Swiss Skydiver began her three-race graded stakes winning streak with a victory in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 28
If anything is stranger in American horse racing than a Kentucky Derby in September, it’s a Blue Grass Stakes in July. But that’s where we find ourselves in this year of the coronavirus pandemic: nothing is normal, and we’re grateful that racing, unlike most other sports, has been able to continue along a slightly erratic path.
The Grade 2 Blue Grass, with a $600,000 purse, is run at its traditional 1 1/8 miles and will offer 100-40-20-10 qualifying points for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. It’s drawn a field of 13, including a well-traveled filly, multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver from the barn of Kenny McPeek. She’s run at five different tracks in her five starts this year, winning her last three.
In this edition of the Triple Crown News Minute, Ray Paulick and news editor Chelsea Hackbarth take a look at the leading contenders in the Blue Grass,including the up-and-coming Art Collector, a 3-year-old by Bernardini making his return to graded stakes following a pair of impressive allowance victories at Churchill Downs.
They also analyze the field for the G1 Ashland Stakes, a qualifying points race for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. Despite only drawing a field of six, the Ashland Stakes has a solid field of contenders ready to take on the 6-5 morning line favorite, Venetian Harbor.
Watch the latest Triple Crown News Minute below:
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