Two Phil's Seals Derby Ticket With Jeff Ruby Romp

A little less than a month after Jareth Loveberry sustained a fibula fracture in a starting gate accident at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the rider found himself in the winner’s circle March 25 at Turfway Park astride a colt bound for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

“Right now the pain’s not there,” Loveberry said after the $694,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), smiling from ear to ear with the winner’s blanket draped over his shoulders.

The Illinois- and Louisiana-based rider’s speedy recovery was aided by the fact he’s the regular jockey of the promising Two Phil's , a son of Hard Spun   who put himself on the Derby trail late last year with a romp over a wet Churchill Downs strip in the Street Sense Stakes (G3). Kicking off his sophomore campaign in New Orleans, the Larry Rivelli-trained colt finished a solid second to Instant Coffee  in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) followed by a third in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) behind yet another Brad Cox trainee in Angel of Empire .

Racing on the synthetic for the first time, the colt paid homage to his sire Hard Spun’s victory in the same Derby prep on synthetic 16 years earlier with a resounding score in the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby, giving his owners, trainer, and jockey a coveted trip to Churchill Downs on the First Saturday in May.

“The original plan probably wasn’t to run in this spot,” Rivelli said. “I was just looking for the best route to get Two Phil’s to the Kentucky Derby. With this race on the calendar, I thought it was the perfect timing and perfect spot. We’re on our way to the Derby.”

Facing a field of Turfway regulars in addition to the impressive last-out John Battaglia winner Congruent  and graded stakes winner Major Dude  from the Todd Pletcher barn, Two Phil’s was more than ready to bring his ‘A’ game Saturday, prepping for the Jeff Ruby with a five-furlong tuneup over the surface the weekend before. Positioned in mid-pack early as Funtastic Again  streaked to a :23.49 first quarter and :47.84 half-mile, Loveberry kept Two Phil’s out of trouble down the backstretch and rounding the final turn, he launched a powerful four-wide rally from the outside.

Head and head with Major Dude into the stretch, the furious winds of Florence, Ky., did nothing to slow down Two Phil’s, and he motored home a clear 5 1/4-length winner in his polytrack debut. The Patricia’s Hope and Philip Sagan-owned colt stopped the clock in a time of 1:49.03.

Major Dude, who moved with Two Phil’s with three-eighths of a mile remaining, ran on for second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Funtastic Again in third.

Two Phil’s Jeff Ruby triumph vaulted him to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 123 points. Major Dude and Funtastic Again put their names into the Derby picture, earning 40 and 30 points. Wadsworth , the fourth-place finisher, took home 20 points.

Maker's Candy , not an original Triple Crown nominee, would need to become a late nominee to earn 10 points for running fifth. 

“Last time (in the Risen Star) he had a beautiful trip but he seems to do his best running while behind horses,” Loveberry said of Two Phil's. “I think he’s getting better with each start. He ran well in the Lecomte but I thought he was even better in the Risen Star. It’s just very exciting to be partnered with a horse like this and a team that’s supported me.

“This horse is really special to us. And he’s won at Churchill Downs before. I hope it rains on Derby Day again.”

Bred by Sagan in Kentucky, Two Phil’s is the first foal out of the General Quarters  mare Mia Torri . The two-time stakes-winning mare’s youngest produce are a yearling colt by Omaha Beach   and weanling colt by McKinzie  .

Video: Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)

Botanical Takes Fourth in a Row with Bourbonette Score

Turfway rockstar Botanical  kicked clear to capture her fourth straight at the Florence oval in a gate-to-wire victory in the $299,200 Bourbonette Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Under Chris Landeros, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   strode home to a 2 1/2 length victory to finish the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:44.47 for trainer Brad Cox and owners LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms.

“I can’t really tell you exactly what made her who she is today but she seems to be getting better with every race,” assistant trainer Tessa Walden said. “I think anytime you get in a race like the Kentucky Oaks you will go there. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The filly earned 50 points towards the Kentucky Oaks (G1), while runner-up Flashy Gem  took 20.

Thirty Thou Kelvin , Miss New York , and Ag Bullet  rounded out the top five, with the latter earning five Oaks points. Thirty Thou Kelvin and Miss New York were not original Oaks nominees but will be awarded 15 and 10 points, respectively, if they are eventually nominated.

Video: Bourbonette Oaks (BT)