Horak: How I'm betting Turfway's Jeff Ruby Steaks
Turfway Park's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at a mile and an eighth on Polytrack drew a dozen entrants for Saturday's stop on the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail. Morning line favorite Invader captured the local prep for this and is one of three stakes winners in the lineup along with Halo Again and Field Pass.
Before deciding how to bet Saturday’s 11th race at Turfway, let’s meet the field.
Favorites
#11 Invader (3-1) exits back-to-back local romps including the John Battaglia Memorial. He clearly likes this oval and should be forwardly placed.
#12 Field Pass (7-2) posted a game victory on turf in the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He is probably in for a wide, stalking trip.
Value Win Contender
#5 Myamanoi (4-1) improved his numbers in all three turf starts and looks like a solid threat if he handles all-weather footing. He was less than a length behind Field Pass in the Dania Beach and should offer more value than that runner.
Live Longshot
#6 Halo Again (8-1) raced wide and was no threat in his first start of the year over dirt in the Jan. 18 Lecomte (G3). That was a productive race. The top three finishers returned to finish 1-2-3 in the first division of the Risen Star (G2). The lightly raced $600,000 purchase won an all-weather stakes at this distance last year in Canada under Saturday’s rider, Rafael Hernandez.
Remaining Entrants
#1 Dack Janiel’s (30-1) exits an off-the-turf maiden win at Fair Grounds. He is getting better but will have to improve to threaten these.
#2 Toma Todo (20-1) was a distant third in the local prep for this on Feb. 14. Steve Asmussen is his new trainer, and all four of his races were solid enough. His task is not impossible, but his best two races were on turf and that is probably his preferred footing.
#3 Fancy Liquor (8-1) gamely dug in and captured his one-mile turf debut by a head on Feb. 2 at Gulfstream. He has upside, plus runs for the winning connections of last year's Ruby, but I want to see where he fits class-wise.
#4 Unthrottled (30-1) graduated on turf in his sixth career start. He then chased wide and retreated from the outside post against winners in a dirt route on Feb. 15.
#7 Victory Boulevard (30-1) fired exacta shots in all five dirt sprints against lesser company. He won his last three starts and will probably impact the pace.
#8 Finnick the Fierce (6-1) was second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), fourth in the Lecomte (G3), and seventh in the second, slower division of the Risen Sta. He will try to get involved late, and a minor share is possible.
#9 Austrian (50-1) dusted local maiden claimers on Feb. 17. The combination of blinkers, easier company and all-weather footing contributed to that better effort. This is a much tougher assignment.
#10 The Stiff (12-1) showed ability on all-weather, dirt, and turf in California. He was stuck in post 11 in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 15 and drew wide again. Look for him late if at all.
Wagers
#5 to win
Exacta box 5-6
Trifecta 5-6/5-6-11-12/2-5-6-8-11-12