Tipsheet: Jeff Ruby Steaks

The $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) will be run Saturday as race 11 at Turfway Park.  The 1 1/8-mile event is for 3-year-olds and is part of the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby series with 20-8-4-2 points going to the top four finishers. To be contested over the synthetic track at 6:42pm (ET), the race has the potential to fall apart and produce some big prices.

Top Picks for the Jeff Ruby Steaks

• #8 Finnick the Fierce
• #11 Invader
• #12 Field Pass
• #2 Toma todo

Betting the Jeff Ruby Steaks

• $20 win: 8
• $1 Trifecta Box: 2,8,11,12

Jeff Ruby Steaks Contenders

#1 Dack Janiel’s graduated at the Fair Grounds last out in his fourth try against a small field. His sire, Tonalist, has been warming up with his first crop of runners getting longer distances, and this colt can save ground with Bejarano.

#2 Toma Todo is a turf stakes runner-up and the son of English Channel makes his first start for new trainer Steve Asmussen following a third in the John Battaglia Memorial on the Polytrack. His other starts on the turf were solid so he has a legitimate chance.

#3 Fancy Liquor broke his maiden first time out on the turf at Gulfstream Park when he went gate to wire. He moves up in class and tries synthetic with new rider Florent Geroux. The fact that he went off at 14-1 in his debut says there were low expectations for him, and his final time was just average.  

#4 Unthrottled took six starts to break his maiden and he did it on the turf at the Fair Grounds going this distance. He came back there on the dirt to run evenly so even though he’s bred to be a sprinter, he looks like he can run all day.

#5 Myamanoi won at Aqueduct on the turf second time out then rallied wide into a blanket finish in turf stakes race at Gulfstream Park. Devoid of speed, he will need the race to fall apart.

#6 Halo Again broke his maiden first time out on the dirt at Churchill Downs then he went up to Woodbine and won a restricted stakes race going this distance on the Tapeta. Son of Speightstown did nothing back on the dirt in the Lecomte (G3) for Asmussen.  

#7 Victory Boulevard has already been claimed twice and exposed to the claim in all five starts. He has yet to run past seven furlongs, has no turf experience and tries synthetic for Mike Maker, who has won this race five times.

#8 Finnick the Fierce makes his synthetic track debut off some solid stakes efforts on the dirt. His best race was a close second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) behind Silver Prospector, who will go for the big money Saturday at Oaklawn Park. By Dialed In, Finnick the Fierce had a terrific half-mile breeze over the track to get ready and regular rider Sonny Leon will be back aboard.

#9 Austrian was beaten by 80 lengths in his first four career starts on the dirt then with blinkers added, he crushed maiden $15,000 claimers by almost seven lengths here going a two-turn mile. The final time was not inspiring, but he is only one of two starters that have a win over the course.

#10 The Stiff ran evenly on the turf in southern California for his first four starts then he broke his maiden on the dirt at Del Mar. Two starts later, he shipped up to Golden Gate to beat allowance foes. Last out from post 11, he rallied wide to miss by four lengths in the El Camino Real Derby going this distance.

#11 Invader showed good gate speed on the turf to begin his career before shipping here to break his maiden by 12 lengths. He came back and romped in the prep for this race, the Battaglia Memorial, but the son of War Front is going to have to use his speed early to overcome post 11.

#12 Field Pass is graded stakes-placed on the turf and makes his synthetic-track debut from post 12 for Maker. Son of Lemon Drop Kid has a chance if he can improve off a stakes win on the turf last out at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. is in for the mount – 33% riding for Maker lately.