There will be no missing Great White (Volatile) when he heads to the starting gate for Saturday's GI Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Trainer John Ennis reports that the gray gelding towers at over 17.2 hands tall, but he insists that any “Jaws” comparisons are a reflection of his imposing frame and not his disposition.“He weighs a ton, but he's just a big, kind old boy,” Ennis explained on Wednesday after shipping Great White in from the Thoroughbred Center for a paddock schooling session. “His demeanor is fantastic. Nothing is going to work him up too much.”Great White comes into the Blue Grass off a gutsy effort in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, where he fought off next-out GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks victor Fulleffort (Liam's Map) to win by a neck.Bred by Stud TNT, the international breeding operation of Three Chimneys Farm's Goncalo Borges Torrealba, Great White was a late-season foal, arriving May 14. When there was little demand for the horse as a yearling at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale, Three Chimneys bought Great White back for $55,000. After, they reached out to Ennis, who was one of the few people who had expressed an interest prior to the sale, and formed a partnership.Recognizing the physical demands placed on a May foal of such immense proportions, Ennis opted for a patient approach to allow Great White's frame to catch up with his potential.“We slowed down a little bit when he was immature earlier, but now he trains like every other horse,” said Ennis. “His mind is such a big help.”A winner on debut last December at Turfway, Great White was fifth in the Leonatus Stakes after breaking a step slow and checking at the start. He bounced back with his win in the John Battaglia.While all of his starts have come at Turfway, the gelding made two trips to Keeneland in March to work four furlongs. He clocked his most recent breeze in :47.60 on March 29.Ennis said he is not concerned about the switch to dirt in the Blue Grass.“We're into deeper waters now, but he's been training great and doing great over the surface also,” he noted.Great White paddock schooling at Keeneland on Wednesday morning | Sara GordonEnnis has had good luck following the Turfway-to-Blue Grass path. In 2024, Epic Ride (Blame) won the Leonatus Stakes and was second in the John Battaglia before placing third in the Blue Grass, which earned him a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby. While he finished 14th on the first Saturday in May, the son of Blame went on to become Ennis's top earner. Last year he scored in the GIII Mint Millions Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs.The defection of GII Rebel S. winner Class President (Uncle Mo) leaves a field of eight to contest Saturday's Blue Grass, with Great White set to launch from post 3 with Alex Achard aboard.“We will have to play the break,” said Ennis. “There's a lot of speed in here and we'll see where he lands. Hopefully he'll be close and get something similar to the Battaglia.”For Ennis, who opened his stable in 2012 and is based at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, running in the Blue Grass is, as he puts it, “unbelievable.”“It's an honor,” he said. “To be in consideration for more Derby points is great, but one step at a time. We'll see how we get on Saturday and go from there.”The post Great White Takes On Blue Grass Waters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.