Class President, Further Ado top draws on stakes-packed Blue Grass program

A close second to The Puma in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), juvenile Grade 2 winner Further Ado showed an affinity for Keeneland when breaking his maiden by a 20-length margin last fall and the Brad Cox-trained colt figures to go favored when lining up for Saturday’s $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1). Class President, who established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender when capturing the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 1, is another leading contender for Todd Pletcher.

Nine runners are set for the Blue Grass, which will award points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five respective finishers as a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, and the 1 1/8-mile race tops five graded stakes on the opening weekend 11-race program.

By Gun Runner, Further Ado likes to race up close to the pace and shows a five-furlong bullet work in preparation last weekend. The chestnut sophomore will retain the services of Irad Ortiz Jr.

Class President won his career debut in late and followed with a runner-up in the seven-furlong Swale S. five weeks later. The Uncle Mo colt appreciated the stretch out to two turns in the Rebel, determinedly fighting back in deep stretch to prevail by a nose over Silent Tactic, who came to finish second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby (G1), and Class President is a candidate to keep advancing with three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez.

Other contestants include Great White, who will switch to dirt following a commendable win over Fulleffort in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park; Reagan’s Honor, who steps up to face stakes foes and promises to bring early speed to the equation following a pair of frontrunning maiden and entry-level allowance wins at Fair Grounds; and Creole Chrome, an impressive restricted stakes winner last out who will make his first start against open rivals.

Inside Information (G2) romper Grand Job is among nine female sprinters entered for the $650,000 Madison (G1) at seven furlongs. After dropping her first four starts overseas on turf and synthetics, the five-year-old daughter has taken to dirt racing in America, winning four of six outings for trainer Bill Mott. Junior Alvarado rides. Mott will also send out Grade 3 winner Ragtime, who will make her first appearance since a third in the Chilukki (G3) last November,

Saffie Joseph will send out a pair of contenders in multiple Grade 2 winner Mystic Lake, an 11-time stakes winner and earner of more than $1.5 million, and recent Hurricane Bertie (G3) winner R Disaster. Grade 3 queen Eclatant can’t be dismissed following a nice comeback allowance win at Gulfstream, and Praying captured the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) at Keeneland two starts back in October.

Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown and Grade 2 victor Crazy Mason highlight seven male sprinters in the $350,000 Commonwealth (G3) at seven furlongs. Turf sprinters will take center stage in the $400,000 Shakertown (G2) at 5 1/2 furlongs, and three-year-old fillies will contest the $500,000 Appalachian (G2) over a mile on turf.