Keeneland Barn Notes: Blue Grass and Ashland Draw Tuesday Morning

TOYOTA BLUE GRASS/CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND DRAW IS TUESDAY MORNING

On Tuesday morning, Keeneland will conduct the post position draws for Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) in a special event to be held in the Limestone Café in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

The Central Bank Ashland draw is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. and be followed by the Toyota Blue Grass draw.

Fans can follow @keenelandracing on Periscope or Twitter to watch a live broadcast of the draws for both races.

CONVERGE TOPS FIELD OF NINE FOR OPENING-DAY TRANSYLVANIA

Paul Pompa Jr.’s Converge, winner of the Palm Beach (G3) in his most recent start on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park, heads a field of nine 3-year-olds entered Monday for Friday’s 28^thrunning of the $100,000 Transylvania Presented by Keeneland Select (G3).

The Transylvania headlines the 10-race opening-day card of Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet that runs through April 29. Scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the Transylvania will go as the ninth race Friday with a 5:30 p.m. ET post time. First post time Friday is 1:05 p.m.

Trained by Chad Brown, who saddled Pompa’s Night Prowler to win last year’s renewal of the Transylvania, Converge won his career debut at first asking on the turf at Belmont Park in September against New York-breds and completed his 2015 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Awad Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 30.

Javier Castellano, who rode last year’s winner, will have the mount on Converge, a son of Sidney’s Candy, and break from post position seven.

Brown has one other entrant in the race: Woodford Racing’s Catapult.

Catapult, who is 1-for-1 in his career with a grass victory at Belmont in October, makes his 2016 debut under Julien Leparoux. Catapult will break from post position eight.

The field for the Transylvania, from the rail out with rider and weight, is: Inspector Lynley (Florent Geroux, 118 pounds), Shakhimat (Emma-Jayne Wilson, 118), Prime Time Man(John Velazquez, 118), Urban Bourbon (Joe Bravo, 118), J R’s Holiday (Emisael Jaramillo, 123), Sorryaboutnothing (Corey Lanerie, 118), Converge (Castellano, 123), Catapult (Leparoux, 120) and One Mean Man (Francisco Torres, 118).

WORK TAB

Nicholas Alexander’s Sunday Rules, winner of eight of nine career starts, worked a half-mile in :47.60 over a fast track after the Monday morning renovation break. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Sunday Rules is scheduled to run in Saturday’s 15^th running of the $300,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares going seven furlongs. …

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s I’m a Chatterbox, working toward her 2016 debut in the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) on April 22, drilled five furlongs in company in :59 after the break with jockey Florent Geroux aboard. The work was the fastest of 20 at the distance.

“A big thumbs-up,” Geroux said of the work that produced an opening three furlongs in :34.60 and a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:13.80. “I am really looking forward to her next race.”

Geroux has been the regular work rider in the mornings this winter at Fair Grounds on I’m a Chatterbox for trainer Larry Jones.

PROBABLE OPENING SATURDAY STAKES FIELDS

Here is the list of probable entrants for the stakes on opening Saturday. Entries will be taken Tuesday.

$1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G1) – American Dubai, Brody’s Cause, Crescent Drive, Donegal Moon, Goats Town, Hint of Roses, Laoban, My Man Sam, Pinson, Star Hill, Twizz, Zapperini, Zulu.

$500,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) – Carina Mia, Cathryn Sophia, Rachel’s Valentina, Weep No More.

$300,000 MADISON (G1) – Birdatthewire, Dancing House, Enchanting Lady, Fioretti, Sarah Sis, Sheer Drama, Spelling Again, Sunday Rules, Super Majesty, Thirteen Arrows, Wavell Avenue.

$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) – American Sailor, Bye Bye Bernie, Power Alert (AUS), Something Extra, Summation Time.

$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) – Ami’s Flatter, Barbados, Departing, Holy Boss, Limousine Liberal, Ready for Rye, Viva Majorca.

Source: Keeneland