Major Dude solid favorite in 12-horse Jeff Ruby Stakes

Morning-line favorite Major Dude drew the rail in a field of 12 on Tuesday for Saturday's Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Ruby, at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta, awards Kentucky Derby points to its top finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale.

Major Dude, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf. He won the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy last month at Gulfstream Park in his most recent outing.

Following Major Dude, who was installed at 2-1 on Mike Battaglia’s morning line, is Two Phil's at 7-2. Next on the line, in order, are Congruent and Funtastic Again, both stakes winners in local preps for the Ruby.

From the rail out, the field, with riders and morning-line odds, is: Major Dude, Irad Ortiz Jr., 2-1; Scoobie Quando, Luan Machado, 15-1; Event Detail, Walter Rodriguez, 20-1; Funtastic Again, Gerardo Corrales, 6-1; Maker's Candy, Umberto Rispoli, 12-1; Baby Billy, Joe Talamo, 30-1; Bluebirds Over, Edgard Zayas, 12-1; Congruent, Sonny Leon, 5-1; Escapologist, Alex Achard, 30-1; Two Phil's, Jareth Loveberry, 7-2; Wadsworth, Chris Landeros, 8-1; and Point Proven, John Velazquez, 15-1.

The Ruby is one of six stakes on Saturday's marquee card at Turfway, which has a first post of 12:45 p.m.

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The sister race to the Ruby is the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, which is headlined by Botanical, a winner of three straight races at Turfway, including the Cincinnati Trophy. Botanical drew post 5 in the field of 11 for the 1 1/16-mile race, which awards Kentucky Oaks points to the top finishers on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.

There are two other 3-year-old stakes on the undercard, with the $250,000 Rushaway drawing a full field of 12, plus two also-eligibles, and the $250,000 Animal Kingdom, a sprint, attracting a field of eight.

The $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic drew a field of 12, plus two also-eligibles. Standouts in the field include Santin, a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf; defending race winner King Cause; and Ocean Atlantique, a last-out stakes winner at Turfway.

The sister race to the Classic, the $250,000 Latonia, drew a field of 11. Last year's Bourbonette Oaks winner Candy Raid will race Grand Ave Gal and Kate's Kingdom, both stakes winners at the current meet.

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