Tapalo could head to Turfway for Jeff Ruby

Tapalo, second in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, is under consideration for the March 23 Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, trainer John Sadler said.

Tapalo had his stakes debut in the El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles on a synthetic track. The $700,000 Jeff Ruby is also run at 1 1/8 miles on a synthetic track.

The El Camino Real Derby did not award qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, while the Ruby offers 100-50-25-15-10 points for the first five finishers.

“The Jeff Ruby is something to think about,” Sadler said on Wednesday.

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In the El Camino Real Derby, Tapalo stalked the early pace, took the lead on the turn and led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. He was caught in the furlong by the heavily favored Endlessly.

“He ran great,” Sadler said on Wednesday. “He came back good and went back to the track today.”

Sadler noted that a rival forced Tapalo out on the first turn. Jockey Evin Roman was able to put Tapalo in a good position on the backstretch before taking the lead.

“He did not have the best trip,” Sadler said. “He ran well under the circumstances.”

Owned by Hronis Racing, Tapalo was bought for $55,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in Florida last March. A ridgling by Tapiture, Tapalo has earned $62,020 with one win in five starts.

Sadler did not specify race plans for the 3-year-olds Slider or Scatify, but said the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, a $300,000 race at a mile at Aqueduct on March 2, is likely to draw one of his leading runners.

Slider, by Jimmy Creed, won the Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in October and was ninth by 3 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

In his 3-year-old debut, Slider set the pace in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs before fading to finish third behind Muth, losing by 2 3/4 lengths.

Scatify, by Justify, won his debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16 and was a well-beaten third behind the highly-regarded Nysos in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 3 in his second start.

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