2019 Jeff Ruby Steaks at a Glance

March 7th, 2019 by Bob Ehalt

Horses break from the gate on Jeff Ruby Steaks day 2018. This year's race is on Saturday. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Much like the El Camino Real Derby, the Jeff Ruby Steaks offers points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve point series but is not contested on a dirt surface. The one big difference between the two preps on a synthetic surface is that the Jeff Ruby’s recent history includes a Kentucky Derby winner: Animal Kingdom, who won the Jeff Ruby when it was called the Spiral Stakes and then captured the 2011 run for the roses. Oh, and the “Steaks” is not a typo. The race is sponsored by a restaurant chain.

Jeff Ruby Steaks
Racetrack: Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Date: March 9
Purse: $200,000
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Race: 11
Post Time: 6:37 p.m. ET
Notable winners: Animal Kingdom (2011), Hard Spun (2007), Hall of Famer Serena’s Song (1995), Preakness winner Prairie Bayou (1993), Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee (1992), Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Hansel (1991), multimillionaire Broad Brush (1986).
First held: 1972
Kentucky Derby points: 20-8-4-2 to top four finishers, respectively

1. Dynamic Racer (12-1 morning-line odds): Led until mid-stretch in the John Battaglia, the steppingstone prep for this race, but settled for second, 3 ½ lengths behind the winner, who is the morning-line favorite here. Gets a rail post and might be able to post soft fractions, making him a threat to go gate-to-wire despite the longer distance.

JOCKEY: Euclyn Prentice Jr.; TRAINER: Ronald Kahles

2. Moonster (20-1): Has yet to race on anything but dirt and has not been competitive in three stakes efforts. His pedigree does not scream out that he will love an all-weather surface, so we’ll pass.

JOCKEY: John McKee; TRAINER: Dale Romans

3. Five Star General (6-1): His only two good efforts came in off-the-turf races. Didn’t do much running in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, his 3-year-old debut, but might wake up here. Improved works since the Sam Davis bodes well for his chances – if he can handle the surface. Also has some déjà vu in his corner as Five Star General was the name of the horse who won a division of this race in 1978.

JOCKEY: Declan Cannon; TRAINER: Arnaud Delacour

4. Dabo (10-1): Staged a nice wide rally to grab third in the Battaglia, and his only other solid effort came on synthetic surface, a maiden win at Arlington Park in his career debut. Figures to appreciate the added distance and looms a major player in this spot.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Dale Romans

5. Baytown Jimbo (15-1): Closed out his 2-year-old season on a sour note, finishing sixth in the Display Stakes at Woodbine, which has a synthetic surface. His two tries on an all-weather track before that were decent and some promising works make him an intriguing longshot.

JOCKEY: Alexis Achard; TRAINER: Paul McEntee

Somelikeithotbrown (Coady Photography)

6. Skywire (3-1): Is undefeated in two career starts and has raced on both dirt and synthetics. Won his debut on synthetics at Woodbine in a sprint on Dec. 9, then contested an off-the-turf allowance race on a sloppy track at Gulfstream last month and romped by six lengths. He looks like a colt with a bright future and should be a major player.

JOCKEY: Gary Boulanger; TRAINER: Mark Casse

7. Counter Offer (10-1): Was a distant fourth in the Sam F. Davis, which was a lackluster race. He broke his maiden on turf, and success on turf often bodes well for success on an all-weather surface, so he’s worth a look – but only if the odds are more than 10-1.

JOCKEY: Malcolm Franklin; TRAINER: Ian Wilkes

8. Twelfthofneverland (10-1): Comes off two strong efforts in starter races at Aqueduct but takes a jump in class here. His two turf races were a mixed bag so it’s hard to get a read on him. Speed figures on dirt are good enough to make him a factor, but he may not have enough class to handle this bunch.

JOCKEY: Sheldon Russell; TRAINER: Raymond Handal

9. Curlin Grey (10-1): He lacks experience on a synthetic track, but showed a nice late kick in his last two starts, rallying for third in an allowance race and winning a maiden claimer, both at Gulfstream Park. Appears to be on the upswing for solid connections and that may cancel out a dull effort on turf in his career debut.

JOCKEY: Brian Joseph Hernandez; TRAINER: Kenny McPeek

10. Somelikeithotbrown (8-5): Landed a troublesome post but he’s still the one to beat. Drew clear to win the Battaglia in his 3-year-old debut and should have no problem with the added sixteenth of a mile. Was great on turf at 2, highlighted by a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and will be very formidable in this spot. Getting Tyler Gaffalione to give up a Saturday at Gulfstream Park to ride him is a very positive sign.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Mike Maker

11. Speed App (20-1): He’s still a maiden after seven starts, has no all-weather experience and drew the outside post in a field of 11. Normally that would be grounds for becoming a tossout, but he’s trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, who has done many magical things in career. Coaxing a win out of him, however, might be a stretch, even for Lukas.

JOCKEY: Walter De La Cruz; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

THE PICK: Somelikeithotbrown

LIVE LONGSHOT: Dynamic Racer

SUPERFECTA: 10-6-1-4