Looking Ahead: California Burrito and Charlie's to Blame vie for 100 points in the Jeff Ruby Steaks

Mar 21, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

California Burrito fought back to beat favorite Baby Max in the Battaglia Memorial (Photo by Coady Media/Turfway Park)

The Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) kicks off the 100-point races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby championship series, boasting a record $777,000 purse—the richest in Turfway Park history. This year, twelve sophomores have entered, along with one also-eligible contender.

The Jeff Ruby has produced two Kentucky Derby winners: Lil E. Tee in 1992 and Animal Kingdom in 2011. More recently, 2022 Derby upset winner Rich Strike finished third in the Ruby, while 2023 Ruby champion Two Phil’s went on to place second in the Derby.

This year’s 3-1 morning-line favorite is Remsen S. (G2) winner Poster. However, local hero California Burrito, the 7-2 second choice, is a formidable contender. He enters off two impressive victories at Turfway, first dominating an allowance race by 7 1/4 lengths and then edging out favorite Baby Max in the 10-horse John Battaglia Memorial S. to earn Derby points. Baby Max will also return for the Ruby.

California Burrito has won three of his six starts. He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs with a commanding six-length victory. In his next start, also under the Twin Spires, he finished second in an allowance/optional claiming race to Magnitude, who later captured the Risen Star S. (G2) before being sidelined with an ankle injury.

California Burrito hopes to pick up another 100 @KentuckyDerby points in Saturday's Jeff Ruby Steaks at @TurfwayPark! 🌯🌹

⏱️ Here is his final workout from 3/15, where he covered a half-mile in 48.20 seconds. Jockey @IrvingJMoncada was in the saddle. @TomDruryRacing pic.twitter.com/0GGlPWDeT8

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 21, 2025

Trainer Thomas Drury Jr., a Louisville native, earned his first graded stakes victory with Art Collector in the 2020 Blue Grass S. (G2) on the Derby Trail.

At 15-1, Charlie’s to Blame is a longer shot with intrigue. The west coast-based colt debuted with a fourth-place finish at Del Mar before switching to turf for his next three races. He placed second in a Santa Anita turf sprint before scoring consecutive gate-to-wire victories: a maiden win over a mile at Del Mar and a stakes triumph in Gulfstream’s Kitten’s Joy.

He is a son of Blame, whose six graded stakes victories include the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Churchill Downs’ Stephen Foster S. (G1). He is trained by Peter Eurton, a southern California-based horseman with two Breeders’ Cup wins to his name.

The 13-race Jeff Ruby Steaks program features six stakes contests, including the Bourbonette Oaks, a stop on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.