Study Guide: 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks

Mar 18, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Fulleffort wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

A total of 200 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points will be split on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis among the top five finishers in Saturday’s $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.

The Jeff Ruby is the most important Kentucky Derby qualifier contested over a synthetic racing surface—specifically, Turfway’s Tapeta track. As a result, a blend of dirt horses, turf horses, and proven Tapeta runners have entered the Jeff Ruby.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks contenders:

Turf Star

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $216,500

Sire: Caravaggio
Dam: Starstruck
Color: Bay

Turf Star has shown talent on turf, most notably running second in the Bourbon (G2). But he finished behind Jeff Ruby rival Stark Contrast when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and switching to Tapeta is at least a small question mark.

Fulleffort

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing
Breeder: Athens Woods
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $244,415

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Callmethesqueeze
Color: Gray/roan

Fulleffort nearly won the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway last month, rallying to finish second by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. He gained 4 1/4 lengths through the final furlong and should appreciate stretching out over 1 1/8 miles in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Don’t count him out of win contention.

Baytown Dreamer

Start(s): 11
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 3

Owner: Baytown Partnership and Win The Day Racing
Breeder: Brookstone Farm, Lee Mauberret, and James Blazek
Trainer: Paul McEntee
Jockey: Orlando Bocachica

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $257,013

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Colerful Bride
Color: Chestnut

Baytown Dreamer has competed in seven stakes, so he has more experience competing at a high level than any of the other Jeff Ruby entrants. However, he exits with a fourth-place finish in the John Battaglia Memorial, so he’ll need a step forward to turn the tables on runner-up Fulleffort and third-place finisher Maximus Prime.

Two Out Hero

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: Corser Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $134,795

Sire: War Front
Dam: Song River
Color: Bay

Two Out Hero showed talent at Woodbine last year, winning his first two starts sprinting before running a close third in the Summer (G1). But he disappointed in his 2026 debut, finishing a distant ninth in the John Battaglia Memorial, and he’ll need a rebound to challenge in the Jeff Ruby.

Black Hornet

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Barry Becker and Judith Becker
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Declan Cannon

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning the Black Gold S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $111,200

Sire: Essential Quality
Dam: Brattata
Color: Gray/roan

Black Hornet has gone 2-for-2 since switching from dirt to turf, winning a maiden special weight and the Black Gold S. racing 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds. But can he reproduce his turf form while switching to Tapeta? The fact that he ran well in two of his four dirt starts is encouraging, suggesting Black Hornet has multi-surface versatility.

Medici

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S. Bass
Breeder: Bass Stables
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mirco Demuro

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Pasadena S. at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $89,300

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Avenge
Color: Bay

Medici has shown talent on turf, most recently running second by a nose in the one-mile Pasadena S. at Santa Anita. But the Jeff Ruby is a tougher race, and it’s worth noting Medici tired to finish fourth in his lone previous start over 1 1/8 miles.

Maximus Prime

Start(s): 8
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Gary Bizzack and Tiffany Bizzack
Breeder: Brandywine Farm (Jim and Pam Robinson)
Trainer: Anthony Mitchell
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing third in the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $109,787

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Sweet Alternative
Color: Bay

Maximus Prime might be winless in eight starts, but he closed a lot of ground to finish third in the John Battaglia Memorial, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths for first prize. A top-five finish in the Jeff Ruby isn’t out of reach for this improving runner.

Chaos Agent

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: James Paliafito and Joe Adams
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $40,800

Sire: Independence Hall
Dam: Into Oblivion
Color: Bay

Chaos Agent debuted in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Tapeta at Gulfstream Park, in which he rallied from midfield to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The 94 Brisnet Speed rating he received is the highest number belonging to any of the Jeff Ruby entrants, suggesting Chaos Agent is a serious win contender.

Brave Force

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: John C. Oxley, Linda Casse, Eric Long, and TJR Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Flaxman Holdings
Trainer: Jack Sisterson
Jockey: Vincent Cheminaud

Top Speed Rating: (81) when winning a maiden special weight at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $82,032

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Light Blow
Color: Bay

Brave Force recently prevailed in a one-mile maiden special weight over the Turfway Tapeta. However, he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating to beat tougher competition in the Jeff Ruby.

Argos

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: David S. Romanik, Warren Cheekes, Deborah K. Dougherty, C2 Racing Stable, BAG Racing Stable, and Robert Liedel
Breeder: Green Lantern Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning the Summer (G1) at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $302,163

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Athenian
Color: Bay

Argos is one of the most accomplished horses in the Jeff Ruby field, having won the Summer (G1) at Woodbine last fall. But he’s faltered in two subsequent starts and kicked off 2026 with a subpar fifth-place finish in the Colonel Liam S., so he’ll need a rebound while switching to Tapeta if he’s going to win the Jeff Ruby.

Stark Contrast

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Amerman Racing Stables
Breeder: Mrs. Jerry Amerman
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $342,800

Sire: Caravaggio
Dam: Catch the Eye
Color: Bay

Stark Contrast has shown top-tier talent on turf, sandwiching wins in the Zuma Beach (G3) and Eddie Logan S. around a close runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. If he handles the switch to Tapeta, he’ll be tough to beat for the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Kazushi Kimura and Michael McCarthy, who have gone 6-for-14 (43%) teaming up together over the last two months.

Gstaad wins the Juvenile Turf! 🍀

pic.twitter.com/gRHKLaLafT

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2025

Stop the Car

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Trade Winds Farm
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Edgar Morales

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $119,913

Sire: Maximum Security
Dam: Pussyfoot
Color: Bay

Stop the Car won his first two starts in fine fashion, but when he joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, he faltered to finish seventh. He’ll need a rebound to factor in the Jeff Ruby.