Saturday’s $700,000 Jeff Ruby has become must-see Kentucky Derby preparation after 2022 rose-bearer Rich Strike and 2023 runner-up Two Phil’s came calling from the Turfway locale. It promises to be an important prep for this year’s Triple Crown series, which includes the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The Jeff Ruby will be part of an all-stakes Bayou-Blue Grass pick 5 that co-features the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Jeff Ruby (Race 12):
#1-FREEDOM PRINCIPLE: Tapeta surface winner of Gulfstream Park’s Armed Forces Stakes will make his first foray away from Florida for trainer Jose Garoffalo. Has struggled in 2 turf starts this year to reclaim his successful juvenile form. Stable was last this deep on the Triple Crown trail in 2014 with Florida Derby runner-up Wildcat Red, who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby.
#2-DANCING GROOM: Fifth-place finisher in Gulfstream’s Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth on dirt, this son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso will change surfaces for the first time. His only win came last summer at Saratoga and his average margin of defeat in 4 stakes has been more than 11 lengths. Legendary rider Frankie Dettori picks up the mount for trainer Antonio Sano.
#3-LUCKY JEREMY: Wintered at Turfway before a month-long trip to New Mexico for his Riley Allison Derby victory and Sunland Derby third-place finish. He’s yet to race locally or on a synthetic track, but was a winner at Churchill Downs on dirt in the fall for trainer Bill Morey. His Kentucky pilot Gerardo Corrales re-unites.
#4-NOTED: 3-time Jeff Ruby winner Todd Pletcher, including 2014 in the synthetic era with We Miss Artie, sends this versatile colt by Cairo Prince north from Florida. He won Monmouth’s Sapling on dirt last summer and Gulfstream’s Pulpit on turf in December. This will be his first synthetic attempt and first time with Luis Saez in the saddle.
#5-AGATE ROAD: Cross-entered in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. Sam F. Davis Stakes runner-up bypassed a return trip to the 1-1/16 miles Tampa Bay Derby for a longer distance. Note that Davis winner No More Time came back to run second in that series finale. Son of dirt specialist Quality Road has been effective on turf and dirt. Trainer Pletcher has won this race 3 times, including once in the synthetic era (2014 We Miss Artie).
#6-NORTHERN FLAME: Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes third-place finisher goes for a Kenny McPeek barn that won this race 2 years ago with Tiz The Bomb. All 8 starts have come on dirt, including his maiden and allowance wins. Regular rider Julien Leparoux makes the trip from Arkansas, and surprisingly for all his Kentucky synthetic success over the years, seeks his first victory in Turfway’s signature race.
#7-WOODCOURT: Wintered at Turfway, but ventured to Oaklawn after his Dec. 23 claim for $50,000 by the Cipriano Contreras barn. Won immediately off the claim in allowance company and rose again in class to finish a solid fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at 44-1. Owns a win and a third in 2 prior starts at Turfway, the only horse in the field with local experience. Reunites with his winning TP pilot Luan Machado.
#8-OTELLO: Opened 2024 with a New Year’s Day win in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but most recently suffered his only defeat in 3 career starts when sixth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. Son of 2007 Preakness winner Curlin changes surfaces for the first time and loses jockey Luis Saez to Noted. Picks up the services of ’23 Kentucky Derby-winning rider Javier Castellano. Trainer Christophe Clement looks to add to his Gotham winner Deterministic on the trail.
#9-SEIZE THE GREY: Oaklawn-based allowance winner returns to Kentucky, where he was fourth in Churchill’s Iroquois and third in a Keeneland allowance last year. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas won this race twice in the dirt era with Marfa in 1983 and the filly Serena’s Song in 1995. Colt is by 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Arrogate, whose Champion 3-Year-Old season had not even begun at this stage in 2016.
#10-ENDLESSLY (pictured above): West coast performer has won stakes at Del Mar, Santa Anita and most recently Golden Gate Fields, where his El Camino Real Derby score on Tapeta earned him an automatic qualifier to the Preakness Stakes. Perhaps he’ll follow the same path for trainer Michael McCarthy that stable predecessor Rombauer did in winning the middle jewel of the Triple Crown in 2021. Son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance has won 4 of 5 career races.
#11-BAYTOWN CHATTERBOX: The 60-1 upset winner of last summer’s Ellis Park Juvenile has lost 4 straight since and was second in a Charles Town dash allowance in his only bid so far this year. He’s raced exclusively on dirt in 8 starts, while Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winning sire Street Sense had mixed results racing on synthetic surfaces.
#12-WEST SARATOGA: Third-place finisher in Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis Stakes finished more than 5 lengths behind Agate Road over that 1-1/16 miles test while fading late. He draws a wide post once again that will make his task tougher as he extends to his farthest test. Son of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator has Preakness-winning jockey Jesus Castanon in the irons.
#13 & #14-CIRCLE P and TRIPLE ESPRESSO: The former Maryland-based runner is cross-entered in Laurel’s Private Terms on Saturday and would be racing around 2 turns for the first time if able to draw into the field from the also-eligible list. He won the Maryland Juvenile over 7 furlongs. The latter is cross-entered in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds for 3-time Jeff Ruby winner Todd Pletcher. He’s raced only on turf through 6 starts, winning a maiden route.
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