Your stakes fields for Saturday’s Jeff Ruby card!
Turfway Park stakes advances by Kevin Kerstein (Jennie Rees photo of West Saratoga training at The Thoroughbred Center)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, March 16, 2024) – Amerman Racing’s El Camino Real Derby winner Endlesslywill ship more than 2,000 miles from his Southern California base to Florence, Ky. and face an over-subscribed field of 14 3-year-olds that entered Saturday’s 53rd running of the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III), the marquee race of the Turfway Park season.
The Jeff Ruby Steaks is a pivotal stop for many of the nation’s top 3-year-olds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile affair will go as Race 12 of 13 with a post time of 6:25 p.m. (all times Eastern) First post for the stellar program will be 12:45 p.m. Along with the Jeff Ruby Steaks, stakes-laden card will also feature the 42ndrunning of the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed); the 24th running of the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII); the 38th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes; the 42nd running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes and the 37th running of the $250,000 Rushaway.
Horses in the Jeff Ruby Steaks will be competing for a total of 200 qualifying points as they attempt to earn a position in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), held Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs. The top 5 finishers of the Jeff Ruby Steaks will be awarded points on a 100-50-25-15-5 scale.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Endlessly has been brilliant in four of his five career starts with victories in the El Camino Real Derby, Zuma Beach (GIII) and Del Mar Juvenile Turf (GIII). The only blemish in the son of Oscar Performance’s resume is a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GI) when he had a wide journey throughout but was only defeated 3 ½ lengths to Unquestionable. Endlessly began his 3-year-old campaign in the El Camino Real Derby when he defeated Tapalo by 1 ¼ lengths as the heavy 3-5 favorite. Jockey Umberto Rispoli will have the mount in the Jeff Ruby Steaks as the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Chief among the competitors to Endlessly that entered the Jeff Ruby Steaks is Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables’ Grade II winner Agate Road. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Agate Road made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut last month when he finished a fast-closing second to No More Time in the Sam F. Davis (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. Prior to the Sam F. Davis, Agate Road competed five times on turf highlighted by a 1 ¼-length victory in the Pilgrim Stakes (GII) as a 2-year-old. The son of Quality Road was cross-entered in Saturday’s $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) at Fair Grounds. Jockey Jose Ortiz will have the mount should he remain in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at odds of 4-1.
Pletcher will attempt to win the Jeff Ruby Steaks for the fourth time. He previously won the race with We Miss Artie (2014), Flower Alley (2005) and Balto (2001).
Along with Agate Road, Pletcher and Repole are also represented in this year’s race by multiple stakes winner Noted.
Another 3-year-old with prior experience on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is Jack Oxley, Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Magdalena Racing’s Northern Flame. Conditioned by Kenny McPeek and ridden byJulien Leparoux, Northern Flame already banked 18 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with his third-place finish in last month’s Rebel (GII) along with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) and fifth-place finish in the Street Sense (GIII).
Several other accomplished 3-year-olds entered the Jeff Ruby Steaks including Iroquois Stakes (GIII) winner West Saratoga, Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Otello and Riley Allison Derby winner Lucky Jeremy.
One of the few horses that entered the Jeff Ruby who are in search of their first stakes victory is MyRacehorse’s recent Oaklawn allowance winner Seize the Grey. The improving son of Arrogate is trained by two-time Jeff Ruby Steaks winner D. Wayne Lukas, who won this race in 1995 with Serena’s Song and in 1983 with Marfa. Seize the Grey will be ridden by Nik Juarez.
Here is the complete field for the Jeff Ruby Steaks in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Freedom Principle (Adam Beschizza, Jose Garaffalo, 30-1); Dancing Groom (Frankie Dettori, Antonio Sano, 15-1); Lucky Jeremy (Gerardo Corrales, Bill Morey, 15-1); Noted (Luis Saez, Pletcher, 15-1); Agate Road (Ortiz, Pletcher, 4-1); Northern Flame (Leparoux, McPeek, 5-1); Woodcourt (Luan Machado, Cipriano Contreras, 6-1); Otello (Javier Castellano, Christophe Clement, 10-1); Seize the Grey (Juarez, Lukas, 6-1); Endlessly (Rispoli, McCarthy, 5-2); Baytown Chatterbox (Albin Jiminez, Paul McEntee, 30-1) and West Saratoga (Jesus Castanon, Larry Demeritte, 20-1). Also-Eligibles: Circle P (Tyler Conner, Flint Stites, 30-1) and Triple Espresso (Ortiz, Pletcher, 20-1).
The Jeff Ruby Steaks will be broadcast live on CNBC and Peacock. The broadcast will span 6-7 p.m. and also feature the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) and Louisiana Derby (GII).
Fans can watch and wager on the entire Jeff Ruby Steaks Day program on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby. Racing from Turfway Park is also streamed on the Churchill Downs LIVE app on smart TVs.
Announcer Tony Calo will call all the action on Jeff Ruby Steaks Day with analyst Kaitlin Free hosting the simulcast show live in the Jeff Ruby VIP Ballroom.
FanDuel TV is another option for fans to watch the action from Turfway Park. Analysts Gabby Gaudet and Matt Carrothers will be on-site at Turfway Park on Saturday to bring live reports and analysis.
For more information about Jeff Ruby Steaks Day and to purchase tickets, visit www.Turfway.com.
CINCINNATI TROPHY WINNER MAXISUPERFLY RETURNS FOR $300,000 BOURBONETTE OAKS – Maxis Stable, Foster Family Racing and Chris Vitale’s Maxisuperfly, the recent 23-1 upset winner of the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, will return to Turfway Park and face a field of 10 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday’s 42nd running of the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed), a Road to the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series race.
Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Bourbonette Oaks is one of six stakes events on Saturday’s card that’s headlined by the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Bourbonette Oaks goes as Race 11 on the 13-race program with a post time of 5:43 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m. The other supporting stakes on Saturday’s card include the 24th running of the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII); the 38th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes; the 42nd running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes and the 37th running of the $250,000 Rushaway.
Maxisuperfly, trained by Eric Foster, led the field gate-to-wire in the one-mile Cincinnati Trophy Stakes under jockey Walter Rodriguez. The speedy daughter of Optimizer will once again have Rodriguez in the saddle for the Bourbonette Oaks.
Chief among Maxisuperfly’s rivals include Full of Run Racing and Madaket Stables’ Untapable Stakes winner Alpine Princess. The daughter of Classic Empire has won three-lifetime races including the Dec. 23 Untapable at Fair Grounds. The Brad Cox trainee will be ridden by Luis Saez from the rail.
Here is the full field for the Bourbonette Oaks from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Alpine Princess (Saez, Cox), Winnable (Colby Hernandez, Kenny McPeek); Saratoga Secret (Nik Juarez, Wayne Lukas); Maxisuperfly (Rodriguez, Foster); Movin’ On Up (Adam Beschizza, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Band of Gold (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek); Trial (Luan Machado, Tommy Drury Jr.); Pink Polkadots (Jaime Torres, Joe Sharp); Youknownothing (Javier Castellano, Christophe Clement) and Everland (Abel Cedillo, Foster).
Fans can watch and wager on the entire Jeff Ruby Steaks Day program on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby. Racing from Turfway Park is also streamed on the Churchill Downs LIVE app on smart TVs.
For more information about Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, visit www.Turfway.com.
WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST SET TO DEFEND TITLE IN GRADE III, $300,000 KENTUCKY CUP CLASSIC – Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost will defend his title in Saturday’s 24th running of the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (Grade III) but will face a very accomplished field of 12 older horses including last year’s runner-up Verstappen and recent eye-popping Dust Commander Stakes winner Surly Furious.
The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup Classic field will go to post at 5:13 p.m. as Race 10. The fantastic 13-race card will get underway at 12:45 p.m. and feature the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) in Race 12. The other stakes on the program are the 42nd running of the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed), the 38th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes; the 42nd running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes and the 37th running of the $250,000 Rushaway.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost, trained by Jonathan Thomas, was recently given some time off following his victory in the Dec. 16 Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park. The now 6-year-old son of Ghostzapper had a stellar 2023 campaign with five wins from eight starts and banked $541,246 in purse earnings. Wolfie’s Dynaghost will be ridden by Jose Ortiz in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic.
Andrew Farm, For the People Racing and Windmill Manor Farm’s Verstappen will attempt to avenge his defeat to Wolfie’s Dynaghost in this year’s TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic. The 5-year-old Brendan Walshtrainee was defeated just 2 ¼ lengths in last year’s race but went on to score a next-out victory in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland. Verstappen’s 2023 resume also included a runner-up finish in the Bowling Green (GII) at Saratoga and third-place finishes in the Red Smith (GII) at Aqueduct and Schuster Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis.Declan Cannon will have the return mount.
Another top older horse in the race is Novogratz Racing Stable’s impressive Dust Commander Stakes winner Surly Furious. Trained by Glenn Wismer, Surly Furious has won eight of his 27 lifetime starts including an eye-catching eight-length romp in last month’s Dust Commander Stakes. Jockey Abel Cedillo will have the return call for the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic.
Here is the complete field in order of post position (with jockey and trainer): Surly Furious (Cedillo, Wismer); Verstappen (Cannon, Walsh); Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Ortiz, Thomas); Harlan Estate (Jareth Loveberry, Whit Beckman); Cellist (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold); Wentru (Axel Concepcion, Will Walden); Curlin’s Malibu(Gabe Lagunes, William Atkins); Atone (Javier Castellano, Mike Maker); Tio Magico (Luan Machado, Phil D’Amato); County Final (Frankie Dettori, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Kitodan (Walter Rodriguez, Eric Foster) and Funtastic Again (Gerardo Corrales, Wesley Ward).
‘QUEEN OF TURFWAY PARK’ BOTANICAL HEADLINES $250,000 LATONIA STAKES – LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms’ five-time Turfway Park winner Botanical headlines a field of 10 fillies and mares that entered Saturday’s $250,000 Latonia Stakes, one of six stakes events on Jeff Ruby Steaks Day at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Botanical and her nine rivals will take the stage in Race 9 at 4:43 p.m. The 13-race spectacular will get underway at a special 12:45 p.m. first post. Along with the Latonia Stakes, the card also features the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII), the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed), the $250,000 Animal Kingdom and $250,000 Rushaway.
Now in her 4-year-old season, Botanical dominated her competition last year at Turfway Park when she tallied victories in the Bourbonette Oaks and Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. Trained by Brad Cox, Botanical returned to the races in late January following her disappointing 13th-place finish in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). In her return effort, Botanical cruised to a 1 ¾-length allowance victory over her stablemate and fellow Latonia rival Chop Chop. Turfway Park’s leading rider Luan Machado will have the return call in the Latonia.
The aforementioned Chop Chop will attempt to avenge her defeat over Botanical under jockey Axel Concepcion. Owned by Selective LLC, 4-year-old daughter of City of Light cruised to a 2 ¾-length victory three weeks ago in the Wintergreen Stakes at Turfway, her second victory from three starts over the Tapeta surface.
Recent allowance winner Present Moment (IRE) will break from the rail under jockey Declan Cannon for trainer Whit Beckman. She is followed in post-position order by (with jockey and trainer) Chop Chop (Concepcion, Cox); Marksman Queen (Frankie Dettori, Graham Motion); Forever After All (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh); Sister Lou Ann (Javier Castellano, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Hurry UP Hannah (Luis Saez, Doug Cowans); Fancy Martini (Gerardo Corrales, Robertino Diodoro); Eyes of Gold (Jesus Castanon, Larry Demeritte); Botanical (Machado, Cox) and Dana’s Beauty (Jose Ortiz, Joe Sharp).
SHARDS SET TO MAKE 3-YEAR-OLD DEBUT IN $250,000 ANIMAL KINGDOM STAKES – NBS Stable, Crowns Way Racing and Kevin Marko’s accomplished sprinter Shards is set to make his 3-year-old debut against nine fellow 3-year-olds that entered Saturday’s 38th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes on Jeff Ruby Steaks Day at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Run at six furlongs, the Animal Kingdom was carded as Race 7 of 13 with a post time of 3:43 p.m. The Animal Kingdom will kick off a stakes parade featuring the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) in Race 12. The other stakes events on the card are the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII), the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed), the $250,000 Latonia and $250,000 Rushaway.
Trained by Kelsey Danner, Shards has been on a layoff since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint (GI) in early November. The chestnut son of Bucchero was sent to post at 22-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint but had to overcome traffic troubles in the stretch and was defeated only 2 ¼ lengths to Big Evs. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, Shards finished a long neck behind Committee of One and Amidst Waves in the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland. Adam Beschizza will have the mount in the Animal Kingdom from post No. 10.
Another talented 3-year-old entered in the Animal Kingdom is Joseph P. Morey Jr.’s two-time stakes winner Vote No. Conditioned by Bill Morey, Vote No is set to cut back in distance following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Leonatus Stakes in early February at Turfway. Prior to the Leonatus, Vote No dominated his four rivals by 5 ¼ lengths in the Turfway Prevue Stakes that was run at 6 ½ furlongs. As a 2-year-old, Vote No tallied his first stakes victory in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint. Jockey Gerardo Corrales will ride Vote No in the Animal Kingdom.
Making his synthetic debut in the Animal Kingdom is Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm and Coteau Grove Farms’ speedy three-time stakes winner Valentine Candy. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Valentine Candy is riding a three-race win streak with victories in the Advent, Renaissance and Ozark Stakes at Oaklawn. Jockey Frankie Dettori will have the mount.
Here is the complete field for the Animal Kingdom from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Cool in Blue (Tyler Conner, Gerald Brooks); Smokey Smokey (Luis Saez, Mike Maker); Vinsanity (Walter Rodriguez, Abraham Gardea); Joe Sheisty (Abel Cedillo, Eric Foster); Tejon Pass (Umberto Rispoli, Peter Miller); Let’s Go Mark (Axel Concepcion, John Ennis): Valentine Candy (Dettori, Asmussen); Vote No (Corrales, Morey); Okiro (Julien Leparoux, Jose Garafalo); Shards (Beschizza, Danner).
HIGHLY-REGARDED TENNESSEE TAKES ON FULL FIELD IN $250,000 RUSHAWAY STAKES – An oversubscribed field of 13 horses entered Saturday’s 37th running of the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming headlined by former $1.2 million purchase Tennessee.
Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Rushaway will go as Race 8 of 13 with a post time of 4:13 p.m., first post is 12:45 p.m. The Rushaway is annually used as a second option for many 3-year-olds who get excluded from the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), which drew a full field of 12 3-year-olds plus two also-eligibles in Race 12.
Tennessee, trained by Brad Cox, is a perfect 2-for-2 at Turfway Park with a gutsy maiden special weight victory on Jan. 12 and a workman-like one-length victory in a first-level allowance. The regally-bred son of Justify will be ridden by Turfway Park leading rider Luan Machado.
Chief among his competition in the Rushaway is Texas Turf Mile winner Neat. Owned by Red White and Blue Racing and trained by Rob Atras, Neat will make his Tapeta debut in his sixth start. The son of Constitution ran away from his six rivals by 5 ½ lengths in the Jan. 27 Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will jump aboard for the Rushaway.
Here is the complete field for the Rushaway from the inside out (with jockey and trainer) Mikealicious(Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker); Blue Eyed George (Jose Ortiz, Michael McCarthy); Mugatu (Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler); Break Out (Adam Beschizza, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Twirling Point (Frankie Dettori, Jonathan Thomas); Tireless (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Trikari (Umberto Rispoli, Graham Motion); Neat (Castellano, Atras); Tennessee (Machado, Cox); Le Gris (Jareth Loveberry, Al Stall Jr.); Two Ghosts (Axel Concepcion, Whit Beckman) and Footprint (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek). Also-eligible Ode To Balius (Sonny Leon and Concepcion Torres) would break from the far outside post should at least one horse scratch.
