(Further Ado winning the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

  • TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER FURTHER ADO HEADED TO CHURCHILL DOWNS MONDAY
  • APPALACHIAN WINNER STORM’S WAKE TARGETS CHURCHILL’S EDGEWOOD
  • CHURCHILL ALSO IN FUTURE FOR MY BOY PRINCE, CRAZY MASON
  • CHAMPION NOTABLE SPEECH (GB), AOMORI CITY (FR) HERE FOR APPLEBY

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TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER FURTHER ADO
HEADED TO CHURCHILL DOWNS MONDAY

“It was a very good day,” said Trace Messina, Keeneland assistant to trainer Brad Cox, in a bit of understatement Sunday morning.

The Cox barn captured three of the five graded stakes on Saturday’s program, highlighted by the 11-length victory by Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado in the $1,250,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1).

“They are all doing good this morning and will most likely ship to Churchill Downs tomorrow,” Messina said of Further Ado, Resolute Racing Madison (G1) winner Eclatant and Commonwealth (G3) winner Saudi Crown.

The three victories moved Cox’s Keeneland win total to 197 — eighth all time — and boosted his stakes-winning tally to 42 — fifth-best all time here.

“I remember in 2020 at Fair Grounds, we won the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) with Factor This, the (Fair Grounds) Oaks (G2) with Bonny South and the (Louisiana) Derby (G2) with Wells Bayou,” Cox said via text. “Not sure if we have done it another time.”

Expected to join Further Ado and the Cox team at Churchill Monday is Curlin Florida Derby (G1) Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa winner Commandment for Wathnan Racing. Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort, owned by St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing, is already at Churchill, awaiting his expected run in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve.

In addition to his three Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Cox figures to have at least two entrants in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1: Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Life of Joy and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) Presented by City National Bank winner Prom Queen.

Three trainers have swept the Oaks and Derby in the same year with the most recent being Kenny McPeek in 2024 with Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan.

“It’s gonna be busy,” Messina said of activities in early May for the Cox barn.

Stonestreet Stables’ Eclatant also could return to the races Derby Day in the $1 million Derby City Distaff (G1) Presented by Ford. FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown could target the $1 million Churchill Downs (G1) Presented by Ford the same day. Both races are 7 furlongs, the same distance as Saturday’s victories.

APPALACHIAN WINNER STORM’S WAKE TARGETS CHURCHILL’S EDGEWOOD

Trainer Brian Lynch said William Werner’s Storm’s Wake, winner of Saturday’s 1-mile Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, would head to Churchill Downs midweek to prepare for the $600,000 Edgewood (G2) Presented by Accenture on May 1.

“I think she will relish the extra sixteenth of a mile (in the Edgewood),” Lynch said via text.

In the Edgewood, Storm’s Wake would be going it alone because stablemate Sister Troienne, who finished fifth as the Appalachian favorite, will be bypassing the race.

“I am going to give ‘Sister T’ a little time and regroup,” Lynch said. “I have ruled out the Edgewood.”

CHURCHILL ALSO IN FUTURE FOR MY BOY PRINCE, CRAZY MASON

My Boy Prince, who gave owner Gary Barber his milestone eighth graded stakes victory here with his score in the Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2), also is headed to Churchill Downs in the near future.

“I’m not sure when we will send him over, but the ($600,000) Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2 Presented by Accenture on May 2) is his next planned stop,” trainer Mark Casse said via text.

Trainer Gregg Sacco said Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Crazy Mason, runner-up to Saudi Crown in the Commonwealth, will remain in Kentucky for the time being.

“He came out of the race super, and he will stay in Kentucky for the seven-eighths race (the Churchill Downs-G1 Presented by Ford) on Derby Day or the Alysheba (G2),” Sacco said via text.

The $750,000 Alysheba Presented by U.S. Army is contested at 1 1/16 miles on May 1.

CHAMPION NOTABLE SPEECH (GB), AOMORI CITY (FR) HERE FOR APPLEBY

Champion Notable Speech (GB), winner of last fall’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF, arrived at Keeneland Saturday along with stablemate Aomori City (FR) for Friday’s $650,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1).

Traveling lad Chris Connett said the two Godolphin runners are scheduled to train on the turf Tuesday morning and that trainer Charlie Appleby is expected to be on hand for the Friday race.