Turfway Park: The $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 20-8-4-2)

A deep field for the is on tap for the Ruby, which will take place over the Polytrack at Turfway and give the winner 20 Derby qualifying points, which could put him potentially close to the bubble, come entry day. A romping comeback win in the slop at Gulfstream Park in an AOC and a win over the Tapeta last year at Woodbine both say #6 SKYWIRE (3-1) could post the mild surprise for Casse, as this son of Afleet Alex should trip out nicely off the speed, has a ton of upside, and showed last time that he can handle two turns. The obvious horse to beat is #10 SOMELIKEITHOTBROWN (8-5), who easily won the local prep—the John Battaglia—in what was his Poly and seasonal debut for Maker, and if this son of Big Brown improves off that run, he’ll likely be too much to handle, though this wide draw isn’t ideal. Price players can give a look to #4 DABO (10-1), who was a closing third in the Battaglia, in his first start of the year for Romans, and as a son of Temple City, the longer the better. The added half-furlong might not help #1 DYNAMIC RACER (15-1), a son of sprinter Run Away and Hide who split ‘Brown and Dabo in the Battaglia, but there isn’t a lot of speed here, so if he clears and gets brave, he might be able to pull off the big upset for Kahles.

Somelikeithotbrown and Rafael Hernandez at Turfway. Coady Photography

Selections:

#6 Skywire

#10 Somelikeithotbrown

#4 Dabo

#1 Dynamic Racer