Expert prediction
Blue Grass Stakes Picks, Odds & Preview (Apr 4)
- When: Saturday, April 4, 2026 @ 6:22 PM ET
- Where: Keeneland, Lexington
- How to Watch: FanDuel TV
One of the most important preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is set for this weekend, as Keeneland hosts the G1 Blue Grass Stakes. A talented field of nine will go to post, with the betting likely to be headed by talented colt Further Ado. Find our picks here.
Blue Grass Stakes Odds
| Horse | Moneyline Odds |
|---|---|
| Further Ado | +187 |
| Class President | +300 |
| Reagan’s Honor | +333 |
| Ottinho | +800 |
| Creole Chrome | +900 |
| Talkin | +1000 |
| Other Selections | +2500 & Bigger |
Race Information & Records
| Stat | Information |
|---|---|
| Race Distance | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Purse | $1,000,000 |
| Most Successful Trainer | Todd Pletcher (4) |
| Most Successful Jockey | Bill Shoemaker (6) |
| Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points | 100-50-25-15-10 |
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Blue Grass Stakes: Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Burnham Square | Brian Hernandez | Ian Wilkes |
| 2024 | Sierra Leone | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad Brown |
| 2023 | Tapit Trice | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
| 2022 | Zandon | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown |
Race Preview
The G1 Blue Grass Stakes has traditionally been one of the highest quality races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with recent winners of the race including 2021 Belmont Stakes victor Essential Quality and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Sierra Leone.
Brad Cox-trained Further Ado is the rightful favorite for the race, with the strength of his second in the G3 Tampa Bay Derby behind The Puma being evident last weekend when the winner finished second in the G1 Florida Derby. The son of Gun Runner is already a winner in stakes company, landing the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November.
Todd Pletcher holds the record for the most wins in this race, meaning that Class President shouldn’t be overlooked. The three-year-old by Uncle Mo battled excellently to land the G2 Rebel Stakes in early March. Further improvement is expected now upped in distance again.
Reagan’s Honor and Creole Chrome are two of the most fascinating contenders that are unproven in Grade One company. The former is a leading hope for Cherie DeVaux, who produced a mighty Equibase rating of 105 when winning an allowance at Fair Grounds last time.
Danny Gargan-trained Talkin is also back on the Road to the Derby, but the Good Magic colt has plenty to prove after finishing fifth in the G3 Tampa Bay Derby, ninth in the G2 Remsen, and second in the G1 Champagne.
Blue Grass Stakes Picks
This is a really interesting prep, and I’m interested to see how Reagan’s Honor performs. However, based on the form in the book, Brad Cox’s Further Ado should prove very difficult to beat if bringing his A-Game.
Free Pick:
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