Pair of local stakes winners top overflow field of 13 for Jeff Ruby Steaks

Topped by local stakes winners California Burrito and Baby Max and Grade 2 winner Poster, an overflow field of 13 3-year-olds was entered today for next Saturday's Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a major Kentucky Derby prep that offers the richest purse in Turfway Park's history.

The Ruby, the feature of six stakes on Turfway's marquee March 22 afternoon card, awards points toward the May 3 Derby on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. The race has had a major impact on the American classics in three consecutive years. In 2022, upset Derby winner Rich Strike was third in the Ruby, while 2023 Ruby winner Two Phil's finished second in the Derby. Last year, Seize the Grey was third in the Ruby and went on to win the Preakness.

California Burrito, who drew post 3 under Irving Moncada, and Baby Max, who drew post 6 under Abel Cedillo, were first and second, respectively, in the John Battaglia Memorial on Feb. 22. The local prep awarded its top finishers Derby points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. Baby Max previously won the Leonatus Stakes in January at Turfway.

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Poster, who has John Velazquez named to ride from post 6 in the large field, is based at Turfway but has not yet raced here. The Grade 2 Remsen winner was third in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 8 at Tampa. The colt was made the narrow 3-1 favorite on the morning line, with California Burrito at 7-2.

From the rail out, with jockeys and morning-line odds, the main body of the field consists of Calling Card (Adam Beschizza, 20-1); Charlie's to Blame (Juan Hernandez, 15-1); California Burrito (Moncada, 7-2); Final Gambit (Luan Machado, 6-1); Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos, 15-1); Baby Max (Cedillo, 5-1); Giocoso (Jaime Torres, 30-1); Innovator (Nik Juarez, 30-1); Poster (Velazquez, 3-1); Maximum Promise (Frankie Dettori, 5-1); Curvino (Gerardo Corrales, 20-1); He's Not Joking (Rafael Hernandez, 15-1). The also eligible is Candytown, with Velazquez named, at 30-1.

The sister race to the Ruby on the Saturday card is the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, awarding points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

The card also includes the Grade 3, $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at 1 1/8 miles for older horses; the $250,000 Latonia Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles; the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles; and the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes for 3-year-olds going six furlongs. First post is 12:45 p.m.

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