Versatile Greenwich Village may move to Tapeta in Jeff Ruby

ARCADIA, Calif. – After winning on dirt in early December and collecting two stakes wins on turf at Santa Anita this year, the 3-year-old Greenwich Village may be tried on a different surface for his next start.

Following Greenwich Village’s win in Sunday’s Pasadena Stakes at a mile on turf, trainer Bob Baffert said he will consider starting the colt in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby at 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic track at Turfway Park on March 21.

“We’ll look at that,” Baffert said.

The Jeff Ruby has a hearty purse of $777,000. The winner receives 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Greenwich Village, by Quality Road, rallied from fourth in a field of nine to win the Pasadena Stakes by a nose over pacesetter Medici. The Pasadena Stakes was Greenwich Village’s first start around two turns, in his fourth career race.

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“The quality is there,” Baffert said. “He’s figuring it out.”

An appearance by Greenwich Village at Turfway would be Baffert’s first runner at the Northern Kentucky venue since Senor Swinger finished sixth in the Grade 3 Turfway Park Fall Championship in October 2005. Baffert won 10 stakes at Turfway Park from 1997 to 2004.

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