Lexington, KY (My Sportsbook) - An evenly matched field of 11 three-year-olds has been entered for Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The 1 1/8 mile race comes three weeks before the 135th Kentucky Derby.
Two years ago Street Sense finished second to Dominican in this race before winning the Run for the Roses. Strike the Gold in 1991 was the last Blue Grass champ to also win the Kentucky Derby.
Lane's End Stakes winner Hold Me Back has been installed as the 3-1 morning- line favorite. Trained by Bill Mott, Hold Me Back will start from post 10 with Kent Desormeaux in the saddle.
A winner of three of four career starts, Hold Me Back has earnings of $337,274 for owner WinStar Farm. The colt won his first two starts in 2008 before finishing fifth to Old Fashioned in the Remsen Stakes,
A surprise entrant in the Blue Grass is Theregoesjojo, who just two weeks ago was third in the Florida Derby to Quality Road. The colt is the 7-2 second choice and will be ridden by Calvin Borel from post three.
Theregoesjojo is owned by Samotowka Stables and partners, and has not been worse than fourth in his five starts. Trained by Ken McPeek, he has won twice with a second and a third for $181,227. Prior to the Florida Derby he was second to Quality Road in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
The 4-1 third choice is Charitable Man, who is making his 2009 debut on Saturday. Alan Garcia has the riding assignment and will break from post nine.
Undefeated in his two career starts, Charitable Man is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr. and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. After breaking his maiden in his first start the colt won the Futurity at Belmont Park.
Here is the complete field in post position order for the Blue Grass Stakes: Patena, Robby Albarado, 10-1; Join in the Dance, John Velazquez, 10-1; Theregoesjojo, Calvin Borel, 7-2; Cliffy's Future, Jesus Castanon, 20-1; Mafaaz, Richard Hills, 12-1; Terrain, Julien Leparoux, 6-1; Loch Dubh, Jamie Theriot, 50-1; General Quarters, Eibar Coa, 15-1; Charitable Man, Alan Garcia, 4-1; Hold Me Back, Kent Desormeaux, 3-1 and Massone, Garrett Gomez, 12-1.
Post-time for the Blue Grass is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. (et).
