Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Pyro & Cool Coal Man To Race in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12
Posted on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro and Robert LaPenta’s Cool Coal Man, leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, head a field of 12 horses in Saturday’s $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
The 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass Stakes is one of the final major preps on the spring calendar for the May 3, 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1).
The complete field of Keeneland’s Toyta Blue Grass Stakes in post position order is as follows (all will carry 123 pounds):
Cool Coal Man under jockey Kent Desormeaux- Kentucky Bear under jockey Jamie Theriot
- Cowboy Cal under jockey John Velazquez
- Stevil under jockey Rafael Bejarano
- Monba under jockey Edgar Prado
- Big Truck under jockey Eibar Coa
- Pyro under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan
- Stone Bird under jockey Corey Lanerie
- Medjool under jockey Michael Baze
- Miner’s Claim under jockey Patrick Husbands
- Halo Najib under jockey Garrett Gomez
- Visionaire under jockey Jose Lezcano
Among the top 2008 Kentucky entries, Pyro and Cool Coal Man both enter the Blue Grass Stakes undefeated in two starts at three, Pyro claiming wins in the Risen Star (G3) and Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds while Cool Coal Man has an allowance victory to go with the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.
Pyro, installed by handicapper Mike Battaglia as the even-money favorite in the morning line, will break from post position seven with regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan aboard. Cool Coal Man drew the inside post and will be ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux.
“We expect him (Pyro) to run well,” said David Fiske, manager of the Winchell family’s Corinthia Farm. “We just want a good effort and for Pyro to come back happy. The motto of the (NCAA men’s college) basketball tournament last week was to survive and advance. That’s all we want.”
Big Truck and Visionaire are co-third-choices in the morning line, each at odds of 6-1. Eric Fein’s Big Truck, upset winner over then-undefeated War Pass in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), will break from post position six. The Hook and Ladder colt will be ridden by jockey Eibar Coa.
“This is a very tough race,” said Barclay Tagg, trainer of Big Truck. “It could be the Derby itself. I’m happy with my post; I’m happy with my jock (Coa); and I’m happy with my horse. He’s gotten over the track very well yesterday and today. Hopefully, he’ll take to it wet or dry come Saturday.”
Visionaire, who races for Team Valor International and Vision Racing LLC, has made three starts this year, capturing the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct in early March. The Grand Slam colt, who will be ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano, will start from the outside post.
The remaining Toyota Blue Grass Stakes starters seek to enhance their graded stakes earnings to be competitive in a prospective Kentucky Derby field of 20 entrants.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be saddle two Toyota Blue Grass Stakes horses: Stonerside Stable’s Cowboy Cal and Starlight Stable LLC, Donald Lucarelli and Paul Saylor’s Monba.
Cowboy Cal won the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on turf on New Year’s Day at Calder Race Course and finished second in the February 16 Hallandale Beach at Gulfstream in his last start. He will be ridden in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by jockey John Velazquez.
Monba has made only one start this year, a well-beaten 12th in the Fountain of Youth. Jockey Edgar Prado will have the mount. Both Cowboy Cal and Monba are 15-1 in the morning line.
Three horses enter the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes following strong performances at Turfway Park on Lane’s End Stakes Day, March 22. Briarwood Stable’s Miner’s Claim, trained by Mark Casse, finished second by a neck to Big Glen in the Rushaway Stakes. Zayat Stables’ Halo Najib, trained by Dale Romans, and Equine Prep Management’s Medjool, from the barn of David Hofmans, finished second and third, respectively, in the Grade 2 Lane’s End.
www.keeneland.com
"Pyro & Cool Coal Man To Race in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12" was posted on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Keeneland, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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