Jeff Ruby Tops Turfway's Winter-Spring Stakes Schedule
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Photo: Coady Media/Christine Hayden
Final Gambit wins the 2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park
Twenty stakes races worth a total of nearly $4 million will highlight Turfway Park's winter/spring meet, anchored by the 55th running of the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 21.
The Jeff Ruby is a Championship Series race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Jan. 1-March 28 winter/spring meet follows the Holiday Meet from Dec. 3-27. The Holiday Meet features seven stakes led by Synthetic Championships Night Dec. 13, offering $1 million across four stakes races. All stakes purses at both meets include contributions from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Combined, the Holiday and winter/spring meets will offer $5.4 million in stakes purses.
Jeff Ruby Steaks day March 21 will showcase six stakes, including the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) and the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, a Championship Series race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The supporting stakes on the card include the $250,000 Latonia, the $250,000 Animal Kingdom, and $250,000 Rushaway.
Other notable events during the winter/spring meet include the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Feb. 21—a Prep Season race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy, one night earlier, on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Daily first post times, aside from Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, will be 5:55 p.m. ET. Jeff Ruby Steaks Day will get started at 12:45 p.m.
The complete winter/spring meet stakes schedule is below:
|
Date |
Race |
Purse |
Age |
Distance |
Grade |
|
Jan. 1 |
The Gowell Stakes |
$125,000 |
3yo (f) |
6 F |
BT |
|
Jan. 3 |
The Turfway Prevue |
$125,000 |
3yo |
6 ½ F |
BT |
|
Jan. 10 |
The Likely Exchange |
$125,000 |
4yo and up (F&M) |
1 M |
BT |
|
Jan. 17 |
The Leonatus Stakes |
$125,000 |
3yo |
1 M |
BT |
|
Jan. 24 |
The Wishing Well |
$125,000 |
4yo and up (F&M) |
6 ½ F |
BT |
|
Jan. 31 |
The Forego |
$125,000 |
4yo and up |
6 ½ F |
BT |
|
Feb. 7 |
The Valdale |
$125,000 |
3yo (f) |
6 ½ F |
BT |
|
Feb. 14 |
The Dust Commander |
$125,000 |
4yo and up |
1 1/16 M |
BT |
|
Feb. 20 |
The Cincinnati Trophy |
$175,000 |
3yo (f) |
1 M |
BT |
|
Feb. 21 |
The John Battaglia Memorial |
$175,000 |
3yo |
1 1/16 M |
Listed |
|
Feb. 28 |
The Wintergreen |
$125,000 |
4yo and up (F&M) |
1 M |
BT |
|
March 7 |
The Big Daddy |
$125,000 |
4yo and up |
6 F |
BT |
|
March 14 |
The Queen |
$125,000 |
4yo and up (F&M) |
6 F |
BT |
|
March 21 |
The Jeff Ruby Steaks |
$777,000 |
3yo |
1 1/8 M |
Grade III |
|
March 21 |
The Bourbonette Oaks |
$300,000 |
3yo (f) |
1 1/16 M |
Listed |
|
March 21 |
The TwinSpires Ky Cup Classic |
$300,000 |
4yo and up |
1 1/8 M |
Grade III |
|
March 21 |
The Animal Kingdom |
$250,000 |
3yo |
6 F |
BT |
|
March 21 |
The Latonia Stakes |
$250,000 |
4yo and up (F&M) |
1 1/16 M |
Listed |
|
March 21 |
The Rushaway |
$250,000 |
3yo |
1 1/16 M |
BT |
|
March 28 |
The Serena’s Song |
$125,000 |
3yo (f) |
6 F |
BT |