Study Guide: 2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks

Mar 18, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

The $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park has been rising in prominence on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

In 2021, the Jeff Ruby became a top-tier qualifier now worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers. Since then it's produced 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike and 2023 Derby runner-up Two Phil's.

A full field is slated to race 1 1/8 miles over Turfway's synthetic Tapeta track in the 2024 Jeff Ruby. Let's meet the field:

Freedom Principle

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

Owner: Echo Papa Racing
Breeder: Lantern Hill Farm
Trainer: Jose Garoffalo
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $89,908

Sire: Flameaway
Dam: Diamondette
Color: Chestnut

Freedom Principle has faltered in a couple of turf stakes this year, but last fall he won the Armed Forces S. on Tapeta at Gulfstream Park by 1 1/4 lengths. Returning to Tapeta for the Jeff Ruby may trigger a turnaround from his recent defeats.

Dancing Groom

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

Owner: Alexandres
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $141,482

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Snow Dancer
Color: Chestnut

Dancing Groom has started four times on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing third in the Champagne (G1) last fall before missing the board in three subsequent contests. He trailed throughout in the Fountain of Youth (G2) earlier this month and needs improvement to challenge in the Jeff Ruby.

Lucky Jeremy

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

Owner: Jeremy Ramsland
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Craig L. Minten
Trainer: William Morey
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $153,880

Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Powder N Blush
Color: Bay

Lucky Jeremy made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) at Sunland Park, finishing third after setting the pace. He's yet to race over a synthetic track, but he breezed a fast half-mile at Turfway Park last Saturday and could potentially improve while switching surfaces.

Noted

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $340,275

Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Sea View Millie
Color: Gray/roan

A stakes winner on both dirt and turf, Noted has the versatility to factor while tackling Tapeta for the Jeff Ruby. He's kept good company and defeated future Remsen (G2) and Fountain of Youth winner Dornoch in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park last summer, so Noted has to be viewed as a formidable win contender this Saturday.

Agate Road

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Breeder: CHC
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $283,500

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Yellow Agate
Color: Bay

Winner of the Pilgrim (G2) and a respectable fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on grass last season, Agate Road ran well when switching to dirt for the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs last month, rallying from a dozen lengths back to finish second. There's no reason to think he won't perform equally well on Tapeta, so count Agate Road as a key win contender. (Note that he is cross-entered to the Louisiana Derby [G2] and reportedly expected to run there instead).

Northern Flame

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

Owner: Jack Oxley, Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $309,200

Sire: Flameaway
Dam: Darling's Darling
Color: Bay

Northern Flame has yet to race on Tapeta, but his dirt form is encouraging, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park last month. He has early speed and figures to secure a forwardly placed trip this Saturday, which could be advantageous since the Jeff Ruby field isn't overly stuffed with speed.

Woodcourt

Start(s): 10
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Contreras Stable
Breeder: Michelle Lovell
Trainer: Cipriano Contreras
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $348,886

Sire: Ransom the Moon
Dam: Warrioress
Color: Bay

Woodcourt finished one length behind Northern Flame when fourth in the Rebel, but last December he dominated a $50,000 allowance optional claimer racing one mile over the Turfway Tapeta, winning by three lengths. Returning to Turfway for the Jeff Ruby may help Woodcourt turn the tables on Northern Flame and vie for a top-five finish.

Otello

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

Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Breeder: Siena Farms
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning his debut at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $141,320

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Isabella Sings
Color: Chestnut

Otello won his first two starts, including the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park, with sharp late rallies. He struggled when joining the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing sixth in Gulfstream's Holy Bull (G3), but the caliber of competition was deep and Otello didn't receive a favorable pace setup. He's eligible to bounce back while trying Tapeta in the Jeff Ruby.

Seize the Grey

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

Owner: MyRacehorse
Breeder: Jamm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Nik Juarez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning an Oaklawn Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $191,138

Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Smart Shopping
Color: Gray/roan

Seize the Grey kicked off 2024 with victory in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. That was an improvement upon Seize the Grey's fourth-place finish in the Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last year, so this beautifully bred son of Arrogate is progressing in the right direction and must be respected.

Endlessly

Start(s): 5
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Amerman Racing Stables
Breeder: Mrs. Jerry Amerman
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Total Earnings: $299,200

Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Dream Fuhrever
Color: Bay

An eighth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf ranks as Endlessly's lone defeat from five starts. The versatile colt has rallied to win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) and Zuma Beach (G3) on grass plus the El Camino Real Derby on Tapeta. The Jeff Ruby marks Endlessly's first start outside of California, but if he can take his A-game on the road, he'll have every chance to secure a fourth stakes win.

Baytown Chatterbox

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Baytown Partnership and Resolute Racing Alliance
Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Paul McEntee
Jockey: Albin Jimenez

Top Speed Rating: (78) when winning the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $126,625

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Endless Chatter
Color: Bay

Baytown Chatterbox is a capable sprinter who won the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile S. last summer, but he faltered in his lone start on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing last of eight in the 2023 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. His career-best 78 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Jeff Ruby field, so Baytown Chatterbox needs to move forward while switching to Tapeta and stretching back out in distance.

West Saratoga

Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 4
Show: 1

Owner: Harry L. Veruchi
Breeder: Two Hearts Farm II
Trainer: Larry Demeritte
Jockey: Jesus Castanon

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $324,140

Sire: Exaggerator
Dam: Mo Wicked
Color: Gray/roan

West Saratoga has performed well on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Iroquois at Churchill Downs before finishing fifth in the Breeders' Futurity and third in the Sam F. Davis. He came home 5 1/4 lengths behind Agate Road in the latter race, but there's at least an outside chance West Saratoga will be able to turn the tables while switching to Tapeta.

Circle P (Also-eligible)

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

Owner: DeSales 85
Breeder: Marathon Farms
Trainer: Flint Stites
Jockey: Tyler Conner

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Maryland Juvenile S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $111,990

Sire: Speightster
Dam: Quiet Inferno
Color: Bay

Also-eligible entrant Circle P exits a rallying third-place finish in the one-mile Miracle Wood S. at Laurel Park last month. That marked his first start since winning the seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile S. at the beginning of December. Circle P is eligible to improve in his second run of the season, though it's worth noting both of his wins have come sprinting, and stretching out over 1 1/8 miles for the Jeff Ruby is at least a small question mark.

Triple Espresso (Also-eligible)

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

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing fourth in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $94,800

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Natural Rush
Color: Bay

The second also-eligible entrant is Triple Espresso, a turf campaigner exiting a fourth-place finish in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream Park. A pedestrian pace compromised his chances in the Colonel Liam, so Triple Espresso may fare better if he draws in and catches a faster pace in the Jeff Ruby. But it's worth noting he finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Agate Road when fifth in a fair-paced edition of the Pilgrim last year. He is also cross-entered to the Louisiana Derby.