Longshots have fared particularly well in the Blue Grass Stakes in recent years, with favorites being blanked in the Keeneland showcase every year since Peace Rules won in 2003 for Bobby Frankel. In fact, the four biggest win mutuels in that span came in the last five runnings: Stately Victor ($82.20, the all-time race record, in 2010), Brilliant Speed ($40.20 in 2011), General Quarters ($30.60 in 2009), and Monba ($19.60) in 2008. The first Blue Grass on Polytrack was the 2007 renewal; all prior runnings were on dirt.

Del Mar plans to increase its bonus incentives for out-of-state horses to record levels for its upcoming meeting from July 17 to Sept. 4.

STICKNEY, Ill. – The snub of the Illinois Derby from Churchill Downs’s new series of Kentucky Derby qualifying races means the race no longer is a viable option for the established or rising elite in the 3-year-old crop. But with a purse raised from $500,000 to $750,000 this year, the Illinois Derby retains plenty of appeal for horsemen with 3-year-olds who have shown even a glimmer of stakes ability.

ARCADIA, Calif. – My Philly Girl will be stakes-bound this spring, possibly at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, if she wins a $60,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Friday.

Trainer Mike Machowsky said the $300,000 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 4 is a goal with My Philly Girl, who has won 2 of 4 starts.

“She’s an awfully good filly,” Machowsky said. “I’ve got plans for her down the line. If Friday goes well, I might go to the Humana Distaff. Hopefully, everything will go well Friday.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The number 13 is supposed to be such bad luck around the racetrack that most stable areas don’t even have a Barn 13. But for trainer Gary Contessa – who clearly is not afflicted with triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of 13 – what happened Wednesday morning at the post-position draw for the 89th Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland can’t be seen as anything but good luck.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jay Robbins, who won consecutive runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2000 and 2001 with Tiznow, has retired from training, he said Wednesday.

Robbins, 67, said he dispersed the five horses in his Santa Anita-based stable at the beginning of the month, sending four of them to Northern California trainer Jedd Josephson. He said he had been considering retirement “for the better part of the year.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Graydar, who has risen to prominence in the handicap division with victories in the Donn and New Orleans handicaps, will be out until late summer after having a chip taken out of an ankle, his connections confirmed on Wednesday.

Graydar had the chip removed shortly after he arrived at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., following his 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 30.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Falling Sky had the misfortune of hooking Verrazano last out in the Tampa Bay Derby, finishing third to the horse pegged as the current Kentucky Derby favorite after remaining undefeated last Saturday with his win in the Wood Memorial.

Delaware Park and its horsemen have agreed on a plan to cut 19 dates from its 2013 schedule and reduce the track’s stakes purses by more than half a million dollars, according to representatives of both sides.

Under a two-year contract that has an option for an additional year, Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association agreed on a 2013 schedule from May 18 to Oct. 7, running Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Last year, the track ran 94 racing dates, with six canceled race cards for weather.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Uncaptured has been listed as a 7-2 morning-line favorite after being assigned post 7 among a full gate of 14 3-year-olds for the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, the annual Keeneland showcase that will be run Saturday for the 89th time.

Uncaptured, with Miguel Mena to ride, is the slight program choice in the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race over Java’s War (post 4, Julien Leparoux, 4-1) and Rydilluc (post 13, Edgar Prado, 4-1). In all, 15 were entered, with Divine Ambition a lone also-eligible.