Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has circled April 11th and has picked out the Blue Grass Stakes for Charitable Man’s return.

One of the most highly regarded 2-year-olds of 2008, Charitable Man hasn’t raced since winning Belmont’s Futurity in September. An injury cut his juvenile campaign short. But in preparing for his return, the unbeaten son of Lemon Drop Kid has had six workouts in Florida, the latest being Sunday’s five furlongs in 1:00.20. McLaughlin said the colt is training “fabulously.”

McLaughlin said he also considered the Wood Memorial, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby for the colt’s return. But, he said, many reasons — I Want Revenge, Old Fashioned, Quality Road and Dunkirk among them — led him to choose the $750,000 Blue Grass at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

McLaughlin will send a large group of horses to Keeneland at the end of the month. The Blue Grass, he said, will give him a week longer than the Wood to prepare Charitable Man. Also, McLaughlin said he believes Keeneland’s Polytrack would be right for this horse in this situation.

McLaughlin pointed out that Charitable Man probably wouldn’t need much in earnings to get into the Kentucky Derby field. Charitable Man is currently No. 17 in earnings among Kentucky Derby contenders. The field, of course, is limited to 20.