Meet the Contenders: 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks

Meet the horses running in the 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta at Turfway Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well in the Jeff Ruby field.

#1 MAJOR DUDE

Pro: Pilgrim (G2) and Kitten’s Joy (G3) winner has beaten tough rivals and is the most accomplished horse in the field.

Con: He’s never run over a synthetic track.

#2 SCOOBIE QUANDO

Pro: Hasn’t missed the exacta in three starts at Turfway Park.

Con: He was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Congruent when second in the John Battaglia Memorial S.

#3 EVENT DETAIL

Pro: Broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths racing one mile at Turfway Park.

Con: Faltered in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby appearance, finishing 10th in the Rebel (G2).

#4 FUNTASTIC AGAIN

Pro: Boasts a 2-for-2 record at Turfway, wiring an allowance optional claimer and the Leonatus S. by daylight margins.

Con: He’s stepping up in class.

#5 MAKER’S CANDY

Pro: Crossed the wire first in the Gander S. at Aqueduct last month.

Con: He’s competed exclusively against New York-bred rivals and has never run on synthetic.

#6 BABY BILLY

Pro: Has already won over 1 1/8 miles, nabbing a maiden special weight on turf at Gulfstream Park.

Con: He finished eighth in his only stakes start and has never run on synthetic.

#7 BLUEBIRDS OVER

Pro: He’s 2-for-2 over Tapeta, dominating a maiden special weight at Gulfstream before nabbing Woodbine’s Grey (G3).

Con: He faltered when trying turf in his 2023 debut, running fifth in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream.

#8 CONGRUENT

Pro: Relished racing over Tapeta in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway, rallying from last place to dominate by 3 1/2 lengths.

Con: He finished behind Major Dude in a couple of turf stakes at Gulfstream during the winter.

#9 ESCAPOLOGIST

Pro: Improved when switching from dirt to turf for a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds, winning by half a length.

Con: His career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.

#10 TWO PHIL’S

Pro: Accomplished dirt campaigner has won the Street Sense (G3) and placed in the Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3).

Con: He’s never run over a synthetic track.

#11 WADSWORTH

Pro: Boasts a 2-for-2 record at Turfway after winning a maiden special weight and an allowance optional claimer with ease. He’s also shown versatility in terms of running style.

Con: He’s competing in a stakes for the first time.

#12 POINT PROVEN

Pro: Handled 1 1/8 miles when dominating a Churchill Downs maiden special weight by five lengths last fall.

Con: He’s never run on synthetic and enters off back-to-back allowance optional claiming defeats.