Champion Two-Year-Old Male Chief’s Crown, Don MacBeth up, led by Eddie Sweat at the 1985 running of the Blue Grass Stakes.
Following a brilliant two-year-old season with stakes wins at Saratoga, Belmont, and Santa Anita, Chief’s Crown was the betting favorite heading into the Blue Grass on the heels of his recent Flamingo Stakes victory at Hialeah.
Trained by Roger Laurin, Chief’s Crown was never seriously challenged in the Triple Crown prep race, prevailing over second-place finisher Floating Reserve by 5 1/2 lengths.
Laurin’s father, Lucien Laurin, trained 1972 Blue Grass winner Riva Ridge. With Chief’s Crown’s victory, Roger secured the Laurin’s status as one of the few father/son trainers to win the Blue Grass Stakes.