Meet the Contenders: 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks
Congruent winning the 2023 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
March 22nd, 2023
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta at Turfway Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well in the Jeff Ruby field.
#1 MAJOR DUDE *****
Major Dude at Keeneland. (Coady Photography)
Pro: Pilgrim (G2) and Kitten’s Joy (G3) winner has beaten tough rivals and is the most accomplished horse in the field.
Con: He’s never run over a synthetic track.
#2 SCOOBIE QUANDO ***
Pro: Hasn’t missed the exacta in three starts at Turfway Park.
Con: He was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Congruent when second in the John Battaglia Memorial S.
#3 EVENT DETAIL **
Pro: Broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths racing one mile at Turfway Park.
Con: Faltered in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby appearance, finishing 10th in the Rebel (G2).
#4 FUNTASTIC AGAIN ****
Pro: Boasts a 2-for-2 record at Turfway, wiring an allowance optional claimer and the Leonatus S. by daylight margins.
Con: He’s stepping up in class.
#5 MAKER’S CANDY **
Pro: Crossed the wire first in the Gander S. at Aqueduct last month.
Con: He’s competed exclusively against New York-bred rivals and has never run on synthetic.
#6 BABY BILLY **
Pro: Has already won over 1 1/8 miles, nabbing a maiden special weight on turf at Gulfstream Park.
Con: He finished eighth in his only stakes start and has never run on synthetic.
#7 BLUEBIRDS OVER **
Pro: He’s 2-for-2 over Tapeta, dominating a maiden special weight at Gulfstream before nabbing Woodbine’s Grey (G3).
Con: He faltered when trying turf in his 2023 debut, running fifth in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream.
#8 CONGRUENT *****
Congruent winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pro: Relished racing over Tapeta in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway, rallying from last place to dominate by 3 1/2 lengths.
Con: He finished behind Major Dude in a couple of turf stakes at Gulfstream during the winter.
#9 ESCAPOLOGIST *
Pro: Improved when switching from dirt to turf for a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds, winning by half a length.
Con: His career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.
#10 TWO PHIL’S ***
Two Phil's wins the Street Sense Stakes (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pro: Accomplished dirt campaigner has won the Street Sense (G3) and placed in the Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3).
Con: He’s never run over a synthetic track.
#11 WADSWORTH ****
Pro: Boasts a 2-for-2 record at Turfway after winning a maiden special weight and an allowance optional claimer with ease. He’s also shown versatility in terms of running style.
Con: He’s competing in a stakes for the first time.
#12 POINT PROVEN *
Pro: Handled 1 1/8 miles when dominating a Churchill Downs maiden special weight by five lengths last fall.
Con: He’s never run on synthetic and enters off back-to-back allowance optional claiming defeats.
