The track is the key, but Hansen and Dullahan will go into a private war to take the Blue Grass Stakes
In the Grade 1, $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, which has reeled in it’s second largest field in the history of the race with 13 runners, the questions of who is going to win it? Isn’t that important, but the real question is how the Keeneland’s synthetic track is going to play on the day.
Whit Beckman, assistant to Todd Pletcher on 11 April, 2012, said that the track at Keeneland plays differently from day to day, and the Blue Grass Stakes is on the main track where in the past 6 races four times closers won.
Hansen, the front wheeler could have one heck of a race if he breaks good and assumes the lead, but Dullahan could spoil the party for the nearly white colt, who is probably going to run in the most difficult race of his career.
In terms of earnings, Mark Casse’s Prospective is almost sitting pretty with $365,452 in the bank as graded stakes earnings, and currently he is ranked 15th for the Kentucky Derby, and other than him only two Hansen and Dullahan don’t have to worry about earnings for the Derby.
Hansen has a whopping $1,400,000 and Dullahan on the other hand has $405,000. Both of these colts love the poly track, and Dullahan has showed by winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland’s synthetic surface, the only race he has won so far.
Hansen did a double on the surface right from the get go, as he bagged the first two races of his career at Turfway Park over the synthetic surface.
Gung Ho, Hansen’s stable mate could be a dangerous closer, and another threat to Hansen’s chances of winning. He turned in a game second place effort in the Rushaway Stakes this year, but he has not even run close to the way he did in that race all year last year.
While Ever So Lucky from post 11, is in serious need of some graded stakes earnings, will look to bag a placed finish in a massive field, but this could be his only goal the Blue Grass Stakes, if he doesn’t make it to the Run for the Roses May 5.
Dullahan to overhaul Hansen from behind in the stretch today, and Gung Ho to turn in a massive effort for third, while Ever So Lucky could conjure up a big effort to finish fourth on the day in a field of 13 horses.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely the writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of Bettor.com
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