The Blue Grass Stakes, currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is a horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. The race is run at miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $1,250,000. The Blue Grass Stakes was a Grade I event from 1974 (when grading was first introduced) through 1989 and again from 1999 to 2016. It was a Grade II event from 2017 to 2021, and returned to a Grade I in 2022.

It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry.

First run at the Lexington Race Course in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby.Daily Racing Form March 19, 1919 article titled "Lexingtons Interesting New Race: Blue Grass Stakes to Serve as a Trial for the Kentucky Derby Candidates" Retrieved August 12, 2018 At the Lexington Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926.Daily Racing Form, 1945-06-02, Lexington Association's Blue Grass Stakes history The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943–1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program.

From 2007 to 2014, the race was held on a synthetic "all-weather" surface. Otherwise, it has been run on a dirt surface.

Records (Keeneland) Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of miles) 1:47.20 – Skip Away (1996)

Most wins by an owner 6 – Calumet Farm (1938, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1968, 1978)

Most wins by a jockey 6 – Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1982)

Most wins by a trainer:

4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2005, 2008, 2015, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Gr. 2026Further AdoIrad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxSpendthrift Farm LLC1-1:49.58I2025Burnham SquareBrian Hernandez Jr.Ian R. WilkesWhitham Thoroughbreds LLC1-1:51.33I2024Sierra LeoneTyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant1-1:50.08I2023Tapit TriceLuis SaezTodd A. PletcherWhisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable 1-1:50.00I2022ZandonFlavien PratChad C. BrownJeff Drown1-1:50.35I2021Essential QualityLuis SaezBrad H. CoxGodolphin1-1:48.50II2020Art CollectorBrian Hernandez Jr.Thomas Drury Jr.Bruce Lunsford1-1:48.11II2019VekomaJavier CastellanoGeorge WeaverR.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables1-1:50.93II2018Good MagicJosé OrtizChad C. BrowneFive Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables1-1:50.18II2017Irap Julien LeparouxDoug O'NeillReddam Racing LLC1-1:50.39II2016Brody's CauseLuis SaezDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stable1-1:50.20 I2015Carpe DiemJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables1-1:49.77 I2014Dance With FateCorey S. NakataniPeter EurtonSharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing1-1:50.06 I2013 Java's War Julien Leparoux Kenneth G. McPeek Charles E. Fipke1-1:50.27 I2012 Dullahan Kent Desormeaux Dale Romans Donegal Racing1-1:47.94 I2011 Brilliant Speed Joel Rosario Thomas Albertrani Live Oak Plantation1-1:50.92 I2010 Stately Victor Alan Garcia Michael J. Maker Thomas F. & Jack Conway1-1:48.69 I2009 General Quarters Eibar Coa Thomas R. McCarthy Thomas R. McCarthy1-1:49.26 I2008 Monba Edgar Prado Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing1-1:49.71 I2007 Dominican Rafael Bejarano Darrin Miller Silverton Hill LLC1-1:51.33 I2006 Sinister Minister Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Mercedes Stable, Lanni Family Trust & Bernard C. Schiappa1-1:48.85 I2005 Bandini John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael Tabor1-1:48.85 I2004 The Cliff's Edge Shane Sellers Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta1-1:49.42 I2003 Peace Rules Edgar Prado Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann1-1:51.73 I2002 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Ken McPeek Starlight Stable1-1:51.51 I2001 Millennium Wind Laffit Pincay Jr. David Hofmans David & Jill Heerensperger1-1:48.32 I2000 High Yield Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor, Robert B. Lewis, Sue Magnier1-1:48.60 I1999 Menifee Pat Day W. Elliott WaldenArthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone1-1:48.60 I1998 Halory Hunter Gary Stevens Nick Zito Celtic Pride Stable1-1:47.80 II1997 Pulpit Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm1-1:49.80 II1996 Skip Away Shane Sellers Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine1-1:47.20 II1995 Wild Syn Randy Romero Thomas K. Arnemann Jurgen K. Arnemann1-1:49.20 II1994 Holy Bull Mike E. Smith Warren A. Croll Jr. Warren A. Croll Jr.1-1:50.00 II1993 Prairie Bayou Mike E. Smith Tom Bohannan Loblolly Stable1-1:49.60 II1992 Pistols and Roses Jacinto Vásquez George Gianos Willis Family Stables1-1:49.00 II1991 Strike the Gold Chris Antley Nick Zito BCC Stable1-1:48.40 II1990 Summer Squall Pat Day Neil J. Howard Dogwood Stable1-1:48.60 II1989 Western Playboy Randy Romero Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier & Ray Roncari1-1:51.20 I1988 Granacus Jacinto Vásquez Pat Collins Steve A. Stavro1-1:52.20 I1987 War Herb McCauley D. Wayne Lukas Tom Gentry1-1:48.40 I1986 Bachelor Beau Larry Melancon Philip Hauswald Richard A. Waterfield & James B. Tafel1-1:51.20 I1985 Chief's Crown Don MacBeth Roger Laurin Star Crown Stable1-1:47.60 I1984 Taylor's Special Pat Day William I. Mott William F. Lucas1-1:52.20 I1983 Play Fellow Jean Cruguet Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier, Carl Lauer, Robert Victor1-1:49.40 I1982 Linkage Bill Shoemaker Henry S. Clark Christiana Stable1-1:48.00 I1981 Proud Appeal Jeffrey Fell Stanley M. Hough Gainesway Farm et al.1-1:51.40 I1980 Rockhill Native John Oldham Herbert K. Stevens Harry A. Oak1-1:50.00 I1979 Spectacular Bid Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm1-1:50.00 I1978 Alydar Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm1-1:49.60 I1977 For the Moment Ángel Cordero Jr. LeRoy Jolley Gerald Robins1-1:50.20 I1976 Honest Pleasure Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone1-1:49.40 I1975 Master Derby Darrel McHargue Smiley Adams Golden Chance Farm1-1:49.00 I1974 Judger Laffit Pincay, Jr. Woody Stephens Seth W. Hancock1-1:49.20 I1973 My Gallant Ángel Cordero Jr. Lou Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton1-1:49.60 1972 Riva Ridge Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable1-1:49.601971 Impetuosity Eric Guerin George Poole Wendell P. Rosso1-1:49.401970 Dust Commander Mike Manganello Don Combs Robert E. Lehmann1-1:51.201969 Arts and Letters Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable1-1:47.801968 Forward Pass Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm1-1:47.801967 Diplomat Way Johnny Sellers John O. Meaux Harvey Peltier Sr.1-1:49.601966 Abe's Hope Bill Shoemaker Del W. Carroll Grand Prix Stable1-1:49.201965 Lucky Debonair Bill Shoemaker Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice1-1:49.001964 Northern Dancer Bill Hartack Horatio Luro Windfields Farm1-1:49.801963 Chateaugay Braulio Baeza James P. Conway Darby Dan Farm1-1:48.001962 Ridan Manuel Ycaza LeRoy Jolley Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer1-1:47.601961 Sherluck Braulio Baeza Harold Young Jacob Sher1-1:48.601960 Tompion Bill Shoemaker Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1-1:48.601959 Tomy Lee Bill Shoemaker Frank Childs Fred Turner Jr.1-1:48.601958 Plion David Erb Tom Jolley Edward Potter Jr.1-1:52.801957 Round Table Ralph Neves William Molter Kerr Stable1-1:47.401956 Toby B. Robert L. Baird Robert E. Wingfield Gene Van Deren & O.S. Deming1-1:51.001955 Racing Fool Henry Moreno Loyd Gentry Jr. Cain Hoy Stable1-1:51.801954 Goyamo Eddie Arcaro Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm1-1:50.601953 Correspondent Eddie Arcaro Wally Dunn Mrs. Gordon Guiberson1-1:49.001952 Güshing Oil Steve Brooks Whitey Jansen Sam E. Wilson Jr.1-1:52.401951 Mameluke Raymond Adair Sylvester Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1-1:54.401951 Ruhe Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Jean Denemark1-1:54.201950 Mr. Trouble Douglas Dodson Sylvester Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1-1:50.401949 Halt Conn McCreary Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm1-1:52.601948 Coaltown Newbold L. Pierson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1-1:49.201947 Faultless Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1-1:51.201946 Lord Boswell Eddie Arcaro James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm1-1:51.601945 Darby Dieppe Melvin Calvert Charles Gentry Mrs. W. Graham Lewis1-1:53.401944 Skytracer Mike Cafferella Frank J. Baker Manuel B. Goff1-1:52.601943 Ocean Wave Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1-1:53.801942 Shut Out Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable1-1:52.401941 Our Boots Conn McCreary Steve Judge Woodvale Farm1-1:51.201940 Bimelech Fred A. Smith Bill Hurley Edward R. Bradley1-1:51.001939 Heather Broom Basil James Earl Sande John Hay Whitney1-1:54.201938 Bull Lea Irving Anderson Frank J. Kearns Calumet Farm1-1:49.601937 Fencing Jack Westrope Earl Sande Maxwell Howard1-1:57.20 * 1951 – The race was made up of two heats. Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth.

Winners of the Lexington Association Blue Grass Stakes Winner Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance(Miles) Time1926Bubbling OverEddie LegereHerbert J. ThompsonIdle Hour Stock Farm1-1:49.601925Step AlongEarl PoolWilliam PerkinsFrederick M. Grabner1-1:51.601924AltawoodLawrence McDermott G. Hamilton KeeneC. Bruce Head1-1:51.801923Bo McMillanDanny ConnellyLouis CahnThomas J. Pendergast1-1:56.801922Busy AmericanNewton BarrettHerbert J. ThompsonIdle Hour Stock Farm1-1:55.801921Black ServantNewton BarrettHerbert J. Thompson Idle Hour Stock Farm1-1:54.601920Peace PennantMack GarnerJoseph S. HawkinsWilliam F. Polson1-1:51.801919RegaloFrank MurphyJohn C. GallaherGallaher Bros.1-1:51.601915–1918 No races1914BronzewingJohn McCabeDaniel LehanA. P. Humphrey, Jr.1-1:51.801913FoundationCharles PeakWilliam McDanielCharles W. McKenna1-1:51.401912SpriteCarroll H. ShillingWilliam H. KarrickHarry K. Knapp1-1:51.201911Governor GrayGeorge MolesworthJames S. EvermanR. N. Smith & Co.1-1.51.20

See also Blue Grass Stakes "top three finishers" and starters Road to the Kentucky Derby

References

External links Toyota Blue Grass Stakes official website Keeneland official website NTRA entry on Toyota Blue Grass Stakes