Jeff Ruby Steaks

Road to the Kentucky Derby > Jeff Ruby Steaks

Jeff Ruby Race Facts

  • Location: Turfway Park, Florence, KY
  • Inaugural Race: 1972
  • Current Distance: 1 1/8 miles
  • Track Type: Left-Handed PolyTrack
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 3
  • 2023 Purse: $700,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, March 25th

Formerly known as the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, the Jeff Ruby Steaks has seen several great horses come through it’s doors over time. When still known as the Spiral Stakes, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom won the prep before he enter the Kentucky Derby starting gates.

Run on a synthetic surface and also the winter circuit for Kentucky Thoroughbred racing, Turfway has always held some questions on relevancy. In the history of the Spiral and previous prep when Latonia Racetrack was running, several strong contenders in the last 15 years has kept the race worth a set of points towards a Kentucky Derby start.

Jeff Ruby Steaks Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
7Tiz the BombBrian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek$5.20 / $3.20 / $3.00
5Tawny PortManuel Franco / Brad H. Cox$4.60 / $4.00
4Rich StrikeSonny Leon / Eric R. Reed$7.40
9Dowagiac ChiefJames Graham / Thomas M. Amoss
1Royal SpiritChris Landeros / Todd A. Pletcher
3Cabo SpiritJoe Bravo / George Papaprodromou
2Stolen BaseGerardo Corrales / Michael J. Maker
8Red RunJoseph Talamo / Steven M. Asmussen
11ConstitutionlawyerJalon L. Samuel / Raymond Handal
13Swing ShiftKazushi Kimura / Todd A. Pletcher
6Great EscapeAdam Beschizza / Rodolphe Brisset
10OptigogoRafael Bejarano / Eoin G. Harty

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $2 Exacta (7-5): $21.60
  • $0.50 Trifecta (7-5-4): $50.00
  • $0.10 Superfecta (7-5-4-9): $143.61

Watch the 2022 Jeff Ruby Steaks

History of the Jeff Ruby Steaks

The Jeff Ruby Steaks is the most important Derby prep race held on an artificial track. First held in 1972, the Turfway Park feature is always a good contest. The race has been a part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series since it began in 2013. However, for the 2018 edition it became less valuable in that series, with the points available being downgraded from 50-20-10-5 for the first four home to 20-8-4-2. In 2021, the points awarded to the finishers increased dramatically to the 100-40-20-10 scale, giving the winner an incredible boost towards qualifying for Derby.

Though it was not an important Classic guide in its early years, the Jeff Ruby Steaks became very important for a four-year stretch in the early 1990s, when three of its victors – Summer Squall, Lil E. Tee, and Prairie Bayou – would go on to win Classics. Other notable winners were Broad Brush, Serena’s Song, Stephen Got Even, and Flower Alley.

Since Turfway Park was changed to an artificial track in 2006, the race has become less important as a Derby guide, though its winners include 2007 Derby third-place finisher Hard Spun and 2011 winner Animal Kingdom. None of the winners since Animal Kingdom have made a great impact on Derby day.

Jeff Ruby Steaks Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2022Tiz the BombBrian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:48.60
2021Like the KingDrayden Van Dyke / Wesley A. Ward​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.22
2020Field PassIrad Ortiz Jr. / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.34
2019SomelikeithotbrownTyler Gaffalione / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:52.05
2018Blended CitizenKyle Frey / Doug F. O'Neill​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.15
2017Fast and AccurateTyler Gaffalione / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.96
2016Oscar NominatedBrian Hernandez Jr. / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.12
2015Dubai SkyJose Lezcano / William I. Mott​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.26
2014We Miss ArtieJohn R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.98
2013Black OnyxJoe Bravo / Kelly J. Breen​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.98
2012Went the Day WellJohn R. Velazquez / H. Graham Motion​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.33
2011Animal KingdomAlan Garcia / H. Graham Motion​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:52.32
2010Dean's KittenCornelio Velasquez / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.59
2009Hold Me BackKent J. Desormeaux / William I. Mott​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.63
2008AdrianoEdgar S. Prado / H. Graham Motion​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.20
2007Hard SpunMario G. Pino / J. Larry Jones​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.41
2006With A CityBrice Blanc / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.11
2005Flower AlleyJorge F. Chavez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.33
2004Sinister GPaul R. Toscano / John T. Toscano Jr.​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.71
2003New York HeroNorberto Arroyo Jr. / Jennifer Pedersen​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.68
2002Perfect DriftEddie Delahoussaye / Murray W. Johnson​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:48.83
2001Balto StarMark Guidry / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:47.23
2000GlobalizeFrancisco C. Torres / Jerry Hollendorfer​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.16
1999Stephen Got EvenShane Sellers / Nicholas P. Zito​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.03
1998Event of the YearRussell Baze / Jerry Hollendorfer​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:47.00
1997ConcertoCarlos H. Marquez Jr. / John J. Tammaro III​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:48.20
1996RoarMike E. Smith / Claude R. McGaughey III​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.60
1995Serena's SongCorey Nakatani / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.60
1994Polar ExpeditionCurt C. Bourque / Hugh H. Robertson​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.00
1993Prairie BayouChris McCarron / Thomas K. Bohannan​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.80
1992Lil E. TeePat Day / Lynn S. Whiting​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:53.40
1991HanselJerry D. Bailey / Frank L. Brothers​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:46.60
1990Summer SquallPat Day / Neil J. Howard​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.40
1989Western PlayboyPat Day / Harvey L. Vanier​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.00
1988KingpostEugene J. Sipus Jr. / Dianne Carpenter​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.80
1987J. T.'s PetPat Day / Lynn S. Whiting​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1986Broad BrushVincent Bracciale Jr. / Richard W. Small​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1985Banner BobK. Keith Allen / Jerome J. Sarner Jr.​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.00
1984At the ThresholdPat Day / Lynn S. Whiting​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1983MarfaJorge Velasquez / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1982Good n' DustyMichael Moran / Jasper Adams​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.60
1981Mythical RulerKeith Wirth / Fred V. Wirth1 mile / 1:38.00
1980 (Division 1)Major RunMark S. Sellers / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:36.60
1980 (Division 2)Spruce NeedlesJulio C. Espinoza / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:37.20
1979Lot o' GoldDon Brumfield / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:37.60
1978 (Division 1)Five Star GeneralJulio C. Espinoza / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:38.80
1978 (Division 2)Raymond EarlJulio C. Espinoza / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:37.80
1977 (Division 1)Smiley's DreamW. Destefano / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:39.40
1977 (Division 2)Bob's DustyJulio C. Espinoza / William E. Adams1 mile / 1:38.80
1976Inca RocaWilliam Nemeti / Albert T. Skinner1 mile / 1:37.40
1975 (Division 1)Naughty JakeGerman Vasquez / Jake Bachelor1 mile / 1:40.00
1975 (Division 2)Ambassador's ImageEddie Snell / Donald L. Ball1 mile / 1:38.40
1974 (Division 1)King of RomeKeith Wirth / Fred V. Wirth1 mile / 1:45.40
1974 (Division 2)AgloriteJohn Beech Jr. / Rose Bramble1 mile / 1:44.60
1973 (Division 1)Jacks ChevronBilly Phelps / Carl Sitgraves1 mile / 1:41.00
1973 (Division 2)Bootlegger's PetMickey Solomone / Charles C. Patrick1 mile / 1:42.00
1972Big DotJim Murchison / James Eckrosh1 mile / 1:38.80