Fields set for Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland

July 8, 2020

Bryan Kennedy,

LEXINGTON, KY (Keeneland PR) – Post positions for Saturday’s 96^th running of the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and 83^rd running of the Central Bank Ashland (G1) were drawn today at Keeneland. The two races are part of Keeneland’s five-day Summer Meet from July 8-12

$600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles
Weight: Males: 123 lbs./Swiss Skydiver: 118 lbs. * Post time: 5:30 p.m. ET

Note about fillies in the Toyota Blue Grass: Multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver is scheduled to become the second filly to run in the race since it debuted at Keeneland during the track’s inaugural Spring Meet in April 1937. The first is Hyman Friedberg’s homebred Harriet Sue, who in 1944 won the Ashland and next was fifth to Skytracer in the Blue Grass. That year, Keeneland’s Spring Meet was held at Churchill Downs.

In 1948, future Hall of Famer Bewitch was scratched from the Blue Grass.

Note about sponsor: This year’s Toyota Blue Grass marks the 25^th year the race has been sponsored by Toyota.

$400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles
Weight: 121 lbs. * Post time: 4:24 p.m.

Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland are classic preps: For 3-year-olds, the Toyota Blue Grass and the Central Bank Ashland are respective major preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Sept. 5 and Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Sept. 4. The Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland both carry 170 qualifying points for the Derby and Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first four finishers.

Saturday’s card: Ten races begin at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday graded stakes lineup: Six graded stakes are worth a total of $1.9 million.

Race 4 (2:45 p.m.) $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association

Race 5 (3:18 p.m.) $250,000 Madison (G1)

Race 6 (3:51 p.m.) $150,000 Shakertown (G2)

Race 7 (4:24 p.m.) $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1)

Race 8 (4:57 p.m.) $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1)

Race 9 (5:30 p.m.) $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2)

Saturday wagering: $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

How to watch Summer Meet: TVG’s live, on-site coverage begins at 1 p.m. Races are streamed live and at no charge on Keeneland.com, KeenelandSelect,Keeneland Race Day mobile app and Keeneland’s Facebook Live and YouTube.