Blue Grass Under Consideration for Man in the Can

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Blue Grass Under Consideration for Man in the Can
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Photo: Coady Photography
Man in the Can wins a June 12 allowance at Churchill Downs

Man in the Can will take his next step on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland following his 1 1/2-length allowance optional claiming victory June 12 at Churchill Downs, trainer Ron Moquett said.

In Friday's race at 1 1/8 miles, the son of Can the Man rallied from sixth to win going away in a time of 1:49.74. It was his fourth victory from five starts for owner/breeder JRita Young Thoroughbreds. This year, he won both the Rainbow Stakes and Arkansas Breeders' Championship Stakes for Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn Park.

"That sure was an impressive turn of foot," Moquett said. "I wasn't expecting him to go off as that big of a favorite, but he ran against some stiff Arky-bred competition in his last couple of starts at Oaklawn. I think the bettors saw that before the race, and that's why he ended up going off (the 5-2) favorite. He definitely deserves a shot in the Blue Grass. There have been so many top Kentucky Derby contenders that have gone off the trail this week that it's really anyone's game."

The rescheduled Blue Grass will award the first four finishers 100-40-20-10 points, respectively, on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Should Man in the Can make the gate for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), he would become the first Arkansas-bred to contest the race since Barbizon Streak, who finished 16th in 1971.

Another improving 3-year-old who won an allowance-level race last week at Churchill Downs was Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector. The son of Bernardini  collected his third victory with a frontrunning 6 1/2-length score June 13, just :0.34 off the track record with a time of 1:41.35 for 1 1/16 miles. 

"He's certainly getting better at the right time," trainer Tommy Drury Jr. said. "That is as impressive as it gets to kick clear as he did. I asked Bruce to let us enjoy this one for a couple of days and then we'd get together and talk about our next options."

Gouverneur Morris and Enforceable are also pointed toward the Blue Grass.

The next major race for 3-year-olds is the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1), which is expected to be headlined by Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law. Due to the reshuffling of the Triple Crown schedule amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belmont is the first leg of the series this year and serves as a points-earning prep toward the Derby.

On the day of the Belmont, Churchill Downs will host the Wise Dan Stakes Presented by Ford (G2T), a race likely to draw Gaining Ground Racing's multiple graded stakes winner Factor This. The Brad Cox trainee worked a half-mile in :48 June 14 on the Churchill Downs turf under regular jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. It was the fastest of 10 breezes at the distance, which included six stablemates. 

"Each time he works, he seems to get better," Bridgmohan said. "He looks like a more mature and filled-out horse this year than last." 

Among the other Cox horses to record turf works were multiple graded stakes winners Beau Recall (:50) and Mr. Misunderstood (:48) and graded stakes winner Juliet Foxtrot (:49 3/5).