Blue Grass runners in good order on Easter Sunday

GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), who posted a 14-1 upset in Saturday's Blue Grass

S. (G1) at Keeneland, headed back to his Churchill Downs base, where he will

prepare for the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Owned and trained by Thomas McCarthy, the gray is the second horse to score

in the Blue Grass for his owner/trainer. The first was another gray, Hall of

Famer Holy Bull, who raced for Hall of Famer Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll Jr.

On Easter Sunday, the connections of the Blue Grass runners stabled at

Keeneland reported on their horses.

HOLD ME BACK (Giant's Causeway), runner-up as the 2-1 favorite, walked the

shedrow at trainer Bill Mott's barn.

"He came out of the race in good order," assistant trainer Leana Willaford

said. "He's hungry as always. It was a good race for him, and he'll be ready to

come back in three weeks (for the Kentucky Derby). We couldn't ask for him to be

any better this morning."

Third-place finisher MASSONE (Menifee) was fine Sunday morning, groom Luis

Trejo said, and likely would return to Southern California this week. Massone

was the lone Blue Grass starter not nominated to the Triple Crown.

Blue Grass fourth TERRAIN (Sky Mesa) scoped clean after the race and ate up,

according to assistant trainer Glenn Brookfield.

"He was closing into a slow, 1:13 pace," Brookfield said. "He always tries --

he runs his guts out."

Trainer Al Stall Jr. was noncommittal about going on to the Kentucky Derby

with Terrain.

"We've got the luxury of (having sufficient graded) earnings, three weeks'

time and we don't have to ship," Stall said. "The Derby is a possibility, but I

don't want to put a percentage on it. We will just see how things go."

Stall has not decided whether Terrain will remain at Keeneland and train on

the Polytrack or go on to Churchill Downs with the rest of his string.

Two starts back, Terrain finished a head behind subsequent Arkansas Derby

(G2) winner Papa Clem (Smart Strike) when third in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased with the fifth-place finish of JOIN IN THE

DANCE (Sky Mesa), who controlled the early pace.

"It was a nice race," Pletcher said. "He tried hard."

Pletcher said the 1 1/16-mile Lone Star Derby (G3) at Lone Star Park on May 9

could be next for Join in the Dance.

Neal McLaughlin, brother of and assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin,

reported that CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) came out of his seventh in the

Blue Grass in good order.

"I couldn't believe how quick he cooled out -- he didn't get too tired in his

first race in seven months," McLaughlin said. "I think yesterday it was a

combination of the wide trip and the surface."

McLaughlin said that Charitable Man was off the Kentucky Derby trail.

"We will regroup and go back to New York and point for the Travers ([G1] at

Saratoga on August 29)," McLaughlin said. "There are a few ways to get there."

Les Reynolds, head traveling lad for trainer John Gosden, reported that

eighth-place finisher MAFAAZ (GB) (Medicean) was fine Sunday morning.

"He looks good this morning, not tucked up at all and doesn't look like a

horse that just ran in a Grade 1 race," Reynolds said. "The pace was slow

yesterday and it looked like on the turn when they quickened he kind of got

shuffled back and they got away from him."

Gosden returned to England after the race.

"I think John is going to talk with Sheikh Hamdan and Rick Nichols (vice

president and general manager of Shadwell Stable) later today," Reynolds said.

"When John left, there was no decision about the Derby, but a decision could be

forthcoming, maybe this afternoon."

Mafaaz had earned an automatic berth in the Derby by virtue of his victory in

the March 18 Kentucky Derby Challenge S. at Kempton Park in England.

Jordan Blair, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek, said that THEREGOESJOJO

(Brahms) was likewise fine Sunday morning.

"He cooled out in an hour and cleaned up all his feed," Blair said.

Nominated to the June 6 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Theregoesjojo may make his

grass debut in three weeks at Churchill Downs.

"Ken told me the Crown Royal American Turf ([G3] on May 1) is a possibility,"

Blair said. "He may bring him back in three weeks."

Trainer Darrin Miller said all was well with CLIFFY'S FUTURE (The Cliff's

Edge), last of 11 in the Blue Grass, on Sunday morning.

"He took the scenic route yesterday," Miller said. "Everything looked fine

going down the backside and he made a little move, but the others just kept

going."

Miller said Cliffy's Future would remain at Keeneland through the end of the

meeting on April 24 and then ship to Churchill Downs.

"We will re-evaluate his form," Miller said.

"I am really happy for General Quarters and Tom McCarthy," he added. "That's

a fantastic story."