Fulleffort rallies in Jeff Ruby Steaks; Lorelei Lee wires Bourbonette Oaks

Mar 21, 2026 Kevin Kerstein/Kentucky Racing Communications

Fulleffort wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, March 21, 2026) – St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing’s Fulleffort surged down the center of Turfway Park Racing & Gaming’s stretch to win Saturday’s 55th running of the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III), on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Brad Cox, Fulleffort completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.94 while earning 100 qualifying points and a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

It was a good start to the Jeff Ruby Steaks with California invader Medici going directly to the front while setting an opening quarter-mile in a sharp :23.18. He carved an uncontested half-mile in :47.16 and maintained that lead going into the far turn where Stark Contrast made a bold, three-wide move along with Fulleffort unleashing his best stride.

In midstretch, Fulleffort surged down the middle of the track and powered past Stark Contrast and pacesetting Medici for a 2 1/2-length victory.

“He has a strong closing kick,” Ortiz said. “I knew he’d come with his best run and he handled stretching out in distance really well. I think he’s continuing to improve.”

“He’s a hard-knocking horse that continues to improve,” assistant trainer Trace Messina said. “He does everything we ask of him and trained really well into this race. We’ll talk it over with Brad and the team to decide next steps, but we’re very happy for everyone involved to get the job done today.”

He gets some added distance and FULLEFFORT put it all together in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at @turfwaypark, earning 100 Kentucky Derby points! 🏆🌹@iradortiz piloted the 3YO colt for the @bradcoxracing barn!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/qECGcrcRD4

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 21, 2026

Sent off as the 9-5 favorite, Fulleffort returned his backers $5.82.

Stop the Car finished fourth, followed by Argos, Brave Force, Two Out Hero, Black Hornet, Turf Star, Maximus Prime, Baytown Dreamer. Chaos Agent was pulled up around the far turn and walked back to his barn.

Fulleffort is a gray or roan colt by Liam’s Map out of the Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze. He was bred in Kentucky by Athens Woods.

With his victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, Fulleffort earned his connections $449,700 while improving his overall record to 6-3-2-1.

The Jeff Ruby Steaks awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale toward a spot in the starting gate in the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.

Bourbonette Oaks

Skychai Racing’s Lorelei Lee appears on her way to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) after going gate-to-wire in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Ridden by Fernando De La Cruz and trained by Mike Maker, Lorelei Lee completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.81, her first start going two turns.

Lorelei Lee broke sharply and outdueled Resplendence into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in :24.07. She maintained her advantage through a half-mile fraction of :49.77 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.89 as the field began to tighten approaching the far turn.

Around the turn, Resist ranged up to challenge while Lovely Grey launched a wide rally from the outside. In the stretch, Lorelei Lee dug in and held firm, drawing clear late to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

LORELEI LEE goes gate-to-wire at 10/1 in the Bourbonette Oaks at @turfwaypark, picking up 50 points towards the Kentucky Oaks! 🌸

Mike Maker trains the 3YO filly and Fernando De La Cruz was in the saddle.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/k0TOSQQseq

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 21, 2026

“Ownership has already made a management decision, she’ll be nominated to the Kentucky Oaks,” Maker said. “I thought stretching out she’d show some natural speed. We lost some training this winter because of the weather. We ran her short and she was able to handle that and win. We knew she’d get better going long.”

Lovely Grey finished second with Resist in third. The leading trio was followed in order by La Ville Lumiere, Bless Her, Resplendence, Scratch It, Beara Peninsula and Wonzee Weather.

Lorelei Lee rewarded her backers by returning $23.98.

Lorelei Lee is a bay filly by Nyquist out of the Tapit mare Marilyn Monroan. She was bred in Kentucky by Cathy Shircliff’s Hot Pink Stables.

The Bourbonette Oaks awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale toward a spot in the starting gate in the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 1, at Churchill Downs.