LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the Kentucky Oaks approached, the connections of Red Ruby dearly wanted her to prove she was among the top 3-year-old fillies in North America. It wasn’t to be. A minor injury stemming from a freak barn accident in March kept Red Ruby in her Keeneland stall on Oaks Day, May 4, as the filly just wasn’t quite ready to resume racing. “It was painful to sit there and watch the Oaks,” recalled trainer Kellyn Gorder. “But, things happen for a reason, I guess. When you do right by the horse, it pays off, I think.” Exactly two weeks after the Oaks, Red Ruby won the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico by 4 3/4 lengths. One start later, Red Ruby put forth an even flashier effort when capturing the July 7 Delaware Oaks by 13 lengths, earning a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest in the division this year. “It was kind of an eye-popping performance,” Gorder said Thursday from his Keeneland base in Lexington, Ky. “I was expecting a big race from her, but that was pretty amazing. It surprised me a little bit. I knew she’d be full of herself, so I trained her the morning of the race, let her run down the lane a little. She was still a little tough to handle in the post parade again, and that’s been a little bit of a concern. But that sure didn’t seem to slow her down.” Next comes a prime opportunity for Red Ruby to show she’s among the divisional elite. The gray daughter of Tiznow is expected to face divisional leaders Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou in the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 18 at Saratoga. “She went back to the track [Thursday] morning, full of energy,” said Gorder, who trains Red Ruby for her owner-breeders, Sandra and Hargus Sexton and Brandi and Steven Nicholson. “She came out of the race in great shape. We’re tentatively scheduled to fly her Aug. 13 to Saratoga. My job is to keep her happy and healthy between now and then.” Meanwhile, Monomoy Girl is scheduled to breeze Sunday at Churchill Down for trainer Brad Cox before heading to Saratoga the next day. The Kentucky Oaks winner, she has captured seven of eight career races, including a two-length triumph in the June 9 Acorn in her latest start.