Somelikeithotbrown didn’t disappoint as the 3/5 favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on Saturday. Under hustling rider Tyler Gaffalione, Somelikeithotbrown broke alertly and let Five Star General take the lead out of the gate but passed that rival entering the first turn, running the first 1/4 mile in 23.61.
With Somelikeithotbrown on the lead, Five Star General was a grumpy second and Dynamic Racer tracked them in third as the 1/2 mile was clocked in 47.03.
Around the far turn, Somelikeithotbrown maintained the lead and Dynamic Racer switched to the outside to take a clear shot at the front runner. He made a good bid but never got within 2-lengths of the leader and finished second at 45/1. Moonster would also do his part to help out the exotics and closed like a freight train at 59/1 to get third. Five Star General completed the superfecta and Dabo ran fifth.
Somelikeithotbrown appeared to have veered out in the stretch; once or twice on his own and once while avoiding the whip. But Tyler Gaffalione did a great job of straightening him out and the pair went on to be clear by a couple of lengths at the wire. Gaffalione also won the Jeff Ruby in 2017 aboard Fast and Accurate.
Somelikeithotbrown completed the nine-furlong event in 1:52.05 and boasts a record of 3-2-1 from seven starts with earnings of $363,478. The colt grabbed 20 Kentucky Derby points with the victory and the connections are looking at the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April as his next start.
