Zandon Holds Off Smile Happy to Land Blue Grass
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Zandon with Flavien Prat wins the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland
Heading into the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 9 at Keeneland, Jeff Drown's Zandon had to at least put in a decent effort to punch his ticket to the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.
The 3-year-old son of Upstart did more than enough, weaving his way through traffic and turning back 9-5 favorite Smile Happy with an impressive run under Flavien Prat to win the 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby prep by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:50.35.
The Blue Grass provided qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 basis to the top four finishers. Zandon—who previously had just a maiden score on his record, along with a runner-up finish in the Remsen Stakes (G2) to Mo Donegal and a third in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) to Epicenter and Smile Happy—now has enough points to make the 20-horse field.
His form was flattered by Mo Donegal, who just moments earlier won the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack to secure his own Kentucky Derby berth.
Twenty-three horses have exited the Blue Grass to win the Derby—though none since Street Sense won the Run for the Roses after a runner-up finish in the Blue Grass in 2007.
After dropping to a grade 2, the Blue Grass was upgraded to grade 1 status this year.
This story will be updated.
Video: Toyota Blue Grass S. (G1)