Like the King wins Jeff Ruby, earns Kentucky Derby berth

Trainer Wesley Ward is known more for his success with young sprinters and turf runners than with Triple Crown types. But Ward has punched his ticket to the 2021 Kentucky Derby by way of Turfway Park’s synthetic surface.

Like the King thundered home down the center of the track Saturday, then survived an objection to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks. The Palace Malice colt covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.22 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, scoring at 7-1 odds to return $16.

Churchill Downs boosted the Jeff Ruby’s allotment of Kentucky Derby points this year to 100-40-20-10, making it a win-and-you’re-in Derby prep. The Jeff Ruby previously awarded points on a 20-8-4-2 scale.

Like the King entered the day with four points from a second-place finish in last month’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Now with 104 points, the M Racing Group runner has earned his spot in the Churchill Downs starting gates for the first Saturday in May.

“We spaced out some of his races and I think it’s helped because he’s a big, rangy colt,” Ward said. “He’s always showed an affinity for grass and that’s why we kept him on the Tapeta surface this winter with this race in mind. ... 

"We were in the Derby once before but had post 20 and... (scratched). Now that we’re here again it’s very exciting.”

The top two betting choices Saturday were Gulfstream Park shipper Tarantino (5-2) for trainer Rodolphe Brisset and Gretzky the Great (3-1) for trainer Mark Casse. Tarantino stumbled out of the break and never factored, while Gretzky the Great came away well and stalked the early pace.

Up front, it was Moonlite Strike who posted fractions 22.93 and 46.81 while Gretzky the Great, Hockey Dad and Sainthood led the chase. Gretzky the Great moved up past Moonlite Strike going through the far turn while engaged by Hockey Dad.

Meanwhile Like the King, who broke from the inside post, rallied from the far outside. In the early stretch, Hard Rye Guy drifted up the track slightly and bumped Like the King, but Van Dyke kept his mount moving forward.

Like the King forged his way past both Gretzky the Great and Hockey Dad. The wire came in time for him to turn back a late-running Sainthood by a length.

Following Sainthood home, and also collecting Kentucky Derby points, were third- and fourth-place finishers Hockey Dad and Hard Rye Guy.

An objection was lodged due to Like the King’s stretch contact with Hard Rye Guy, but Turfway Park stewards left the winner atop the board.

“(Sainthood) was trying to make his way out when I was passing him and (Hard Rye Guy) seemed to duck out for some reason,” Van Dyke said. “I think (Sainthood’s connections) seemed to think I caused it, but it was all (Hard Rye Guy’s) infraction. So we were good.”

Like the King sports a 6: 3-2-1 record. The colt’s previous wins came at the maiden special weight level last September at Belterra Park in his second career start and then in an allowance optional claiming event in December at Turfway.

Van Dyke’s graded stakes win came in the state where he recently moved his tack. The Louisville, Ky., native previously worked in California, but has come home to Kentucky to ride in the upcoming Keeneland and Churchill meets.

Battaglia Memorial winner Hush of a Storm scratched Saturday morning from the Jeff Ruby Steaks field. Trainer Bill Morey will now point the Creative Cause colt to next Saturday's $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.