Eunomia Leads Joseph Trio in Ruffian Stakes

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has strength in numbers in the $200,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) May 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack, unleashing a trio of contenders led by Eunomia  in the seven-horse mile race. 

The 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law   was last seen finishing second by a neck to the Brad Cox-trained Alpine Princess  in the April 17 Doubledogdare Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. Before that, she won a division of the March 14 Sandy Bottom Stakes at Colonial Downs, her only race run at a mile this season. Her first start this year came in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3), where she was third behind stablemate and next-out Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) winner Claret Beret .

Following a fast win last fall at Keeneland, Eunomia was privately purchased and transferred to Joseph from prior trainer Vicki Oliver. Now owned by St. Elias Stable, WSS Racing, Turf Express Racing, and Stefania Farms, she has hit the board in all four starts since they acquired her, but is still looking for her first graded stakes win. 

Mark Cornett of Turf Express Racing found the filly and saw potential in her as a dirt horse. He and Joseph mapped out a plan to pursue the Doubledogdare this spring at Keeneland and the Spinster Stakes (G1) there this fall.

"Hopefully, we can get a graded stakes win on her résumé here. We feel she's a filly that will continue to improve," Joseph said.

Joseph's second entry, Dazzling Move , has yet to hit the board in her first two starts this year. The 5-year-old Not This Time   mare gets the blinkers off and a bit of class relief, having run in a packed Jan. 24 Inside Information Stakes (G2) field and in grade 1 company in the April 11 Apple Blossom. Owned by Miller Racing, she is looking for her first win since Feb. 15, 2025, when she scored in the Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

"I thought her Inside Information going into the Apple Blossom was decent, and the one-turn mile is her best distance overall, so that's the reason for coming here," Joseph said.

Ultimate Authority  has also made four starts since joining Joseph's stable from the Tim Yakteen barn, and this marks her second graded stakes appearance for her current connections. Seeking improvement, Joseph adds blinkers to her equipment. Also owned by Miller Racing, she has not found her way to the winner's circle since Jan. 19 of last year, when she won an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park. 

"She's never gone the one-turn mile, and I think she's going to like it," the trainer said. "We put some blinkers on her and worked her from the gate with them and then worked her back in them last week with a pretty good older horse, and I like what I see with the blinkers."

The Joseph trio will face a Chad Summers trainee, the stakes-winning, grade 1-placed Dry Powder , who comes into the Ruffian off short rest. Last time out, she traveled to Churchill Downs to run in the May 1 La Troienne Stakes (G1), where she finished ninth of 10 runners.

The daughter of Gun Runner   began this year third in the Feb. 14 Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park, and followed that up by dropping back into allowance optional claiming company March 12, getting in the win column at Gulfstream Park in runaway fashion. 

Class-rising contenders Cassiar , Inefficiency , and Irish Maxima  complete the field.