Weekend Winners Club

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Saturday, March 14, 2020.  Turfway Park has the famous Jeff Ruby Steaks G3 today, which is an excellent pun and proof that Jeff Ruby is still a cool dude. I recall him visiting our table at his restaurant a decade or so ago and telling us how he recently kicked out OJ Simpson because other customers were uncomfortable dining near a murderer.  

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If you find yourself in Louisville for whatever reason, make sure you visit Jeff Ruby Steakhouse up near the river.  I don’t do free advertising very often, but it’s well worth it. Excellent food, great atmosphere, no murderers allowed. I understand he has some restaurants in Cincinnati also and I’m sure they’re great.

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Back to the task at hand: The Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes G3.  If I could sum it up with 2 words, Michael Maker, who has 3 of 12 in the race.  It could be 2^nd ML choice Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), who may legitimately not like dirt but could like Polytrack. But that’s not the one I like the most.

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Also coached by Maker is Fancy Liquor, fresh off his 8f 1^st race maiden win at 8f on turf.  Not a bad choice, and there’s no telling what the son of Lookin at Lucky could do in his second start, on poly this time.  But that’s not the one I like the most.

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Victory Boulevard, by Dialed In, listed at 30-1 ML as the co-2^nd longest shot in the field, is the one I like the most.  Last out was his first start under Maker.  It was a 6f sprint on dirt he won by 3 lengths after coming from 10 lengths back at first call.  He shows 2^nd in LP in the Grid but my guess is another race or 2 he will be top LP in just about any field.  I like him to win this race straight up, and I know 30-1 is just a pipe dream. I’m guessing he goes off at 15-1.  But don’t be dissuaded, bet on him at anything over 4-1.

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Speaking of LP, the top in that category belongs to Myamonoi, who has looked good in his 3 turf starts, the last being 4^th in a stakes race. He’s an S0 straight up closer and will be in the picture as long as there’s at least an honest pace, which is still a question mark.

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Steve Asmussen’s Halo Again, who won his only poly race so far, the $225k Coronation Futurity at Woodbine, is 3^rd in LP and has a great tactical speed running style.  This one will finish in the money barring the unforeseen. 8-1 odds are great already but anything over 4-1 is solid.

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Morning line favorite Invader of course is legit to win or hit the board, but that will likely be dependent on whether he has any pressure on for the lead.  His last 2 races, nobody challenged for the lead and he won easily.  I doubt they’ll let him do whatever he wants on the lead this time.

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2 others worth mentioning.  Dack Janiel’s, who besides having a cool name, may have turned the corner last time with his maiden win.  Maybe more of a hunch but I think he’ll run big.  The Stiff at 12-1 ML with good LP and numbers across the board, also could hit the board if with a good trip.

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The long shot special for this race and the entire day is Victory Boulevard, who won’t go off anywhere near 30-1 but hopefully maintain double digits.  The Stiff is also a good one to bet.

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There are other great long shot specials on the card.  For example, the last race, a MSW 3, has both Jilt and Judge Johnny at 20-1, and both are legit to hit the board or win. 

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