Photo:

Jessica Morgan / Eclipse Sportswire

The Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks has reached new heights with a record $777,000 purse, now the richest race in the history of Turfway Park.

Set for Saturday, March 22, the marquee event of the Turfway Park season will feature a special first post at 12:45 p.m. EST.

“Raising the Jeff Ruby Steaks purse to $777,000 reflects Turfway Park’s ongoing commitment to elevating our stakes program and showcasing top talent on the road to the Kentucky Derby,” said Matt Shehadi, general manager of Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. “This record-setting purse underscores the Jeff Ruby Steaks as the centerpiece of our season, continuing its legacy as a key test for Derby hopefuls.”

As a marquee stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby, the Jeff Ruby Steaks awards qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale, offering Kentucky Derby contenders a vital path toward a spot in the starting gate for the first Saturday in May. Since 1980, the Jeff Ruby Steaks has produced 77 Kentucky Derby starters, including three winners: Rich Strike (2022), Animal Kingdom (2011) and Lil E. Tee (1992).

Last year’s Jeff Ruby Steaks featured eventual Preakness Stakes (GI) winner Seize the Grey, who finished third behind Endlessly and West Saratoga, further cementing the race’s importance as a launchpad for future stars.

Jeff Ruby Steaks day includes the Bourbonette Oaks, a championship series contest on rhe Road to the Kentucky Oaks; the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3); the Latonia Stakes; the Animal Kingdom and the Rushaway.