Favored Somelikeithotbrown obliges backers in Jeff Ruby Steaks

By Sarah Mace

Tabbed as the “horse to beat” in the 1 1/8 mile Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks for 3-year-olds over the Turfway Park Polytrack Saturday and sent off as the overwhelming 3-5 post time favorite of in the field of 11, Somelikeithotbrown obliged his backers and connections alike with a 3 3/4-length victory.

The Jeff Ruby, a stop on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” gives the bay colt, who is sired by Kentucky Derby winner and New York sire and Big Brown[2] (Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions[3]), 20 points toward a berth in the Churchill Downs starting gate on the first Saturday in May.

Following turf successes as a juvenile for Mike Maker, who trains for co-owners Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable, Somelikeithotbrown flashed talent in his first try on Polytrack. On February 15 in his sophomore debut he won Turfway’s local prep for the Jeff Ruby – the $75,000 John Battaglia Memorial – by more than three lengths under Rafael Hernandez. On Saturday, he was paired for the first time with Gulfstream-based jockey Tyler Gaffalione, after posting an interim 5-furlong maintenance drill at Turfway on March 2.

Breaking on the muscle from post 10, Somelikeithotbrown vied early with Five Star General for the lead and and struck the front as the top two powered through early fractions of 23.61 and 47.03.

Maintaining a comfortable one-length advantage over the competition along the backstretch and around the far turn, Somelikeithotbrown drew off in the stretch after a quick six furlongs in 1:10.78. He went on to secure 3 3/4-length victory in a final time of 1:52.05. Although he did not have to face a serious challenge from any of his rivals, the colt did a good deal of wandering in and out in the late stages of the race as he did in the Battaglia. As in the prep, he was far enough ahead late that there was no price to pay. Dynamic Racer, Battaglia runner-up finished second, while Moonster rallied from well back for third.

Debuting off-the-board at Saratoga in an off-the-turf sprint race, Somelikeithotbrown has not finished out of the money in six subsequent starts, while keeping formidable company.

Second out at Spa Somelikeithotbrown came from far back to blow away his rivals by eight lengths while stretching out all the way out from 5 1/2 to 9 furlongs. Launching the stakes portion of his career, he came up just short of Opry to finish second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga, then finished second by three-quarters of a length when collared in the Grade 3 Pilgrim. Somelikeithotbrown wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a game third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Somelikeithotbrown’s first graded score in the Jeff Ruby brings his earnings total to $363,478 with three wins two seconds and a third in seven starts.

Bred by Hot Pink Stables and co-owner Sand Dollar Stable and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York, Somelikeithotbrown’s name pays tribute to the names of his sire Big Brown and dam Marilyn Monroan, while alluding both to the comedic masterpiece “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, and a legendary dish served at Louisville’s Brown Hotel named the Hot Brown.

Marilyn Monroan, a Kentucky-bred placed runner by Tapit, has a juvenile colt by Mission Impazible, a yearling colt by Temple City and was bred in 2018 to Palace Malice.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/03/09/somelikeithotbrown-jeff-ruby-steaks/

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