Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park is a Kentucky Derby (GI) prep that’s been contested under many different incarnations over the years. It previously was known as the Spiral Stakes, Jim Beam Stakes, Lane’s End Stakes, Horseshoe Casino, and once the Galleryfurniture.com Stakes and will again be contested in the name of steakhouse owner and super racing fan Jeff Ruby.
The nine-furlong synthetic track event first contested in 1972 which returns this year with a $700,000 purse and Road to the Derby points to the top-five finishers to make the gate for the Kentucky Derby on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.
Horse Racing Partnerships: Jeff Ruby’s Restaurants Take the Lead
Turfway Park – Photo courtesy of americasbestracing
Jeff Ruby’s popular restaurants/steakhouses, with locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, have been a big supporter of horse racing for years now and fans can frequently see the eatery’s logo on the pants of many jockeys, including Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Joe Talamo, and Drayden Van Dyke, just to name a trio. This is the seventh year Jeff Ruby and his critically acclaimed eateries are the title sponsor of the race.
This Derby prep is probably best known because of champion Animal Kingdom, who captured the nine-furlong synthetic test as a springboard to wearing the roses in 2011, but that’s not to say some other good horses haven’t emerged victorious as part of their tremendous careers. Hard Spun, who placed in all three Triple Crown races, won in 2007 and added his name to a list that includes dual classic winners Hansel and Prairie Bayou, and Derby winner Lil E Tee. The Hall of Fame filly Serena’s Song was victorious in 1995, as well.
Peter Pan Stakes Champions: Historic Performances and Records
Blended Citizen upset the field five years ago and then won the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) after skipping the Derby. Somelikeithotbrown won in 2019 and gave trainer Mike Maker his fifth win in the race and was sidelined for the rest of that year after a fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) in early April. Last year, the promising colt Two Phil’s was victorious here before a second in the Derby behind Mage. He wrapped up his career last summer with a win in the Oho Derby (G2) last June.
Champion Hansel still owns the stakes record (at the current distance) of 1:46 3/5, though the race has been contested at a mile and 1 1/16 miles in the past.
Famous Faces and Winning Streaks: Kentucky Derby History
Retired Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day owns the record of most wins (five), having booted home At The Threshold (1984), J.T.’s Pet (1987), Western Playboy (1990), Summer Squall (1991) and Lil E. Tee (1992). The latter was his only Kentucky Derby winner of his 8,404 career victories.
William E. Adams saddled seven consecutive winners from 1977 through 1980, including the winners of both divisions in 1977 (Smiley’s Dream and Bob’s Dusty), 1978 (Five Star General and Raymond Earl) and 1980 (Major Run and Spruce Needles). He also saddled Lot o’Gold to win in 1979.
Saturday’s weather in Northern Kentucky is expected cool but sunny with a high near 50. The feature is the day’s 12th with a post time of 6:25 p.m. ET.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
