Blue Grass Stakes: How the field shapes up
1 Heavy Breathing
Owners: Starlight Partners
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Morning-line odds: 12-1
The skinny: The son of Giant's Causeway ran third in the Grade III Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at Turfway on March 24 after winning his first two career starts over the main track at Gulfstream. One of several with early speed.
2 Gung Ho
Owners: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Edgar Prado
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Ran seventh in the Grade I Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland last October and was most recently second in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway.
3 Prospective
Owner: John Oxley
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Luis Contreras
Morning-line odds: 10-1
The skinny: Winner of the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby actually began his career running on the Polytrack at Woodbine and won the Grade III Grey Stakes there last October.
4 Hansen
Owners: Dr. Kendall Hansen and Sky Chai Racing
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
Morning-line odds: 6-5
The skinny: The juvenile champion is the one to beat here, having won his first two starts on Turfway's Polytrack by a combined 251/2 lengths. His win in the Grade III Gotham showed he could relax and take back if someone else wants to dictate the fractions.
5 Russian Greek
Owner: Mikhail Yanakov
Trainer: Gennadi Dorochenko
Jockey: Miguel Mena
Morning-line odds: 50-1
The skinny: Won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 14 but was off the board in both the Grade III El Camino Real Derby and Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes.
6 Dullahan
Owner: Donegal Racing
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Morning-line odds: 6-1
The skinny: A half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Dullhan earned his only career win when he captured the Grade I Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland last October. The late-running colt should benefit from the abundance of speed.
7 Politicallycorrect
Owners: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Elvis Trujillo
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Earned both his wins over the Gulfstream Park main track, including breaking his maiden going 11⁄16 miles. Ran second in a 7-furlong allowance race at Keeneland last October.
8 Midnight Crooner
Owner: Arnold Zetcher
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Garrett Gomez
Morning-line odds: 15-1
The skinny: Full brother to Grade I winner Midnight Interlude earned his lone win in four starts when he won a 1-mile maiden race at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 18.
9 Holy Candy
Owners: Craig Stables and Donkey Island Racing
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: The son of Candy Ride steps into graded stakes company for the first time after breaking his maiden in his fourth try at Santa Anita Park on March 23.
10 Howe Great
Owner: Team Valor International
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Morning-line odds: 6-1
The skinny: The dark bay colt has won four straight and defeated Dullahan by a length in the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf on March 11.
11 Ever So Lucky
Owner: Augustin Stable
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Morning-line odds: 12-1
The skinny: The highly touted colt represents the first Blue Grass Stakes starter for Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard and ran second to undefeated Gemologist in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs last November.
12 Hero of Order
Owner: Gennadi Dorochenko
Trainer: Gennadi Dorochenko
Jockey: Eddie Martin Jr.
Morning-line odds: 12-1
The skinny: Shocked the racing world when he won the Grade II Louisiana Derby at odds of 109-to-1, his second win in 14 career starts. Is not Triple Crown nominated so he won't be making it into the Kentucky Derby even if he adds the Blue Grass to his résumé.
13 Scatman
Owners: Jim and Ellen O'Grady
Trainer: Michael Lauer
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
Morning-line odds: 12-1
The skinny: Has only been off the board once in six career starts and was most recently third in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. Broke his maiden going 6 furlongs over the Polytrack at Keeneland last Oct. 13.
This story was originally published April 13, 2012 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Blue Grass Stakes: How the field shapes up."