was back in 1991 (Strike The Gold), but that doesn’t make this race any less important in 2026. Recent times have seen a resurgence in the race partly because of the switch from a synthetic surface back to dirt in 2015 and also the increased purse size has been a major attractor. Sierra Leone (2024) and Good Magic (2018) both finished second in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Blue Grass, while Zandon (2022), and Essential Quality (2021) were both third in the Derby after their wins at Keeneland on the first Saturday in April.
This year’s field also boasts talent and nine runners are scheduled to line up and race for a spot in the gates on the first Saturday in May. Let’s take a look at the entrants who will be competing at a mile and an eighth for their share of $1. 25 million.
The horses will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey, and morning line provided. The Blue Grass is carded as race 11 with an expected post time of 6:22 pm eastern. 1 Talkin (Danny Gargan, Joel Rosario 10-1)-His pappy Good Magic was the man at Keeneland in 2018.