Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Somelikeithotbrown Ruby-ready

While Somelikeithotbrown ran his worst career race when debuting on the dirt, his path to the 2019 Kentucky Derby could come over another surface.

The New York-bred son of Big Brown, a narrow third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, ran to his even money favoritism Friday night in Turfway Park’s $75,000 John Battaglia Memorial, the local prep for the Derby points-paying Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 9.

Earlier this week, trainer Mike Maker said “the timing worked out for us” to go in the Battaglia, with the colt shipping in from Gulfstream Park for a final work over the all-weather track in Florence, Ky.

“We felt like he could benefit with a race over the track before the Jeff Ruby,” Maker added.

Somelikeithotbrown is right on schedule after completing the Battaglia’s 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.86 under jockey Rafael Hernandez. He rated patiently behind a pair of longshots, then rallied up the rail, looking much the best in a field that also included The Mackem Bullet, a filly who was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Friday night, that one hit the wire fourth behind longshot Dynamic Racer and Dabo.

Campaigned by Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable, Somelikeithotbrown nearly took his division of the Breeders’ Cup on the front end, only giving in late as Line of Duty and Uncle Benny went by in a three-wide duel at Churchill Downs.

Overall, Somelikeithotbrown’s record improved to 6: 2-2-1 with the Battaglia victory. Last fall, he also ran second on the grass in Saratoga’s Oct. 29 With Anticipation (G3) and Belmont Park’s Sept. 29 Pilgrim (G3). He offered little, however, when going first out over the Saratoga main track back in July.

Next, Somelikeithotbrown could go as the favorite again in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, formerly known as the Spiral. The race awards 20 Derby qualifying points to its winner and runs early enough in the season for another prep on the dirt to follow.

Connections did foot the $600 for Somelikeithotbrown as an early Triple Crown nomination.