Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, March. 25, 2023  [100 qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth, and 10 for fifth] Winner: Two Phil’s, by Hard Spun Trainer: Larry Rivelli Jockey: Jareth Loveberry Owner: Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan Distance / time: 1 1/8 miles Tapeta, 1:49.03 Win margin: 5 1/4 lengths Beyer Speed Figure: 101 Probably, given the 101 Beyer to go along with the winner’s visually impressive performance, we should rate this Jeff Ruby Steaks as the most important since 2011, when Animal Kingdom won and went on to capture the Kentucky Derby. Synthetic surface racing is more translatable to turf than dirt, but TWO PHIL'S already has solid dirt credentials. We can’t rule out the chance that the natural development pattern of an early 3-year-old contributed as much to this breakout performance as the surface switch. The colt’s trainer, Larry Rivelli, said Two Phil’s had trained well during a brief period going over Turfway’s Tapeta surface, but Two Phil’s only had raced on dirt before this start. The Jeff Ruby included the victors of the two Turfway stakes leading to it: FUNTASTIC AGAIN, winner of the Leonatus in January, and CONGRUENT, winner of the Battaglia Memorial in March. MAJOR DUDE, a Todd Pletcher-trained turf horse shipped in from Florida was favored. Two Phil's dominated. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2023: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more The race began with a messy start: MAKER’S CANDY broke out from post 3 as BABY BILLY broke in from post 4, the two bumping. Congruent from post 6 and ESCAPOLOGIST from post 7 broke toward the stands, forcing out Two Phil’s, who left from post 8. WADSWORTH in post 9 broke sharply outward, heartily bumping POINT PROVEN. Funtastic Again emerged with a clear lead into the turn as all the jockeys moved toward the rail, Two Phil’s winding up seventh, about three paths wide. But going onto the backstretch, all the riders, pace horses included, angled far off the rail. Funtastic, still setting the pace, was three to four paths away from the rail, Two Phil’s now out six or even seven wide. This was strange. In other races, riders had kept somewhat clear of the rail, but not nearly this radically, and there was nothing in the immediately preceding race shape suggesting the fence need be avoided at all costs. Two Phil’s had cover from Wadsworth most of the backstretch run, but going into the far turn, jockey Jareth Loveberry took Two Phil’s to the far outside. Loveberry nudged along his progressing mount, coming off the turn with only Funtastic Again still ahead of him and Major Dude, angling toward Two Phil’s left flank to launch his final bid. Two Phil’s had taken the measure of Major Dude at the three-sixteenths pole, the top of the short Turfway homestretch, and quickly drew away, Loveberry just showing his mount the crop before giving him one smack as Two Phil’s drifted slightly right in the final half-furlong. Loveberry basically wrapped up on Two Phil’s several strides before the wire, yet Two Phil’s still turned in a massive gallop-out, only coming to a stop after an outrider and his pony helped Loveberry pull him up way down the backstretch at about the five-furlong pole. Two Phil’s had made a similar move at a similar spot at Fair Grounds in the Lecomte Stakes and the Risen Star, only to be passed in the final furlong. One could easily argue that a different surface, a shorter stretch, and softer opposition produced this sharp win. One might also surmise that Two Phil’s, who showed talent all along and has a sloppy-track Churchill Downs stakes win behind him, took an early spring leap forward. Major Dude avoided all the early trouble, was three to four wide while just behind the leader down the backstretch, dropped down closer to the rail around the turn, and found room to make his run when Wadsworth dropped back at the quarter pole. Clearly outfinished by the winner, Major Dude ran to his good turf form and reportedly is headed back to grass. Funtastic Again set a solid pace, had the winner and runner-up stacked outside him at the three-sixteenths, but had little more to give while holding a clear third over Wadsworth. The latter couldn’t move with Two Phil’s and was left reeling by the top three at the quarter pole; his ability to hold on for fourth after emptying out didn’t speak well to most of those behind him. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  Sixth-place Maker’s Candy did run decently. Bumped solidly at the start, he was third-last into the turn and a little rank while mildly getting out. He couldn’t close ground around the far turn but after being angled wide for the homestretch, he ran the third-fastest final furlong, 13.07, behind Major Dude’s 12.98 and Two Phil’s eye-catching 12.34. Congruent regressed from a 91 Beyer winning the Battaglia to a 78. He raced closer to the pace this time than last and never got into contention. Baby Billy stalked the pace and lacked stretch punch, while Escapologist raced from the back and never moved up.  It was a long way back to pace-pressing BLUEBIRDS OVER, whose race was over at the three-furlong marker. Point Proven did little running. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.