NEWS
Keeneland gears up for spring meeting
Posted: Thursday, April 06, 2000
With 11 graded stakes races on its April schedule, Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington opens its 2000 racing season on Friday with a nine-race card.
The first graded stake of the season is Saturday's Ashland Stakes (G1) for three-year-old fillies, which is expected to draw 1999 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Cash Run.
Other highlights of the meet include the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G2) on April 14, the Blue Grass Stakes (G1)—the track's leading prep race for the Kentucky Derby (G1)—on April 15, and the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2)—the race that propelled Charismatic to Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) success last year—on April 22.
Friday's feature is the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes at a mile on the turf for three-year-olds. The listed stakes has drawn a field of 10, including Go Lib Go and Granting, who finished first and third, respectively, in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on January 2, graded stakes winner Dance Master, and former Irish runner Thady Quill, who has been transferred from Aidan O'Brien to Patrick Byrne.
