Takeaways from 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks

Mar 28, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

One of eight major qualifiers in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March
25 awarded points on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis to the top five finishers.

Two Phil’s sharp
in final Derby tune-up

Two Phil’s had raced
exclusively on dirt tracks, opening his three-year-old season with a runner-up in the
Lecomte (G3) and a third in
the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, and the Larray Rivelli-trained colt delivered
a career best switching to Turfway’s Tapeta synthetic track, recording a 5 1/2-length
win in the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby.

A chestnut son of 2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun,
Two Phil’s rated in midpack before advancing wide on the far turn, and he stormed
into the lead with an eye-catching turn of foot, drawing away decisively through
the stretch.

He came home fast, missing the track record by .74 seconds
as he stopped the teletimer in 1:49.03, and Two Phil’s netted a 107 Brisnet
Speed rating, the top number from 19 Kentucky Derby qualifiers in 2023.

His affinity for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance will
be tested next time, but it’s encouraging to note that Two Phil’s’ fastest two
races (based upon Speed ratings) have come in his last two starts at 1 1/8
miles.

Churchill
success

Rich Strike finished third in last year’s Jeff Ruby before
recording the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history (80-1), and Animal
Kingdom won the 2011 edition on a synthetic track before recording a 12-1 upset
at Churchill Downs, but it’s always difficult to gauge the race’s value.
Synthetic prep races are appealing to turf runners, and Major Dude, a multiple graded winner on turf, finished second as
the 8-5 favorite to Two Phil’s.

Two Phil’s doesn’t fit the typical Jeff Ruby winner profile.
He’s the first with a graded win on Churchill Downs’ main track, capturing the 1
1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) by 5 1/4 lengths last October, and his progressing
form has appeal.

A class hike awaits in the Kentucky
Derby, but Two Phil’s should be primed for his best following a convincing win
in the Jeff Ruby.

Questions
surround also-rans

Two Phil’s may prove to be the lone Kentucky Derby representative
from the Jeff Ruby.

Major Dude offered a nice run for second, but considering the
lack of success in a pair of dirt stakes last year, he’s probably headed back
to turf for Todd Pletcher. Funtastic
Again set the pace to the top of the stretch, giving way readily to the top
pair, but did earn 30 points toward a Derby berth finishing third. However, the
Wesley Ward-trained colt looks better suited to shorter distances.