Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes is the track's signature prep for the Kentucky Derby. The race, named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky which is characterized by grass with bluish-green culms, is held annually in mid-April over 1 1/8 miles. The 2015 running marked the race's return to a dirt surface after the track replaced its synthetic Polytrack in the summer of 2014.
Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes is the track's signature prep for the Kentucky Derby. The race, named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky which is characterized by grass with bluish-green culms, is held annually in mid-April over 1 1/8 miles. The 2015 running marked the race's return to a dirt surface after the track replaced its synthetic Polytrack in the summer of 2014.
The Blue Grass at Keeneland has produced 19 winners of the Kentucky Derby, nine of which won the Blue Grass before tasting victory on the first Saturday in May. The most recent Blue Grass runner to win the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense in 2007. Other winners of the race include the Alydar, Holy Bull, Skip Away and Harlan’s Holiday.
Owner Calumet Farm and jockey Bill Shoemaker each have six wins in the race.
Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:47:29
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 13 lengths
| Date | Past Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/07/2025 | Burnham Square | Ian R. Wilkes | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC |
| 04/05/2024 | Sierra Leone | Chad C. Brown | Tyler Gaffalione | Brant, Peter M., Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael, Smith, Derrick, Westerberg and Smith, Brook T. |
| 04/07/2023 | Tapit Trice | Todd A. Pletcher | Luis Saez | Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) |
| 04/08/2022 | Zandon | Chad C. Brown | Flavien Prat | Jeff Drown |
| 04/02/2021 | Essential Quality | Brad H. Cox | Luis Saez | Godolphin, LLC |
| 07/10/2020 | Art Collector | Thomas Drury, Jr. | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | Bruce Lunsford |
| 04/05/2019 | Vekoma | George Weaver | Javier Castellano | R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables |
| 04/06/2018 | Good Magic | Chad C. Brown | Jose L. Ortiz | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables LLC |
| 04/07/2017 | Irap | Doug F. O'Neill | Julien R. Leparoux | Reddam Racing LLC |
| 04/08/2016 | Brody's Cause | Dale L. Romans | Luis Saez | Albaugh Family Stables LLC |
| 04/03/2015 | Carpe Diem | Todd A. Pletcher | John R. Velazquez | WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC |
| 04/11/2014 | Dance With Fate | Peter Eurton | Corey S. Nakatani | Alesia, Sharon, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing LLC |
| 04/12/2013 | Java's War | Kenneth G. McPeek | Julien R. Leparoux | Charles E. Fipke |
| 04/13/2012 | Dullahan | Dale L. Romans | Kent J. Desormeaux | Donegal Racing |
| 04/15/2011 | Brilliant Speed | Thomas Albertrani | Joel Rosario | Live Oak Plantation |
| 04/09/2010 | Stately Victor | Michael J. Maker | Alan Garcia | Conway, F. Thomas and Jack |
| 04/10/2009 | General Quarters | Thomas R. McCarthy | Eibar Coa | Thomas R. McCarthy |
| 04/11/2008 | Monba | Todd A. Pletcher | Edgar S. Prado | Starlight Racing |
| 04/13/2007 | Dominican | Darrin Miller | Rafael Bejarano | Silverton Hill LLC |
| 04/14/2006 | Sinister Minister | Bob Baffert | Garrett K. Gomez | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC and Schiappa, Bernard C. |
| 04/15/2005 | Bandini | Todd A. Pletcher | John R. Velazquez | Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick |
| 04/09/2004 | The Cliff's Edge | Nicholas P. Zito | Shane J. Sellers | Robert V. LaPenta |
| 04/11/2003 | Peace Rules | Robert J. Frankel | Edgar S. Prado | Edmund A. Gann |
| 04/12/2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Kenneth G. McPeek | Edgar S. Prado | Starlight Racing |
| 04/13/2001 | Millennium Wind | David E. Hofmans | Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. | Heerensperger, David and Jill |
| 04/14/2000 | High Yield | D. Wayne Lukas | Pat Day | Lewis, Robert B. and Beverly J., Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael, et al |
| 04/09/1999 | Menifee | W. Elliott Walden | Pat Day | Stone, James H. and Hancock III, Arthur B. |
| 04/10/1998 | Halory Hunter | Nicholas P. Zito | Gary L. Stevens | Celtic Pride Stable |
| 04/11/1997 | Pulpit | Frank L. Brothers | Shane J. Sellers | Claiborne Farm |
| 04/12/1996 | Skip Away | Hubert Hine | Shane J. Sellers | Carolyn H. Hine |
| 04/14/1995 | Wild Syn | Thomas Kurt Arnemann | Randy P. Romero | Jurgen K Arnemann |
| 04/15/1994 | Holy Bull | Warren A. Croll, Jr. | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. |
| 04/09/1993 | Prairie Bayou | Thomas K. Bohannan | Mike E. Smith | Loblolly Stable (John Ed Anthony) |
| 04/10/1992 | Pistols and Roses | George Gianos | Jacinto Vasquez | Willis Family Stables Inc. |
| 04/12/1991 | Strike the Gold | Nicholas P. Zito | Chris W. Antley | Brophy-Condren-Cornacchia |
| 04/13/1990 | Summer Squall | Neil J. Howard | Pat Day | Dogwood Stable |
| 04/14/1989 | Western Playboy | Harvey L. Vanier | Randy P. Romero | Roncari & Vanier Nancy A |
| 04/27/1988 | Granacus | Patrick J. Collins | Jacinto Vasquez | Stavro S A |
| 04/22/1987 | War | D. Wayne Lukas | Herb McCauley | Gentry Tom |
| 04/23/1986 | Bachelor Beau | Philip M. Hauswald | Larry Melancon | Tafel & Waterfield |
| 04/24/1985 | Chief's Crown | Roger Laurin | Donald MacBeth | Star Crown Stable |
| 04/25/1984 | Taylor's Special | William I. Mott | Pat Day | Lucas W F |
| 04/27/1983 | Play Fellow | Harvey L. Vanier | Jean Cruguet | Lauer & Vanier Nancy & Victor |
| 04/21/1982 | Linkage | Henry S. Clark II | William Shoemaker | Christiana Stable |
| 04/22/1981 | Proud Appeal | Stanley M. Hough | Jeff Fell | Winfield M H |
| 04/23/1980 | Rockhill Native | Herbert K. Stevens | John Oldham | Oak H A |
| 04/25/1979 | Spectacular Bid | Grover G. Delp | Ronald Joseph Franklin | Hawksworth Farm |
| 04/26/1978 | Alydar | John M. Veitch | Jorge Velasquez | Calumet Farm |
| 04/27/1977 | For The Moment | LeRoy S. Jolley | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Robins G |
| 04/21/1976 | Honest Pleasure | LeRoy S. Jolley | Braulio Baeza | Firestone B R |
