Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Jeff Ruby Steaks analysis

Grade 3, $217,010 Jeff Ruby Steaks, 1 1/8 miles (all-weather), Turfway Park, March 14, 2020

(20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Field Pass, by Lemon Drop Kid

Trainer: Mike Maker

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Owners: Three Diamonds Farm

Beyer Speed Figure: 90

FIELD PASS had made six of his first seven starts on turf, winning twice, including a stakes race. In his only try on dirt, he was well-beaten in a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs, recording the worst Beyer Speed Figure of his career. With that résumé, he was not nominated to the Triple Crown, so his appearance here seems more likely owing to the fondness of his trainer and owner for this race over the years, plus the ability of horses who do well on turf and not on dirt to find all-weather surfaces a suitable alternative. It’s unlikely this race will amount to much when it comes to the Derby.

In this race, Field Pass started from the outside post and had contending speed to take up a stalking position behind and outside FANCY LIQUOR and INVADER, while in the three path, around the first turn. He inched closer heading into the far turn but remained in the same spot on that turn, in the three path, outside the other two. Invader appeared to be going better than him coming off the bend, but Field Pass closed tenaciously in the center of the course in the final 150 yards to get up close to home.

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Invader, who finished second, had good speed leaving the gate and set up in second, just outside of Fancy Liquor, around the first turn. He was a touch headstrong turning into the backstretch and put more pressure on Fancy Liquor, as Field Pass backed off slightly. He advanced into the far turn to go with Fancy Liquor, got the best of Fancy Liquor in upper stretch while wanting to lean in while changing leads, but couldn’t hold off the winner, suffering his first loss on all-weather and at Turfway after two victories.

Fancy Liquor, who was third, was sent along to the lead from an inside draw, was hustled along heading into the far turn when Invader came alongside, had to be ridden along around the turn to hold his position, was headed at mid-stretch but fought on gamely. This was only his second start following a win on turf against maidens at Gulfstream. The fact he looked beaten three furlongs out, but battled to the wire while extending his margin over the remainder of the field, indicates the track might have favored those forwardly placed – the first five a half-mile into the race were the first five across the wire - and/or that the rest of this field was soft.

HALO AGAIN, who was fourth, tucked in right behind the leaders while following Invader around the first turn. He came under a ride three furlongs out while just behind the leaders and saving ground, drifted to the four path coming off the bend while trading bumps with VICTORY BOULEVARD, was late to change leads, and finished evenly while losing ground to the top three through the lane.

Victory Boulevard, who was fifth, broke a bit awkwardly and had to be corrected, then raced just outside Halo Again while following Field Pass around the first turn. He raced between rivals on the far turn, was asked for his best midway through the turn, got fanned to the five path coming off the bend while trading bumps with Halo Again, and couldn’t outfinish that rival late.

THE STIFF, who finished sixth, raced towards the rear of the pack while three paths wide on the first turn, dropped farther back early on the backside, raced in the clear about three to four paths wide on the far turn, took a while to finally switch leads in upper stretch, and never got involved

MYAMANOI, who was seventh, had finished less than a length behind Field Pass in a turf stakes at Gulfstream in his previous start but was never in the hunt in this, his first try on all-weather. He raced between rivals while just inside The Stiff around the first turn, moved into an attacking position outside Halo Again and Victory Boulevard into the far turn while three to four paths wide, couldn’t keep up with Halo Again and Victory Boulevard coming off the bend, was guided toward the inside but flattened out badly.

DACK JANIEL’S, who was eighth, had no early speed but was able to save ground on the first turn owing to his inside draw. He was just behind and inside The Stiff heading into the far turn but went in reverse at that point and was outrun throughout. This was his first, and likely last, try on all-weather.

AUSTRIAN, who was ninth, broke slowly and trailed in the opening strides, then advanced to be four paths wide towards the back of the field around the first turn. He was outrun down the backstretch, had one horse beaten into the far turn, raced wide on the final turn, and was badly overmatched.

TOMA TODO, who was 10th, saved ground around the first turn while mid-pack, started to get pushed along three furlongs out but had nothing to offer and steadily faded.

UNTHROTTLED, who finished last of 11, trailed into the first turn in the two path, split rivals into the far turn while well back, was about four paths wide coming off the bend and was late to change leads but, like many in here, was no factor at any point.