Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Derby-hungry runners flock to 170-point Jeff Ruby Steaks
The likelihood of a contested pace that should help his late run, and the hope that he can’t possibly get in as much trouble as he did in his last start, makes Hard Rye Guy an appealing prospect to score a mild upset in the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday at Turfway Park.
The Jeff Ruby, run over the all-weather Tapeta surface at 1 1/8 miles, has taken on added importance this year as a Kentucky Derby prep owing to it now being worth 170 points overall, with 100 for first and 40 for second, after awarding 20 points to the winner in recent runnings. Turfway is now owned by Churchill Downs, where the Derby will be run May 1.
The Jeff Ruby is race 11 on a terrific 12-race card that begins at 1:12 p.m. Eastern and includes five other stakes, most notably the Bourbonette Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, which goes as race 10. The winner of that race receives 50 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Oaks on April 30.
The top four finishers from the Ruby’s main prep, the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial on Feb. 26, are returning, and horses are shipping in from California, Florida, and Louisiana, resulting in a full field of 12.
Hard Rye Guy was fourth in the Battaglia, but deserved better. He was making a serious rally along the rail in the stretch when the leaders folded over on him, causing his rider, Chris Landeros, to slam on the brakes.
Brian Hernandez Jr. takes over on Hard Rye Guy for trainer Ian Wilkes, whose horses are known for improving with racing.
Landeros wound up on Gretzky the Great, third as the even-money favorite in the Battaglia when making his first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, after which he had ankle surgery, according to his trainer, Mark Casse. Gretzky the Great was compromised by having to go from the rail, and ended up in a contested pace.
“Thought he’d be a little short for the Battaglia, but thought it would help him move forward,” Casse said on a national teleconference earlier in the week. “We asked him to run away from there, and he caught some pressure from a longshot that ran head and head with him for threequarters of a mile. He put that horse away and then two more came at him, two more that had to be a lot fitter than he was. I was proud of our horse.”
Gretzky the Great has drawn post 10, affording him the opportunity to stalk, but the extra distance is a question, and plenty of others figure to be on or near the lead.
Hush of a Storm won the Battaglia, and figures to enjoy the extra distance and a contested pace. After losing his debut sprinting on dirt, he has won three straight at Turfway. He is the first significant horse for his trainer, Billy Morey, since Morey left California in 2019 after being suspended for 45 days by California Horse Racing Board stewards after runners in his care were observed being treated with alkalizing agents on the day racing was scheduled to resume at Santa Anita following the suspension of racing following a rash of fatalities.
Like the King was second in the Battaglia, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths, in his first start following a 2 1/2-month layoff. Drayden Van Dyke, who is relocating to Kentucky from California, has the mount.
Tarantino, the morning-line favorite, was fourth in the Fountain of Youth last time out after pressing the pace. This is his first start on all-weather, but his turf form last year was terrific, and that often translates well to synthetic.
Dyn O Mite, the most-experienced entrant with nine starts, was a narrow loser of the Black Gold on turf at Fair Grounds last time out.
He is among the many who prefer to be forwardly placed, including Hockey Dad, who has won three straight against California-breds and likely must be sent owing to his wide draw.
Saffie Joseph Jr. doubles up with Moonlite Strike and Awesome Gerry, third and sixth, respectively, earlier this month in the Tampa Bay Derby. Moonlite Strike is adding blinkers.
“The owner,” Joseph said of Marc Tacher, whose Sonata Stables owns Moonlite Strike, “wants to give him a chance to see if he can pick up some more points.
“It’s important for the owner to have a Derby runner. We thought the Jeff Ruby was the best opportunity to pick up those points.”
Dale Romans also sends out a pair, King’s Ovation and Smiley Sobotka. King’s Ovation was bumped significantly early in the Fountain of Youth in his first try going two turns.
Sainthood comes off a front-running win in a slow-paced maiden race at Fair Grounds in his second start.