On March 21, 2026, Turfway Park stages the Grade III Ruby Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile dirt stake for three-year-olds with a purse of $777.000 and clear importance on the Kentucky Derby points trail. Mb Stables won this race in 2015, 2018, and 2025, and returns with Terrible Tudor, Need Cash Now, and Chasing Magic. The Sidley Stud also has a past Ruby winner through Ginger Haggis in 2017 and comes back with Decima Tech.

1. Preterequine

Trainer/Owner: Temulac Farm
Probable Jockey: Ortiz J L
Odds: 12-1

Preterequine comes in off a sharp second in the Sunland Derby on February 15, 2026, where he pressed the pace throughout and was only beaten by a better finisher late. That race was his best effort yet and followed a maiden win at one mile in January, so his form is moving the right way at the right time. He has only five starts, but his record of 1 win, 2 seconds, and 1 third with $148.360 in earnings suggests there is still room for more improvement. The main question is whether he can repeat that Sunland effort against a deeper group, but he has already shown he belongs in this type of spot.

2. Gravenberch

Trainer/Owner: Royalty Stables
Probable Jockey: Geroux F
Odds: 15-1

Gravenberch is lightly raced and has done little wrong so far, breaking his maiden at Fair Grounds in February after nearly wiring a maiden at Santa Anita in January. He has tactical speed, he has already handled route distances, and his recent morning activity has remained steady. Still, he enters this race with only three lifetime starts and has yet to face stakes company. His lifetime earnings of $41.000 and speed figures put him a bit below the top tier on paper, but he is one of the less exposed runners in the field and could take another step forward.

3. Art Of Boom

Trainer/Owner: Nakamura Stables
Probable Jockey: Gallardo A A
Odds: 4-1

Art Of Boom looks like one of the more accomplished and battle-tested runners in the field. He was a good third in the Rebel (G2) on March 1, 2026, after setting the pace and staying on well enough to hold a share, and that came after graded tries in the Smarty Jones and Southwest. Earlier in his career he also won an allowance at Parx and a state-bred maiden on turf, showing versatility as well as toughness. His record of 3 wins from 9 starts with $392.280 in earnings is solid, and his recent Rebel effort is one of the strongest single pieces of form in this race. If he relaxes properly over this trip, he has every right to be in the thick of the finish.

4. Terrible Tudor

Trainer/Owner: Mb Stables
Probable Jockey: Lezcano J
Odds: 6-1

Terrible Tudor has kept useful company since the autumn and comes out of the Battaglia Memorial at Turfway, where he was beaten only a half-length while finishing third at 1 1/16 miles. Before that he was second in the Pasco Stakes and had earlier run a close second in the Nashua. He is a very honest sort, with 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third from 7 starts, and his earnings stand at $213.400. The Turfway prep is a positive, and he looks like the kind of runner who should stay involved throughout. He may need one more jump forward to win, but he is highly usable on current form.

5. Vortex

Trainer/Owner: TwinTowersRacing
Probable Jockey: Cedillo A
Odds: 20-1

Vortex has some foundation, but he has not yet shown the kind of forward move needed to beat a field like this. He finished fourth in a Santa Anita optional claimer in February and was sixth in the Leonatus at Turfway in January. His maiden win at Woodbine last fall came at seven furlongs, and while he has tried longer distances, he has not yet converted those opportunities into a stakes-level result. His lifetime record of 1 win and 3 seconds from 9 starts with $49.520 in earnings suggests he has some ability, though his best case here appears to be grabbing a minor piece.

6. Down To Earth

Trainer/Owner: Riggins Racing
Probable Jockey: McKee J
Odds: 10-1

Down To Earth is one of the more interesting runners because of his overall body of work. He won 5 of his first 8 starts and earned $962.750 as a juvenile, including major success on turf and a dirt score in the Remington Springboard Mile. This year, though, he has not kicked on in the same way, finishing eighth in the Sunland Derby and ninth in the Lecomte. Those results raise questions, but his deeper back form is strong enough to keep him relevant. If he rediscovers the kind of run that made him a serious juvenile, he can contend; if not, he may again find a few of these too strong late.

7. Decima Tech

Trainer/Owner: The Sidley Stud
Probable Jockey: Doyle S
Odds: 15-1

Decima Tech has a useful profile, though his recent graded results suggest he still has a bit to prove at this level. He was seventh in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) after getting far back early, and before that he won the West Virginia Futurity at Charles Town over seven furlongs. He also held his own in the American Pharoah (G1) and Ellis Park Juvenile last year. His record of 2 wins from 6 starts and earnings of $67.600 show a capable runner, but the stretch to 1 1/8 miles against this group asks more of him than he has yet delivered.

8. A Great Deal

Trainer/Owner: Luz International
Probable Jockey: Luzzi L J
Odds: 20-1

A Great Deal brings in strong recent winning form, but almost all of it has come in shorter races. He won back-to-back state-bred stakes at Houston over six furlongs in January and February, and he has won 4 of 7 starts overall with earnings of $138.520. He has also shown some turf ability, but he has not yet raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, which makes this 1 1/8-mile assignment a major leap. He is clearly talented, though this looks more like a stamina question than a class question.

9. Byte City

Trainer/Owner: D J C Racing Stables
Probable Jockey: Elliott S
Odds: 10-1

Byte City has quietly put together a respectable set of route efforts. He was fourth in the Withers (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), and then eighth in the Battaglia Memorial after being within range through much of the race. That form says he can compete with useful company, and his lifetime earnings of $65.920 do not tell the full story of his ability. The concern is whether he finishes strongly enough at the end of these route stakes, but his back races make him one of the more plausible mid-range upset candidates.

10. Record Machine

Trainer/Owner: Acber Farms
Probable Jockey: Hernandez R M
Odds: 9-2

Record Machine enters off a career-best effort in the Battaglia Memorial at Turfway on February 21, 2026, where he took command early and held on to win by a half-length. That local prep matters, especially because it came over a route of ground and produced a 95 figure. He had also been second in the Grey Stakes (G3) last fall and has now won 2 of 6 starts with earnings of $183.000. The Turfway form is a major asset, and if he can control the pace or secure another comfortable tactical trip, he is one of the most dangerous runners in the race.

11. Painted Ice

Trainer/Owner: Alydar Stables
Probable Jockey: Corrales G
Odds: 5-1

Painted Ice owns one of the better sophomore résumés in the field. He won the Lecomte (G3) in January, was second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall, and has banked $284.600 through just six starts. His last race in the Risen Star (G2) was not his best, as he faded to tenth after being in range into the far turn, but that race came against stronger company than most of these have seen. He has enough tactical speed to stay involved and enough back class to rebound. If he moves back toward his Lecomte form, he is a major player.

12. Need Cash Now

Trainer/Owner: Mb Stables
Probable Jockey: Zayas E J
Odds: 7-1

Need Cash Now is one of the most accomplished runners in the field on juvenile form. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), second in the Champagne (G1), second in the Hopeful (G1), and later won the Pasco Stakes at seven furlongs in January. The issue is that his two route tries at 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles have not been as strong, including a twelfth-place finish in the Risen Star. Still, his overall bankroll of $702.900 and his consistent class make him impossible to dismiss. He is one of the key questions in the race: if he stays the trip, he is dangerous; if not, he may again flatten late.

13. Chasing Magic

Trainer/Owner: Mb Stables
Probable Jockey: Ortiz I Jr
Odds: 8-1

Chasing Magic has been facing serious company for a long time and usually gives an honest account of himself. He won the Gun Runner Stakes in December, was a close third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last year and has remained competitive in races like the Lecomte and Risen Star without quite breaking through. His record of 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third from 10 starts with $226.320 in earnings reflects a colt who shows up. He does not have the sharpest recent finish in the field, but he has enough foundation and enough class to make him a threat if things set up right.

14. Knowing Spirit

Trainer/Owner: Ajm Stables
Probable Jockey: Rodriguez A R
Odds: 15-1

Knowing Spirit is another runner trying to move forward from useful form into graded success. He was sixth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February after being far back through the race, and before that he had finished second in a Gulfstream optional claimer and second in a one-mile turf allowance at Del Mar. His overall record of 2 wins and 2 seconds from 7 starts with $84.800 shows ability, and his morning work at Turfway has been strong. The question is whether he can translate that into a top effort against this field at 1 1/8 miles.

Pace Structure and Race Outlook

The race does not appear overloaded with pure speed, but there are several runners who prefer to be involved early. Art Of Boom has shown the clearest front-running inclination in his recent route races, while Record Machine used tactical speed effectively to win the Battaglia Memorial. Preterequine and Gravenberch also have enough pace to secure forward positions, and Painted Ice should not be far away either. Horses like Terrible Tudor, Byte City, Need Cash Now, and Chasing Magic may look to settle just behind that group and make their moves in the second half of the race. If the pace is sensible, the winner may come from the first flight rather than from far back.

Projected Winner

Art Of Boom gets the nod. His third in the Rebel (G2) stands out as the strongest recent route stakes performance in the field, and he has shown he can carry his speed around two turns against good company. Record Machine looks like the main danger off the local prep win, while Painted Ice and Terrible Tudor both have enough class and recent form to make this very competitive.

Top selection: Art Of Boom
Main danger: Record Machine
Best rebound threat: Painted Ice
Strong contender: Terrible Tudor

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN