Meet the Contenders: 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks
Fulleffort wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
March 18th, 2026
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks G3) 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 the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
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Turf Star wins at Kentucky Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#1 Turf Star ***
Trainer: Graham Motion
Pro: Grade 2-placed last year and goes second off layoff with blinkers added.
Con: No match for Stark Contrast, the last time they faced each other.
Fulleffort wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
#2 Fulleffort *****
Trainer: Brad Cox
Pro: Gets more ground to work with after falling a jump short in the John Battaglia Memorial.
Con: Pathway is more challenging if the track winds up being speed-friendly.
STREET BEAST and FULLEFFORT will get a rematch in tomorrow's John Battaglia Memorial S. at @TurfwayPark! 🥊
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 20, 2026
They finished 1-2 in last month's Leonatus S. 🏇 pic.twitter.com/OHhiDEGUHT
Baytown Dreamer wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#3 Baytown Dreamer *
Trainer: Paul McEntee
Pro: Snuck into John Battaglia Memorial superfecta at 112-1.
Con: Well-exposed entrants' only win was on turf.
Two Out hero wins the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine. (Photo by Micheal Burns Photo)
#4 Two Out Hero ***
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Pro: Lost all chance, stumbling at the start of John Battaglia Memorial; can fare better.
Con: Runs first time without Rafael Hernandez in the saddle.
Black Hornet wins the Black Gold at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#5 Black Hornet *****
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Pro: Has really stepped up since getting off dirt; nice win in Black Gold S.
Con: Whether he likes synthetic as much as grass remains to be seen.
BLACK HORNET saved ground before coming off the rail and edging away from TOUCH OF FIRE in the Black Gold S. at @fairgroundsnola! 💪@decky_cann was aboard for trainer @brenpwalsh.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 28, 2026
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/0ruM2A6yH4
Medici wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#6 Medici ***
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Pro: Ran well versus Stark Contrast last season; just missed in stakes debut.
Con: Nine furlongs might be a stretch for him.
TwinSpires
#7 Maximus Prime *
Trainer: Anthony Mitchell
Pro: Outran expectations when closing third in the John Battaglia Memorial.
Con: Hard to like an eight-start maiden for all the marbles.
Chaos Agent wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#8 Chaos Agent **
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Pro: Sprung 11-1 upset on debut and earned a decent Brisnet Speed rating.
Con: Jumping into graded company might be too fast, too soon.
Brave Force wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#9 Brave Force *
Trainer: Jack Sisterson
Pro: Late developer finally earned a diploma over this strip.
Con: Tough spot in which to face winners for the first time.
Argos (nearer camera) holds off favored Wild Desert in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photo)
#10 Argos ***
Trainer: Brad Cox
Pro: Adds blinkers and possibly more fit second off the bench.
Con: Has yet to run back to early G1-winning form.
Stark Contrast captures the Zuma Beach (G3) (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#11 Stark Contrast *****
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Pro: Hard to knock class and grass form, which might transfer to this surface.
Con: Must avoid a wide trip from this post.
Stop The Car wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#12 Stop the Car **
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Pro: Ran below expectations in stakes debut; perhaps capable of better.
Con: Wide draw and inexperience over Tapeta serious knocks.
Brisnet Speeds for 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby winners
| Horse | Stakes Race | Track | Brisnet Speed |
|---|
Commandment | Fountain of Youth | Gulfstream Park | 103 |
Incredibolt | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | 100 |
Nearly | Holy Bull | Gulfstream Park | 99 |
Paladin | Risen Star | Fair Grounds | 97 |
Renegade | Sam F. Davis | Tmapa Bay Downs | 97 |
Potente | San Felipe | Santa Anita | 97 |
Talk to Me Jimmy | Withers | Aqueduct | 96 |
Iron Honor | Gotham | Aqueduct | 96 |
Pavlovian | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park | 95 |
Class President | Rebel | Oaklawn Park | 95 |
The Puma | Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | 93 |
Incredibolt | Street Sense | Churchill Downs | 93 |
Silent Tactic | Southwest | Oaklawn Park | 92 |
Golden Tempo | Lecomte | Fair Grounds | 88 |
Strategic Risk | Smarty Jones | Oaklawn Park | 86 |
