Fulleffort, who has been knocking at the door in Turfway Park's 3-year-old stakes series, gets a chance to shine in a full field of 12 for next Saturday's Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a major-points Kentucky Derby prep.
The Ruby, six weeks out from the Kentucky Derby, offers its top five finishers points toward the starting gate on the 100-50-25-15-10. A top two finish in the 1 1/8-mile tilt on the Tapeta virtually guarantees a spot in the field, while a placing conceivably helps along a horse who already owns points. In recent years, the Ruby has produced Rich Strike, third in the 2022 edition before upsetting the Kentucky Derby; and Two Phil's, who won in 2023 before running second in the Derby. Last year's Ruby winner, Final Gambit, was a solid fourth in the Derby.
Fulleffort, trained by Brad Cox, was a closing second into a slow pace in the one-mile Leonatus Stakes on Jan. 17. He was then closing again and missed Great White by a neck in the John Battaglia Memorial at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 21. Great White is awaiting the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, as trained John Ennis has stated a desire to try him on the dirt.
Cox also sends out Argos, in his first start for the barn. Last year, while trained by Riley Mott, he won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine; he has since been eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and fifth in the Colonel Liam on Feb. 28 at Gulfstream.
Stark Contrast was a creditable second in that Juvenile Turf. He won the Eddie Logan on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita, his second career stakes win on the turf.
From the rail out, the complete field for the Ruby is Turf Star, Fulleffort, Baytown Dreamer, Two Out Hero, Black Hornet, Medici, Maximus Prime, Chaos Agent, Brave Force, Argos, Stark Contrast, and Stop the Car.
The sister race to the Ruby is the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile race which offers points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Resplendence, trained by Paulo Lobo, won the local prep, the one-mile Cincinnati Trophy, on Feb. 20, and is back in the field of 12. From the rail out, the field is Resplendence, Resist, Beara Peninsula, Blazing Brat, Scratch It, Callmeyourmajesty, Maximum Offer, Bless Her, Lovely Grey, La Ville Lumiere, Lorelei Lee, and Wonzee Weather.
Defending winner Mercante headlines a field of nine for the Grade 3, $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic for older horses. The card also includes the $250,000 Latonia Stakes for older fillies and mares, the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters.
First post for this marquee card of the meet at Turfway, which typically runs at night, is 12:45 p.m.
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