Josie Carroll eyes Blue Grass Stakes for Tesseron

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Trainer Josie Carroll has her 3-year-old Tesseron on target for Keeneland's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes next Saturday. The Woodbine trainer is ready to have her gray colt take the next step on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

"It's probably the last chance for Derby points, and it seemed like the best spot for him," Carroll said, referring to the points system to determine starters for the Kentucky Derby on May 4. "He's a (April 23) foal. He's just starting to grow up. I didn't want to overdo him coming in. We got one race in at Gulfstream. We'll take a shot in the Blue Grass and hope he's good enough. And he likes this surface."

Tesseron, owned by Donver Stable, won his debut race last September at Woodbine and followed in October at the Toronto track with a second in the Grey Stakes. Carroll then brought him down to Churchill Downs where he was fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 24.

The colt has one previous start this year in an allowance optional claiming race on Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park. The winner of that race, Black Onyx, went on to win the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 23.

With one win and a second in four starts Tesseron has earned $85,198.