Four weeks before the first Saturday in May, Kentucky Derby fever will bloom in Kentucky with Saturday’s running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Several of the top contenders for the run for the roses are slated to start in a race that will put them just a short drive away from Churchill Downs for America’s most famous horse race.

1. Top Conor (15-1 morning-line odds): Showed a lot of promise in winning his career debut but this seems a tough spot for a horse with just one career start.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Chad Brown

2. Be You (8-1): Turned in a blazing-fast maiden win, but that came in his sixth start. He had a second and a third from five starts before that. Seems like a tall task against such a strong field, but If he can duplicate his maiden win he will be a force here.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

3. Seize the Grey (20-1): Seems to be on the upswing and should appreciate the distance. Might be a notch below the top threats, but it’s hard to discount a 3-year-old trained by D. Wayne Lukas in a race like this.

JOCKEY: Nik Juarez; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas                                            

4. Dornoch (3-1): The full-brother (same dam [mother] and sire [father]) to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage should be a major player. His early speed should put him in a good spot in the early stages and he’s tough to catch and put away – which Sierra Leone found out in a nose loss to him in the Remsen Stakes. Did what he needed to do to win the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes to start his 3-year-old campaign and figures to be the main threat here.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Danny Gargan

5. Good Money (20-1): Showed a nice turn of speed in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby while finishing a close fourth in his second career start. Continued improvement paints him as a legitimate contender.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Chad Brown

6. Just a Touch (7-2): Turned in a good effort when second in the Gotham Stakes at a one-turn mile. Seems ideally suited for the two-turn distance and deserves plenty of attention here.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox

7. Lat Long (30-1): Hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Lecomte Stakes back in January. Seems a tad slower than the favorites but has been working well for his return to the races for a trainer in McPeek who has penchant for winning races like this at a nice price.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

8. Epic Ride (20-1): Was second in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes but that was on a synthetic surface. Has yet to race on dirt, making him a mystery horse of sorts. A strong workout on the track is a positive for him.

JOCKEY: Adam Beschizza; TRAINER: John Ennis

9. Mugatu (30-1): He’s another entrant who has been running on Tapeta Footings all-weather surface. Was fourth in the Battaglia and eighth in the Rushaway Stakes, both at Turfway Park. Has just one win in 11 starts and was no factor in two dirt races. He’s a tossout.

JOCKEY: Joe Talamo; TRAINER: Jeff Engler

Sierra Leone (Dana Wimpfheimer photo)

10. Sierra Leone (2-1): Only loss in three starts was by a nose to Dornoch in the Remsen. Was an impressive winner of the Risen Star Stakes in his 3-year-old debut, rallying from ninth, and looks like the one to beat based on that performance.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Chad Brown

11. Encino (12-1): He won the Battaglia Memorial for top connections but is also untested on dirt. Has the pedigree to handle it but the outside post could cause him to race wide and prove costly at the end.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox

THE PICK: Sierra Leone

LIVE LONGSHOT: Good Money

SUPERFECTA: 10-4-6-5