Art Of Boom and Knowing Spirit could not be separated at the wire producing a dramatic dead heat in the Grade III Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park. Art Of Boom, representing Nakamura Stables under A. A. Gallardo, worked out a stalking trip before finishing strongly. Knowing Spirit, racing for Ajm Stables with A. R. Rodriguez, came from much farther back and matched that finishing surge stride for stride. Both three-year-olds stopped the clock in 1:48.16, and both earned a major result in this Kentucky Derby points race.

The $777.000 Ruby Stakes, contested at 1 1/8 miles on a fast track, developed into a well-run and competitive route with fractions of :47.1, 1:11.2, and 1:36.0. Several runners had chances at different stages, but the race ultimately belonged to two horses with very different journeys. Art Of Boom stayed within range throughout and produced his run at the right time, while Knowing Spirit overcame a much more difficult early position and came with a relentless late move to force the shared decision.

This Ruby Stakes was defined by the equal quality of the two winning performances. Art Of Boom used his tactical placement to great advantage. He was never far from the action, stayed within striking distance through every major point of the race, and delivered his move when the leaders began to shorten stride. It was a measured, efficient trip, and he finished strongly enough to deserve a share of the victory.

Knowing Spirit earned the same level of credit in a completely different way. He was much farther back in the early stages and had far more work to do. His progress through the field began before the far turn, continued through the stretch call, and carried all the way to the wire. He did not simply pick up tired horses late; he sustained his rally strongly enough and held firm to match Art Of Boom exactly at the finish. In a race where the two winners took contrasting routes to the same result, both efforts stood out.

Behind the top pair, Gravenberch outran his experience and held third after racing close to the pace throughout. Terrible Tudor again ran his race and stayed on well enough for fourth. Need Cash Now controlled matters for much of the trip and was still there into the stretch before yielding late. Decima Tech closed some ground after trailing early and got into the upper half of the field.

The rest could not quite deliver the needed final punch. Preterequine had a good tracking trip but weakened in the final furlong. Painted Ice never found the stronger finish that had been needed after his prior route efforts. Record Machine could not reproduce the same finish he showed in the Battaglia Memorial. A Great Deal was asked to stretch his speed and faded late. Byte City was involved for a long way before flattening out. Vortex and Down To Earth both retreated through the latter half, and Bronx Copper was never a factor.

Art Of Boom is by Jack O Lantern out of Moving Art, was bred by Woogaloo (NY), is owned and trained by Nakamura Stables, and now has lifetime earnings of $703.080.
Knowing Spirit is by Kamikaze out of Fast Flame, was bred by Mountain View Stable (La), is owned and trained by Ajm Stables, and now has lifetime earnings of $395.600. As co-winners of this Kentucky Derby points race, both now move forward as legitimate candidates for the big one in Kentucky.

Individual Trip Notes

Art Of Boom settled in a stalking position just behind the front group, advanced steadily on the far turn, and finished strongly to dead-heat for the win.

Knowing Spirit was near the back early, began improving through the middle stages, and sustained a strong closing run and held on at the wire to share top honors.

Gravenberch raced prominently from the start, stayed involved at every call, and kept on well to hold third.

Terrible Tudor tracked from midpack, remained within range throughout, and stayed on for fourth.

Need Cash Now set the pace through the opening and middle stages, remained in front to upper stretch, and weakened late after doing the early work.

Decima Tech trailed early, improved his position through the second half of the race, and finished sixth.

Preterequine pressed the pace from the outset, stayed in contention into the stretch, and then faded in the final furlong.

Painted Ice raced in the second half of the field, tried to improve late, but did not threaten the top finishers.

Record Machine held a middle position for much of the trip and did not find another kick in the lane.

A Great Deal was toward the rear for most of the running and could not make a serious impact late.

Byte City traveled close enough to the pace to have a chance but weakened in the stretch.

Vortex dropped farther back as the race developed and never reached contention.

Down To Earth raced in midpack early, lost position on the far turn, and faded late.

Bronx Copper was never involved in the main contest and finished well back.

Track: Fast
Time: :47¹  1:11²  1:36  1:48

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 14 Paid 62.10, 14 – 3 Paid 46.80
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 14 – 2 Paid 694.50, 14 – 3 – 2 Paid 694.50

Scratched: Chasing Magic

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN