Saturday, March 23 was a big day for the stallion OSCAR PERFORMANCE (Kitten’s Joy) and the owners who raced that Grade 1 turf star, Amerman Racing. Oscar Performance’s son ENDLESSLY was impressive in his late burst to capture the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Tapeta at Turfway Park, picking up 100 Kentucky Derby points.
Unfortunately, fans of the bay colt, trained by Mike McCarthy, might not get to see the Kentucky-bred in the Derby as McCarthy said they may race the colt in the American Turf (G2) on Derby day.
McCarthy has often said Endlessly does not have very good workouts on the dirt, lacking the explosive kick he shows on the grass and all-weather courses.
Coming off a big win in the $101,000 El Camino Real Derby in his three-year-old debut at Golden Gate Fields on Tapeta, Endlessly was odds-on for the 1 1/8 mile Jeff Ruby. Umberto Rispoli was getting his second ride on the colt, who is out of the mare Dream Fuhrever, a daughter of great Canadian-bred LANGFUHR.
The fleet-footed Lucky Jeremy set the early tone Saturday, leading the field into the first turn while completing a quarter-mile in 23.33 seconds. Endlessly, sporting the no. 10 saddle towel, was able to find a tracking position under Rispoli while rating seventh, about five lengths off the lead.
Up the backside, Lucky Jeremy continued to set the fractions with Northern Flame engaging to his outside along with a three-wide move from West Saratoga.
As the field entered the far turn, the three-plied battle continued with Noted engaging in fourth up the rail. Rispoli continued to bide his time while remaining in the clear, still positioned in seventh.
Midway through the turn, Endlessly’s stride began to lengthen as he quickly passed tiring rivals. At the eighth pole, Endlessly engulfed the frontrunners and stormed home under a hand ride by Rispoli.
While the race was all but over in mid-stretch, there was a battle for second between West Saratoga and an oncoming Seize the Grey to his outside along with late surges from Woodcourt, Triple Espresso and the pace-setting Lucky Jeremy at the rail. At the wire, West Saratoga was able to get his nose down ahead of Seize the Grey with Triple Espresso checking in fourth over Lucky Jeremy. The time was 1:50.15.
West Saratoga (Exaggerator), who already banked 17 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, improved his total to 67. Seize the Grey (Arrogate), Triple Espresso and Lucky Jeremy earned 25, 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Pedigree Notes
Endlessly was one of four stakes winners on Saturday for Oscar Performance, who won, among other races, the 2018 Woodbine Mile (G1). His son Trikari won the Rushaway Stakes for the Amermans, also on the Turfway card. His three-year-olds are from just his second crop of foals. He stands for a fee of $25,000.
DREAM FUHREVER, a foal of 2010 bred by the Amermans, never raced. Of her first five foals to race, one was a winner, Dream Trip.
Second dam Society Dream (Fr) was a stakes winner and stakes placed on turf and she is by Akarad.
ENDLESSLY wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks and is headed to the 150th #KyDerby! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/P9osePglgY
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) March 23, 2024
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