Study Guide: 2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks

Mar 17, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

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

The $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park is on a roll as a Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier.

Held at 1 1/8 miles over Turfway’s synthetic Tapeta track, the Jeff Ruby produced 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and 2023 Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s.

A talented field has turned out for the 2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks. Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the entries:

Calling Card

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm, Manlius Stable, Built Wright Stables, et al.
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight against New York-breds.
Total Earnings: $77,600

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Graceful Rage
Color: Dark bay/brown

Although Calling Card failed to factor in his first two Road to the Kentucky Derby forays, finishing eighth in the Lecomte (G3) and seventh in the Gotham (G3), trying Tapeta for the first time offers potential for improvement.

Charlie’s to Blame

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: BG Stables, Roadrunner Racing, SAF Racing, West Coast Stables, Barbara Evenson, and Jeffrey Lambert
Breeder: Pope McLean, Marc McLean, Pope McLean Jr.
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $138,840

Sire: Blame
Dam: Silent Bond
Color: Bay

A gate-to-wire winner of the Kitten’s Joy S. on turf, Charlie’s to Blame must reckon with a couple of other talented speed horses while trying Tapeta for the first time. It could be a tricky task.

California Burrito

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Aaron Haberman and Victoria Haberman
Breeder: Westbrook Stables
Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr.
Jockey: Irving Moncada

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $222,941

Sire: Army Mule
Dam: Bluegrass Sunset
Color: Bay

California Burrito benefited from setting a slow pace when wiring the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway last month. He figures to face a faster tempo in the Jeff Ruby, which could complicate his path to the winner’s circle.

Final Gambit

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing second in a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $74,239

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Pachinko
Color: Gray/roan

Final Gambit rallied nicely to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Turfway last month, but his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Jeff Ruby field.

Flying Mohawk

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing, and Kaleta Racing
Breeder: John O’Meara
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Fair Grounds $100,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $147,000

Sire: Karakontie
Dam: Bonbons Fleur
Color: Dark bay/brown

Flying Mohawk has shown talent on turf, most notably rallying to win a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds by two lengths. But it remains to be seen if he can replicate his turf form on Tapeta.

Baby Max

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: J S Stables
Breeder: Westbrook Stables
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Jockey: Abel Cedillo

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $180,651

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Lemon Gal
Color: Bay

Baby Max nearly won the John Battaglia Memorial, but he flattened out in the final furlong to finish second by half a length against California Burrito. Perhaps wearing blinkers for the first time can help Baby Max turn the tables.

Giocoso

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Rocker O Ranch
Breeder: Breed First
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $164,381

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Nutcracker Suite
Color: Dark bay/brown

Giocoso struggled in his first start of 2025, finishing last in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. But he showed talent on dirt and turf last year, so perhaps trying Tapeta in his second start of the year can trigger a rebound.

Innovator

Start(s): 9
Wins: 1
Place: 4
Show: 1

Owner: BC Stables
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Nik Juarez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $228,805

Sire: Authentic
Dam: Inspired
Color: Dark bay/brown

Innovator tired after chasing a hot pace in the Rebel (G2), finishing 12th. But two starts back he carved out the pace in the Lecomte (G3) on his way to finishing third by three-quarters of a length. This speedy son of Kentucky Derby winner Authentic has shown flashes of serious talent and shouldn’t be underestimated in his Tapeta debut.

Poster

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (94) when finishing third in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $261,628

Sire: Munnings
Dam: Pin Up
Color: Chestnut

Last year’s Remsen (G2) winner suffered his first defeat when finishing third in the Sam F. Davis S. to kick off 2025. But that wasn’t a bad effort—after missing some training due to winter weather, Poster rallied to finish third against Louisiana Derby (G2) favorite John Hancock and next-out Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty. Poster has trained extensively over the Turfway Tapeta and can vie for victory in his second start of the season.

Maximum Promise

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Back Racing and Run for LaRoses
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $66,891

Sire: Maximum Security
Dam: Paixao
Color: Bay

Maximum Promise was compromised by a troubled start and a slow pace when rallying to finish third in the John Battaglia Memorial. A faster pace in the Jeff Ruby may allow Maximum Promise to turn the tables on California Burrito and Baby Max.

Curvino

Start(s): 9
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 4

Owner: Roncelli Family Trust, Thomas Kagele, and Michael Roney
Breeder: Machmer Hall
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $113,880

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Queenie’s Pride
Color: Chestnut

Curvino has shown ability on both dirt and turf, which bodes well for his chances of handling Tapeta. But his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Jeff Ruby field.

He’s Not Joking

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Gianni Di Scola
Breeder: James Wasserson
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Jockey: Rafael Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Grey (G3) at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $121,241

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Collegeville Girl
Color: Bay

He’s Not Joking faltered in his first two Road to the Kentucky Derby forays, finishing eighth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and fifth in the Holy Bull (G3). But those took place on dirt. He’s Not Joking thrived on Tapeta at Woodbine last year, most notably winning the Grey (G3), and returning to Tapeta for the Jeff Ruby may trigger a rebound.

AE – Candytown

Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (82) when finishing second in a Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $21,400

Sire: Speightstown
Dam: Candymakesmesmile
Color: Chestnut

After finishing second in each of his first two starts, also-eligible entrant Candytown will need a scratch in order to compete in the Jeff Ruby. The fact he’s run well on dirt and turf suggests he’ll handle Tapeta if given the opportunity.