Tiz the Bomb seeks more Turfway success in Jeff Ruby

Mar 30, 2022 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Saturday's $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park features a gate
load of classic hopefuls. But for potential race favorite Tiz the Bomb,
the Kentucky Derby (G1) is not the classic he might ultimately end up in.

Win or lose on Saturday, the connections of Tiz the Bomb have reportedly
expressed an interest in sending Tiz the Bomb to England to compete in the 2000
Guineas (G1) at Newmarket on April 30 and/or the Epsom Derby (G1) on the first
Saturday in June. Although an ambitious goal, the English classics might better
suit a colt who captured two grass stakes and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last season.

Tiz the Bomb fared poorly in his season debut on dirt, the Fountain of Youth
(G2), but rebounded to take the John Battaglia Memorial, the local prep for the
Jeff Ruby, by a neck over Stolen Base. The latter is trained by Mike
Maker, who's won the Jeff Ruby five times since 2010.

El Camino Real Derby winner Blackadder debuts for trainer Rodolphe
Brisset after previously being with Bob Baffert. Blackadder debuted over Golden
Gate Fields' Tapeta surface in the Feb. 12 El Camino Real Derby, winning by a
neck going 1 1/8-mile, the same distance as the Jeff Ruby. Brisset also saddles
recent allowance runner-up Great Escape.

Entering off stakes wins on the grass are Red Run, who landed the Jan.
30 Texas Turf Mile, and Dowagiac Chief, who dominated the March 5 Black
Gold S. at Fair Grounds by five lengths. Returning from an unsuccessful sojourn
to Fair Grounds for the Risen Star (G2) is Tawny Port, who won his first
two outings over Turfway's Tapeta track.

Gulfstream shippers have won nine of the past 12 editions of the Jeff Ruby,
and two look like potential contenders. Royal Spirit enters off a neck
loss in the Kitten's Joy (G3) on turf, while also-eligible Swing Shift
was a distant third in his allowance debut on the dirt.

The Jeff Ruby will award Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 100-40-20-10 to
the respective top four finishers.

The $250,000 Bourbonette Oaks, for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles,
offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four
finishers. Topping the bill is Sandstone, a 10-length winner of the Rags
to Riches S. at Churchill last fall prior to a third-place finish in the Golden
Rod (G2).

Others of note are Untapable S. winner North County, Mazarine (G3)
heroine Mrs. Barbara, Tepin S. vixen Vergara, and Ruthless S.
runner-up Champagne Poetry.

Post time for the Bourbonette Oaks is 5:43 p.m. ET, which is followed by the
Jeff Ruby at 6:23 p.m. Both races can be watched and wagered on at
TwinSpires.com.