LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stonestreet Stables’ Ruthin (GB) took the lead out of the gate and then held off Derrynane by a diminishing neck to win the third running of the $200,000 TVG Limestone (L) for 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by John Velazquez, Ruthin completed the 51⁄2 furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:03.33.
Ruthin broke on top and led the field of eight through unopposed fractions of :22.59 and :45.83 while Derrynane raced near the rear of the pack. In the stretch, Ruthin maintained a clear advantage in the middle of the course and had enough left to hold off Derrynane.
A 3-year-old daughter of Ribchester (IRE) out of the Selkirk mare Selinka, Ruthin won at first asking over the Keeneland turf last April and then finished seventh in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June.
The TVG Limestone was her first start in 10 months. The victory was worth $89,513 and increased her earnings to $111,233.
Ruthin returned $18.20, $6.80 and $3.60. Derrynane, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $3.60 and $2.60 and finished three-quarters of a length ahead of favored Her World (IRE), who paid $2.40 to show under Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Lost My Sock finished another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Unbridled Mary, Gun Boat, Sin City Gal and Thunder Love (GB).
Quotes from the $200,000 TVG Limestone (L)
John Velazquez (winning rider of Ruthin [GB])
“I didn’t think she was going to be that fast. She was fast out of (the gate) – really, really quick. She jumped so hard she sat me back. I haven’t had a horse do that from the gate. After that I just tried to hustle her along to the wire.”
On whether she dug in when challenged near the finish
“She did, trust me. The other horse (Derrynane) got to her on the outside, and then on the inside (Her World-IRE). I was hoping the wire was there.”
Wesley Ward (winning trainer)
On whether he was concerned about coming into the race off the long layoff
“A little bit. But she’s been training great. She’s been with Ian Brennan at (owner) Stonestreet (Stables’ training center in Ocala), and then we sent her back there again, and he sent her back to me ready to go. I haven’t really done too much with her. Ian did a great job. We just had one easy breeze with her at Turfway last week and here we are, standing in the Winner’s Circle. It’s fantastic.”
On whether a return to Royal Ascot is the plan
“Well, I’m having dinner with Barbara (Banke, owner of Stonestreet) tonight, so we’ll see what she says. (Ruthin) has always been a very talented filly; that’s why we brought her there last year. She ran fantastic today.”
Joel Rosario (rider of runner-up Derrynane)
“She ran really well and broke well. I kind of just had to see where the race was going and then she did everything the right way. We just missed by a little bit. It was a good race for her. It looked like for a second that I was going to get there, but the horse in front kept running. Like I said she ran great, we just got beat by another really nice filly.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of third-place finisher Her World [IRE])
“We got a good trip. We just got beat. I just tried to track right behind them and run them down. I was right behind the speed and got the space to go but it didn’t work out.”
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Ruthin (Coady Photography)
