In recent years, Turfway Park’s marquee Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep race has risen in influence. The 2022 Kentucky Derby upset winner Rich Strike and the 2023 Derby runner-up Two Phil’s both came out of starts in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, and last year’s Ruby winner, Final Gambit, checked in fourth in the Derby.

The Grade 3 stakes held on Turfway’s all-weather Tapeta Footings track drew a very competitive 12-horse field, and nabbing first (100 qualifying points) or second (50 points) will virtually ensure a starting-gate berth in the run for the roses May 2.

The 55^th Jeff Ruby Steaks, named after its sponsor and the Cincinnati-area restaurateur, will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV.

1. Turf Star: Makes the grass-to-all-weather switch after five starts, each on a different turf course. Ran a solid sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last fall and was sixth in his Gulfstream Park 2026 debut, with rough starts both times. Graham Motion won this race in 2011 with Animal Kingdom prior to winning the Kentucky Derby, and John Velazquez was aboard for Animal Kingdom’s Derby victory. A longshot to repeat that twofer, but winning this race should be well within his ability as he gets blinkers added.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Graham Motion

2. Fulleffort: This half-brother to Grade 1-winning routing filly Power Squeeze comes in off of a near-miss in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway, where he rallied strongly but lost by a neck. The horse that defeated him, Great White, is not in this field, and champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. flies in to take the mount. Ortiz’s presence might drive down his post-time odds, and several newcomers to Turfway are more accomplished.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Brad Cox

3. Baytown Dreamer: Has amassed seven Kentucky Derby qualifying points with late-running also-ran finishes in two preps, most recently a fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial where he had odds of 112.38-1. Doing so again would be his best-case scenario in this spot, and it’s an unlikely one.

JOCKEY: Orlando Bocachica; TRAINER: Paul McEntee

4. Two Out Hero: Was well-backed in his Turfway debut but stumbled at the start and did not factor, finishing ninth of 11 runners at 4.42-1 odds. That was his season debut following a 2-for-3 record last year at Woodbine, including a 12-length maiden win on the all-weather track and solid races against Argos, who he meets again here. Has the talent to bounce back from his unlucky Battaglia run and, if he does, he’ll be right in the mix.

JOCKEY: Gerardo Corrales; TRAINER: Kevin Attard

5. Black Hornet: Turned his racing fortunes around when switched to turf after four so-so starts on dirt as he promptly won twice at Fair Grounds, including the Black Gold Stakes last out. Might be overlooked on the tote board compared with stablemate Stop the Car, and thus an attractive longshot play. Should be forwardly placed against this field.

JOCKEY: Declan Cannon; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

6. Medici: California shipper out of the multiple Grade 1-winning turf routing mare Avenge shapes up as a win threat as he’s posted consecutive triple-digit Equibase Speed Figures on turf at Santa Anita Park, including a maiden win and then the Pasadena Stakes, where he set the pace before yielding by a nose. Jockey Mirco Demuro has been aboard all five of his starts on turf and travels to Turfway. With a good start, he should attempt to lead the field from start to finish.

JOCKEY: Mirco Demuro; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

7. Maximus Prime: Outran his 88.50-1 odds to finish third in the John Battaglia Memorial last out, 1 ¼ lengths behind runner-up Fulleffort. Finished ninth, then third, in his two prior races at Turfway and will be a big longshot here.

JOCKEY: Joseph Ramos; TRAINER: Anthony Mitchell

8. Chaos Agent: Intriguing Florida shipper has only made one start, an impressive 1 ½-length win in early February at Gulfstream. Came flying late and survived bumping to win going away, and that maiden race was held on the same all-weather Tapeta Footings surface that Turfway uses. If he improves in his second outing, he could spice up the exotic payouts with a top-three finish, although an upset win is unlikely.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Josie Carroll

Stark Contrast (BENOIT photo)

9. Brave Force: Has made all three of his starts this year on Turfway’s all-weather track after showing little in three 2025 races on dirt and turf. He’s improved, posting a fourth- and then a third-place finish in maiden races before rolling to a 1 ¼-length score last out to get his first win. Gelding is very well-bred for the distance but faces a tall task here.

JOCKEY: Vincent Cheminaud; TRAINER: Jack Sisterson

10. Argos: He was one of the top North America-based turf 2-year-olds last summer and fall, nabbing the bet365.com Summer Stakes at Woodbine before running eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Did not show much when fifth in Gulfstream’s Colonel Liam Stakes, his 3-year-old debut, and he changes trainers and surfaces while adding blinkers for this race.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Brad Cox

11. Stark Contrast: Another California shipper, and he could end up the post-time favorite. Nearly pulled off a 58.20-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, finishing second by three-quarters of a length to European favorite Gstaad after having to pause in upper stretch. He then came back to rout four opponents in the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf in January at Santa Anita. This will be his first start after a nearly two-month break, and Kazushi Kimura, aboard for all of his races, makes the trip as well.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy

12: Stop the Car: Makes a dirt-to-all-weather switch after very impressive wins as a juvenile in 2025 preceded a no-show seventh in the Lecomte Stakes back in January at Fair Grounds. His pedigree is dirt-oriented and the far outside post position does him no favors, either.

JOCKEY: Edgar Morales; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

THE PICK: Stark Contrast

LIVE LONGSHOT: Black Hornet

SUPERFECTA: 11-4-5-6