Once again, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes promises to play an integral role in finalizing the field of 20 for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. With a total of 200 qualifying points at stake and a 100-40-30-20-10 distribution format to the top five finishers, the Blue Grass could unlock the door to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs for a few starters.

Prominent among the entries is Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapit Trice, who can give trainer Todd Pletcher an even more formidable Derby hand, if that’s possible for someone who already has the heavy run for the roses favorite in Forte and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby victor Kingsbarns. 

1. Tapit Trice (5-2 morning-line odds): On the final turn of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, he looked beaten. Then he rallied from eighth in the last furlong and surged to a clear, two-length victory in an impressive performance. He will face tougher company here, but his talent and rail trip combined with train Todd Pletcher’s hot hand with 3-year-olds make him hard to look past.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

2. Clear the Air (30-1): He’s also entered in the Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino. If he stays home here at Keeneland, he figures to be a longshot with fifth-place finishes in his two career dirt races to his credit.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Will Walden

3. Verifying (3-1): He has plenty of talent, verified by a second in last year’s Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. His fourth in the Rebel Stakes was a disappointment, but he had some traffic issues while running on a sloppy track. That’s enough of a reason to give him a second chance.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Brad Cox                                             

4. Classic Car Wash (12-1): He looked like a winner in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby until Tapit Trice blew past him late, forcing him to settle for second in a good effort. If you like him and don’t bet him you’ll probably wind up with a case of the steadily depressing, lowdown, mind-messin’ working at the car wash blues if he wins.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

5. Hayes Strike (15-1): He won the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park last time out to remind us that he was good enough to finish a close third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes as a 2-year-old. If he takes another step forward, he can make his presence felt here.

JOCKEY: James Graham; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

6. Scoobie Quando (15-1): The lack of a start in a dirt race is usually a turn-off in a stakes like this, but he was second in a Turfway Park stakes and having Uncle Mo as a sire plus a sharp workout on this track make him an intriguing possibility.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Ben Colebrook

7. Sun Thunder (10-1): He impressed with a second in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford but then finished fifth with some traffic issues in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. He seems like an in-and-out sort and this does not have the feel of a spot where he’ll fire his best shot.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

8. Blazing Sevens (6-1): Winning the Champagne Stakes moved him among the division leaders, but then he finished fourth in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA. He seemed a threat to Forte in the Fountain of Youth Stakes but wound up 26 lengths behind. Have to believe trainer Chad Brown would not be running here unless that effort was a fluke, so he probably deserves another chance.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown

9. Major Blue (30-1): He’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ hope for a ticket to the Kentucky Derby and he won his last two starts, but his speed figures say he’s a notch below the top contenders.

JOCKEY: David Cabrera; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

10. Raise Cain (9-2): He turned in a big effort to win the one-turn Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct last time out, but that was in the mud at 23.50-1. He was competitive in stakes before that, but the 1-2 punch of a possible bounce off the Gotham and post position 10 diminish his appeal.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Ben Colebrook

11. Mendelssohns March (20-1): Promising colt who is undefeated in two starts was dealt a tough assignment from post position 11. Will need a great ride from Brian Hernandez Jr. to avoid significant ground loss.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

THE PICK: Tapit Trice

LIVE LONGSHOT: Scoobie Quando

SUPERFECTA: 1-3-6-8