Final Gambit stamps Derby ticket in Jeff Ruby Steaks; Bless the Broken scores in Bourbonette Oaks

Mar 22, 2025 Kevin Kerstein/Kentucky Racing Communications

Final Gambit goes last to first in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (Photo by Coady Media)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, March 22, 2025) – Juddmonte’s Final Gambit stamped himself in the starting gate for the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with an authoritative 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s 54th running of the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III), the richest race in the history of Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Turfway Park’s leading rider Luan Machado, Final Gambit completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.10 while earning 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.

Final Gambit, a gray son of Not This Time, was last into the first turn of the Jeff Ruby Steaks with Charlie’s to Blame setting a swift opening quarter-mile of :22.97. Up the backstretch, Final Gambit remained 12th and last through a half-mile in :47.91.

As the field entered the far turn, Final Gambit started to range in contention while Charlie’s to Blame underwent pressure to his outside by California Burrito and Innovator. Machado kept Final Gambit positioned in the clear around the turn while going seven wide around the pacesetters. At the eighth pole, California Burrito took the lead but Final Gambit quickly swept past and kicked clear to an open-length victory.

Final Gambit puts himself on the @kentuckyderby leaderboard after a big performance in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at @turfwaypark at 15/1! 🌹@luanmachado85 had the mount for trainer @bradcoxracing and owner @JuddmonteFarms!

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/WkhtdxokRR

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 22, 2025

Flying Mohawk, who was 11th early, closed late to finish second. He was followed by Maximum Promise, Poster, Giocoso, Curvino, California Burrito, Innovator, Charlie’s to Blame, Baby Max, He’s Not Joking and Calling Card.

“I knew keeping (Final Gambit) in the clear around the turn would probably be best but I was worried with how wide the horses on the front end were going,” Machado said. “Sometimes when he’s between horses he doesn’t try as hard as when he’s in the clear. He really closed fast down the lane and was impressive late.”

Final Gambit returned $32.14, $12.78 and $8.40 for the second win of his young career.

The Juddmonte homebred is by Not This Time out of the Tapit mare Pachinko. Final Gambit broke his maiden on Feb. 15 at Turfway Park.

“He was visually impressive when he broke his maiden here,” Cox’s local assistant Tessa Walden said. “It gave us confidence he’d come with a run, especially with how he handled the surface this winter.”

The top five finishers of the Jeff Ruby Steaks earned qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale toward the Kentucky Derby.

“When you’re from Louisville, there’s only one race you’re aiming for and that’s the Derby,” trainer Whit Beckman said of Flying Mohawk.

Bourbonette Oaks

Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables’ Bless the Broken secured 50 qualifying points and a likely spot in the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) by winning Saturday’s 43rd running of the $280,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Will Walden, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez rode Bless the Broken to victory while completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.65.

Bless the Broken gets the job done in the Bourbonette Oaks at @turfwaypark at 6/1 under @ljlmvel for trainer @wwaldenracing! 🤩

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SnvUt1Y6qT

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 22, 2025

The speedy White Rocks set the early fractions in the Bourbonette Oaks with Admit applying slight pressure to her inside going to the first turn. Following a quarter-mile in :24.24, White Rocks drew a length clear of Admit and completed a half-mile in :49.02. Meanwhile, Velazquez tipped Bless the Broken to the three path and, around the far turn, drew within a length of White Rocks. At the top of the lane, Bless the Broken struck the front and kicked 2 3/4 lengths clear of As Catch Can, who closed late to finish second.

Admit, who had a troubled trip down the lane, finished third. She was followed by Bracelet, White Rocks, Zealous Moon, Golden Sunshine, Somethinabouther, Getting After It, Resolve and Just Ruthless.

“We had her here at Turfway over the summer and saw how well she worked over this track,” Walden said. “So we had that in the back of our minds when prepping for this race that we knew she would handle the racetrack. It’s great to be in the Kentucky Oaks. Rain or shine, we will be there.”

Bless the Broken returned $15.18, $7.94 and $5.36.

“Once she was able to get into the clear she really came with a big run,” Velazquez said. “She handled the surface very well today and was impressive.”

The top five finishers of the Bourbonette Oaks earned 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points toward a spot in the starting gate for the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.