Red Ruby pulls away to easy win in Black-Eyed Susan

BALTIMORE » Following an unplanned two-month break from racing, Red Ruby returned with a flourish in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Red Ruby pulled away from Coach Rocks on a sloppy track Friday and cruised to a 43/4-length victory, her third career win in five tries.

The Grade 2, $250,000 race for 3-year-old fillies was run on a cold, rainy afternoon at Pimlico Race Course.

Not long after finishing fourth in the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18, Red Ruby got spooked and “had a little accident in the shed row,” according to trainer Kellyn Gorder.

Gorder said Red Ruby ran backward, dragged her hot walker into the middle of the barn, ran into a metal ladder and received 13 stitches.

“We got really, really lucky. They were all superficial,” Gorder said. “But she sat in the stall for 16 days while those things healed.”

The injury forced the Kentuckybred filly to miss the Fantasy Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park and the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

On Friday, Red Ruby returned in style. With jockey Paco Lopez aboard the gray filly for the first time, Red Ruby charged past Coach Rocks at the top of the stretch.

“That’s when I started jumping up and down,” Gorder said. “That’s when I knew he had the win.”

Coach Rocks led at the outset and remained in front until Lopez made his move — at just the right time.