Tipsheet: 2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks

An overflow field of 14 sophomores will run nine furlongs on the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park in the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Saturday. The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will offer a total of 200 qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) that will go to the top five finishers in the event. 

Jeff Ruby Picks

• #4 Noted
• #8 Otello
• #10 Endlessly
• #1 Freedom Principle

Jeff Ruby Wagers

$20 win and place #4 Noted
$5 exacta key box 4 with 1,8,10
$2 trifecta 4,8 with 1,4,8,10 with 1,4,8,10

Jeff Ruby Contenders

#1 FREEDOM PRINCIPLE: This Flameaway colt has been first or second in each of his four lifetime tries on the all-weather and is well drawn on the inside here. The chestnut colt has a nice turn of foot for Jose Garoffalo, and the three-year-old will be making up ground in the lane under Adam Beschizza. 

#2 DANCING GROOM: Antonio Sano trainee has faced graded foes in four straight and could appreciate the move to the surface in his local debut. The son of Vino Rosso has been outrun by good horses as of late, but the Kentucky-bred is not without a chance on the synthetic under the guidance of Frankie Dettori. 

#3 LUCKY JEREMY: Sunland Derby (G3) third makes his local bow for conditioner Bill Morey and has to be given a look for a barn going well at this meeting. The bay Lookin at Lucky colt has good early speed and will always be in the hunt from the break with Gerardo Corrales in the stirrups. 

#4 NOTED: Top pick from the Todd Pletcher shedrow is a proven turf performer who will make his first local run as a sure contender in the field. The gray son of Cairo Prince didn’t fire in his most recent performance, but the colt possesses a fine turn of foot on his best day, and he also has a lot of class to him. Luis Saez will be in the stirrups. 

#5 AGATE ROAD: Classy three-year-old closed with a rush to be second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) in his dirt bow most recently and rates a big chance if he lands in this cast. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Quality Road has never run a bad race in his lifetime, and the expensive yearling purchase has been training well as of late, as well. Jose Ortiz gets the nod. 

#6 NORTHERN FLAME: Kenny McPeek pupil gave a nice account of himself when third in the recent Rebel S. (G2) and continues to improve leading up to this assignment. The $425,000 son of Flameaway has good tactical speed that will be important in a field of this size, and the colt is an obvious exotics contender with continued ascension. Julien Leparoux will be in the silks. 

#7 WOODCOURT: Rebel (G2) fourth was claimed out of a fine allowance tally on the oval three back and can’t be overlooked for Cipriano Contreras. The Ransom the Moon colt has finished in the money in each of his two local tries to date, and the bay has the versatility to be close early or from off the pace at the top of the lane. Luan Machado will be up. 

#8 OTELLO: Curlin colt was an even sixth in the Gotham S. (G3) in his most recent run and wouldn’t be a surprise as a major contender in the heat. This Christophe Clement pupil ran well to win his first two career assignments and the colt shows a few nice morning drills as of late to suggest that he will be ready to roll on Saturday, as well. Javier Castellano has the call. 

#9 SEIZE THE GREY: D. Wayne Lukas trainee comes off of a fine allowance tally on the dirt at Oaklawn Park and will be a threat with a forward move in his first All-Weather test. The $300,000 son of Arrogate has trained well in preparation for his second run of the season and will have Nik Juarez in the silks. 

#10 ENDLESSLY: California invader is 4-for-5 in his lifetime and passed the synthetic test last time out when taking the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. The bay son of Oscar Performance has tactical speed combined with a big turn of foot, and his best race will make him difficult to keep off the board with Umberto Rispoli coming in to ride. 

#11 BAYTOWN CHATTERBOX: Outsider in the field ran some good ones as a juvenile but has yet to build upon those races at this stage of his development. The Street Sense gelding would be a major surprise beneath Albin Jimenez. 

#12 WEST SARATOGA: Iroquois S. (G3) winner was a good third while always forwardly placed in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and could peak in his third try of the season. The Exaggerator colt has been consistent throughout his lifetime and rates a chance if he takes to the All-Weather strip on Saturday. Jesus Castanon has the call. 

#13 CIRCLE P: First on the also-eligible list has finished in the top three in every career outing to date and has a hint of appeal at a price. The Flint Stites trainee closed for third in the recent Miracle Wood S. and might appreciate the added ground in this one. 

#14 TRIPLE ESPRESSO: Pletcher pupil is a talented late runner on the green and will be doing his best work late if he draws into the field. The Colonel Liam S. fourth has improved his Brisnet Speed number with each lifetime run and figures to continue to ascend going forward.