MAKER SEARCHES FOR SIXTH JEFF RUBY STEAKS VICTORY
Florence, Ky., (March 12, 2020) – Trainer Mike Maker, annually one of the top conditioners at Turfway Park, entered a trio of horses in Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in search of his sixth victory in the race and, more importantly, will attempt to take one step closer to “Smiley” Adams’ record of seven training victories in the race.
“With the new purse structure at Turfway, it is very exciting for the future of racing in Northern Kentucky,” Maker said.
Maker’s trio of entrants into this year’s race includes 3-1 morning line favorite Field Pass for owners Three Diamonds Farm. Field Pass, a gray 3-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, sneaked through in the final strides to win the Dania Beach after being bottled up toward the rail for most of the one-mile journey.
One of the nation’s top riders, Irad Ortiz Jr., will have the call on Field Pass from post 12. Field Pass has been based at Palm Meadows in South Florida but shipped to Turfway in early March for a half-mile work over the Polytrack in :50.80.
Maker, a native of Michigan, is a household name for the Turfway Park faithful. He won last year’s race with Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable’s Somelikeithotbrown. His previous winners were Fast and Accurate (2017), Oscar Nominated (2016), Dean’s Kitten (2010) and With a City (2006).
His other entrants in this year’s race: Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable’s maiden winner Fancy Liquor and recent $32,000 claim Victory Boulevard.
The field for the Jeff Ruby Steaks:
|
Post
|
Horse
|
Trainer
|
Rider
|
Morning Line
|
|
1
|
Dack Janiels
|
Jack Sisterson
|
Rafael Bejarano
|
20-1
|
|
2
|
Toma Todo
|
Steven Asmussen
|
Alan Garcia
|
20-1
|
|
3
|
Fancy Liquor
|
Michael Maker
|
Florent Geroux
|
8-1
|
|
4
|
Unthrottled
|
Dallas Stewart
|
Corey Lanerie
|
30-1
|
|
5
|
Myamanoi
|
Danny Gargan
|
Kendrick Carmouche
|
4-1
|
|
6
|
Halo Again
|
Steven Asmussen
|
Rafael Hernandez
|
6-1
|
|
7
|
Victory Boulevard
|
Michael Maker
|
Gerardo Corrales
|
30-1
|
|
8
|
Finnick the Fierce
|
Rey Hernandez
|
Sonny Leon
|
6-1
|
|
9
|
Austrian
|
Jose Fernandez
|
Abel Lezcano
|
50-1
|
|
10
|
The Stiff
|
Michael McCarthy
|
Geovanni Franco
|
12-1
|
|
11
|
Invader
|
Wesley Ward
|
Albin Jimenez
|
7-2
|
|
12
|
Field Pass
|
Michael Maker
|
Irad Ortiz Jr.
|
3-1
|
LAURA’S LIGHT MADE 9-5 FAVORITE IN BOURBONETTE OAKS
Gary Barber’s three-time winner Laura’s Light was installed the 9-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $150,000 Maxim Crane Works Bourbonette Oaks (listed).
Run at one mile, the Bourbonette Oaks offers points to the top four finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 20-8-4-2 scale.
Laura’s Light, a speedy daughter of Constitution, enters the Bourbonette Oaks following a three-quarters of a length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong Sweetest Life (G3) at Santa Anita. Trained by Peter Miller, Laura’s Light has previous experience over a synthetic surface, breaking her maiden by 2 1/2 lengths at Golden Gate Fields under previous trainer Jamey Thomas.
Turfway’s leading rider Albin Jiminez will be in the irons in the Bourbonette Oaks from post 9.
The field for the Bourbonette Oaks:
|
Post
|
Horse
|
Trainer
|
Rider
|
Morning Line
|
|
1
|
Mama’s Grey Ghost
|
Anthony Farrior
|
J. D. Acosta
|
20-1
|
|
2
|
Swanage
|
Steve Asmussen
|
Rafael Hernandez
|
12-1
|
|
3
|
Queen of God
|
Michael Maker
|
Irad Ortiz Jr.
|
9-2
|
|
4
|
Oxum Power
|
Paulo Lobo
|
Joseph Ramos
|
8-1
|
|
5
|
Pass the Plate
|
Paul McGee
|
Florent Geroux
|
4-1
|
|
6
|
Fashion Code
|
Steve Asmussen
|
Alan Garcia
|
20-1
|
|
7
|
Impeccable Style
|
Kenneth McPeek
|
Corey Lanerie
|
4-1
|
|
8
|
Las Ramblas
|
Kim Hammond
|
Alex Achard
|
50-1
|
|
9
|
Laura’s Light
|
Peter Miller
|
Albin Jiminez
|
9-5
|
|
10
|
Kay Bee Gee
|
Ron Kahles
|
John McKee
|
20-1
|
|
11
|
Baby Karats
|
John Ennis
|
Julie Burke
|
50-1
|
|
12
|
Secretly Wicked
|
Jack Hancock
|
Ajhari Williams
|
50-1
|
AE 13 A Wicked Wildcat Aveory Faircloth Sonny Leon 50-1
The first of 12 races on Saturday’s card runs at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Bourbonette Oaks at 5:55 p.m. is the 10th race, followed by the Jeff Ruby Steaks at 6:42 p.m.
Entries for all 12 of Saturday’s races are posted on Equibase.
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