Pletcher has Two Chances for Record Fourth Toyota Bluegrass Stakes Victory

Five trainers have won the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) three times. On Saturday, Todd Pletcher can become the first to reach four when he sends out Emmanuel for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm and Commandperformance for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. 

Both colts are trying to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve gate in four weeks by picking up points in Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass, which offers 170 points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the first- through fourth-place finishers. The Kentucky Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box. 

Commandperformance (6 points) will be trying to join Irap (2017) as the only maidens to win the Toyota Blue Grass. He will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post one, while Emmanuel (5 points) breaks from post six under Luis Saez. 

“I was happy with both draws,” said Pletcher, who has three other runners shooting for a Derby spot that are entered in Saturday’s Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct. “(Opting for the Toyota Blue Grass for Commandperformance) was a difficult decision, but we liked that we could keep Irad on Commandperformance at Keeneland.” 

Pletcher, Keeneland’s all-time leading stakes winning trainer with 59 victories, could pad that number Friday on the opening day of the 15-day Spring Meet with runners in all three stakes. 

Topping the trio is Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest, the morning-line favorite for the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1). The Central Bank Ashland offers 170 points toward the $1.25 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers. 

The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box. Nest has accumulated 20 points, a total good for 14^th place on the leaderboard with four points races remaining before the May 6 race. 

Pletcher also will be represented Friday by Robert and Lawana Low’s My Prankster, the morning-line favorite for the $400,000 Lafayette, and Whisper Hill Farm’s Grand Sonata, the second choice in the $400,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3).