191 3-year-olds are nominated for the G1 Blue Grass Stakes, a key lead-up to the Kentucky Derby, at Keeneland on April 12.
Included among the nominees for the $750,000, 1 1/8-mile prep for the Kentucky Derby are undefeated Samraat (winner of the Withers-gr. III and Gotham-gr. III), Intense Holiday (Risen Star-gr. II), Wildcat Red (Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth-gr. II), Tapiture (Kentucky Jockey Club-gr. II and Southwest-gr. III), Vicars in Trouble (Lecomte-gr. III), Cairo Prince (Nashua-gr. II and Holy Bull-gr. II), Tamarando (El Camino Real Derby-gr. III), and Candy Boy (Robert B. Lewis-gr. II). Also nominated is Shared Belief, the 2013 champion 2-year-old male who has not raced this year.
"The depth and quality of this year's Toyota Blue Grass nominations is extraordinary; it is a 'who's who' of today's Derby hopefuls," Keeneland vice president of racing Rogers Beasley said in a statement.
Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher nominated 27 3-year-olds to lead all trainers. Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert are represented by 11 and 10 nominees, respectively.
