Blue Grass Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Blue Grass Stakes is set for April 3 at Keenland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Blue Grass Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Blue Grass Stakes
- Purse: $800,000
- Track: Keeneland Race Course
- Date: April 3
- Post Time: 6:35 PM (ET)
- Live: Blue Grass Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Blue Grass Stakes Handicapping
A huge weekend of qualifying races that will all but set the field for the 2021 Kentucky Derby includes a stop in the Blue Grass State of Kentucky for the running of the (G2) Blue Grass Stakes. The Blue Grass awards Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers.
Open to horses age three, the Blue Grass is run at 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland dirt track. The 2020 Blue Grass was significant in that the filly Swiss Skydiver took on the boys and ran second before going on to win the Preakness Stakes.
Odds listed here are the morning line odds from the Keeneland track handicapper.
2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Essential Quality Race Odds: 3-5
Unbeaten in four lifetime starts, Essential Quality still only has 40 Derby qualifying points which usually puts a horse right on the bubble for getting into the race. But that being the case, a finish anywhere in the top four here will likely secure his place in the Derby gate where he will be considered one of the main contenders.
His string of wins include the (G1) Claiborne Futurity, the (G1) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and most recently the (G3) Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in late February. There he took on a very good field won by an easy 4 1/4 lengths.
He’s trained by Brad Cox. Jockey Luis Saez won the Blue Grass in 2016.
2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Highly Motivated Race Odds: 3-1
The lightly raced Highly Motivated has four race starts to his name and has never been out of the money, with two wins, a second and a third in that span.
Two starts ago he set the track record for 6 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland in winning the Nyquist Stakes, but couldn’t carry that momentum into his next start when running third, beaten two lengths, in the one-mile (G3) Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
He’s trained by Chad Brown who won the race in 2018, while 2019 winning jockey Javier Castellano gets the call to ride.
2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Keepmeinmind Race Odds: 8-1
A very good third in the BC Juvenile, where he finished just two lengths back of Essential Quality at odds of 31-1, Keepmeinmind backed up that performance the next time out with a win in the (G2) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill
He was a bit of a disappointment in his first start of 2021, however, running sixth in the (G2) Rebel Stakes against a field that was probably a bit easier than what he will be facing here.
Robertino Diodoro is the trainer, David Cohen will be in the saddle.
2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Hidden Stash Race Odds: 20-1
Since stepping up to the graded-stakes ranks two starts back, Hidden Stash has had some success, running third in the (G3) Sam F Davis Stakes and second in the (G2) Tampa Bay Derby where he came five wide and duelled with the winner down the stretch.
He appears to be an improving colt, and has a good recent workout on the Keeneland dirt.
The trainer is Victoria Oliver, Rafael Bejarano is tapped to ride.
Here’s My 2021 Blue Grass Stakes Free Pick.
While he does put himself in some jeopardy in regards to pace and traffic coming from off the pace in his races, the record of Essential Quality can’t be overlooked, especially considering he won the BC Juvenile on this very track. It’s tough to make a case against him for the win.
I think Hidden Stash is a bit of a sleeper here at long odds, and although I’d be surprised if he beats Essential Quality, I’ll use him in the exacta.
Full Field: Blue Grass Stakes Betting Odds
- Essential Quality 3-5
- Highly Motivated 3-1
- Keepmeinmind 8-1
- Untreated 10-1
- Rombauer 15-1
- Hush Of A Storm 15-1
- Hidden Stash 20-1
- Sittin’ On Go 30-1
- Leblon 50-1
What do you think of our 2021 Blue Grass Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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