This Saturday is the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. This race has produced some real nice runners for the Derby. The timing is right, and history does not lie.

Here is the field and odds for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes:

1.*Patena*Albarado/Dutrow*10-1

2.*Join in the Dance*Velazquez/Pletcher*10-1

3.*Theregoesjojo*Borel/McPeek*7-2

4.*Cliffy’s Future*Castanon/Miller*20-1

5.*Mafaaz*Hills/Gosden*12-1

6.*Terrain*Leparoux/Stall*6-1

7.*Loch Dubh*Theriot/Talley*50-1

8.*General Quarters*Coa/McCarthy*15-1

9.*Charitable Man*Garcia/McLaughlin*4-1

10.*Hold Me Back*Desormeaux/Mott*3-1

11.*Massone*Gomez/McAnally*12-1

The race has the look of a closer’s paradise. The way Hold Me Back came rolling at the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway under Kent Desormeaux, had the look of a very nice runner. He was 2/3 with wins, and all you had to do was excuse the Remsen at New York and his 9-1 was a sweet overlay.

Theregoesjojo just ran a solid third behind Quality Road and Dunkirk. I don’t see that level of competition in here at all. He may be closing into a quitting field if any pace erupts.

Charitable Man, the 4-1 third choice who will start from post 9, has the toughest assignment. He’s 2-for-2, but hasn’t raced since the Sept. 13th Futurity at Belmont, having sustained a saucer fracture in a leg afterward.

My only question is if there will be enough pace to get these guys going. I do think the “now” horse is Hold Me Back. Hearing Bill Mott say that this runner is an all-weather runner, should speak volumes. I like the way he runs, and you may want to consult with WinningPonies.com to see where he ends up in the tier standings. There have been many that look way too good, and they have found others that fit the bill for the winner’s circle.