Turfway Park Picks: Jeff Ruby Steaks Derby Prep (3/21/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Fri Mar 20, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 9 minutes

Turfway Park Picks

horses

The racing action from Turfway Park on Saturday features the Jeff Ruby Steaks. @HandicappingT3 has all the Turfway Park picks for the entire card!

100 point Prep Races

This weekend kicks off the 100 point Derby races. These races are significant because a win, or even a place, almost assuredly garner you a spot in the gate on the first Saturday in May. In these 100 point races the top 5 finishers get 100, 50, 25, 15, and 10 points respectively. Horses are prioritized for the Derby from most points to least. If you rank 21 or below on the points list at the end of the prep season, you run the risk of watching the race from shed row.

Automatic Bid

Although there are still several preps to go, horses can clinch a spot in the starting gate this weekend. Since the start of the point system no horse with less than 45 points has been denied entry from the Derby. Earning 100 or even 50 for a runner up finish, puts less pressure on winning your final prep ahead of the race. Even if your favorite horse doesn't finish 1 or 2 this weekend, don't fret. Since 2016 horses as low as 20 points were able to get into the starting gate based on horses being withdrawn. This means that even third place runners this weekend may find themselves running for the roses.

Turfway Park Full Card Analysis

Turfway Park Picks: Jeff Ruby Steaks Derby Prep (3/21/2026)

Turfway Park Picks: Jeff Ruby Steaks Derby Prep (3/21/2026)

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Turfway Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M All Weather; Field of 12 runners.

  • #10 REACHINGFORTHEMOON (8-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid.
  • #9 PRINCESS JULIE (10-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Running well of late.
  • #5 NICKSIE (5-2): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Consistent presence throughout the race.
  • #12 TEMPLE GODDESS (10-1): Contender. Competitive numbers early and late. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 10 – 9 – 5 – 12

The Plays

Win: #10 at 5-1

Exacta: 10/ 9,5,12

Turfway Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:13 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $102k; 6 F All Weather; Field of 11 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #4 HOGIE THE PLAYER (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #7 CHISELER (3-1): Major Player. Hernandez puts this one in with a chance. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #6 MASTER CONTROLLER (7-2): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #5 WAKAN (20-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 4,7,6

Turfway Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:43 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M All Weather; Field of 12 runners.

  • #5 CELTIC FLAME (3-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #1 BLESSED WARRIOR (10-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #8 HELPFUL HOWIE (5-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #12 SILVER SNIPER (8-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 8 – 12

The Plays

Win: #5 at 7-2

Exacta: 5/ 1,8

Turfway Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:13 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $102k; 1 M All Weather; Field of 14 runners.

  • #8 LOVE HER LOTS (9-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #6 CALAMITY (7-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Can run with these.
  • #2 SAPHIRA (6-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
  • #1 EMPRESS ELLIE (4-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 2 – 1

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 8,6,1

Turfway Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:43 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F All Weather; Field of 12 runners.

  • #2 VOLENDAM (3-1): Top pick. Solid breeding for this spot. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #10 JET OFF (5-2): Major Player. Balanced pace figures. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #4 BOSS' DEED (8-1): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #12 MR. VAGGIO (12-1): Major Player. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 4 – 12

The Plays

Win: #2 at 7-2

Exacta Box: 2,10,4

Turfway Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:13 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $102k; 1 M All Weather; Field of 14 runners.

  • #7 LAC MACAZA (4-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Barn has been solid.
  • #6 COALMOON (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #8 READ ON (6-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #4 GOES THE CLOWN (6-1): Major Player. Recent races are solid. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 8 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 9-2

Exacta Box: 7,6,8

Turfway Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:43 PM ET; Latonia Stakes $250k; 1 1/16 M All Weather; Field of 7 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #1 LITERATE (8-5): Best bet of the card. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #7 FIVE A SIDE (4-1): Contender. Speed figures match this group well. Balanced pace figures.
  • #5 WARMING (5-1): Contender. Speed figs match up nicely.
  • #6 DEVASSA (10-1): Contender. Recent races are solid. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 7 – 5 – 6

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1/ 7,5,6

Pick 3 (races 7-9): #1 with #2,5,4 with #5,8,6,1

Turfway Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:13 PM ET; Rushaway Stakes $250k; 1 1/16 M All Weather; Field of 8 runners.

  • #2 TRENDSETTER (6-1): Top pick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #5 VALIANT (3-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
  • #4 STEEL IMPERIUM (7-2): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #6 RHYTHM LADY (8-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 4 – 6

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 2,5,4

Turfway Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:43 PM ET; Animal Kingdom Stakes $250k; 6 F All Weather; Field of 8 runners.

  • #5 GNOME (12-1): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip.
  • #8 HOMETOWN BOUND (3-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #6 MOM'S SPAGHETTI (20-1): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
  • #1 SMALL TOWN (12-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 6 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 5,8,1

Turfway Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:13 PM ET; TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes $300k; 1 1/8 M All Weather; Field of 9 runners.

  • #9 MERCANTE (7-2): Prime Win Player. Could be ready for a top effort. Top connections on the circuit with Rodriguez and Knippenberg.
  • #6 TAPIT SHOES (8-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #1 HONOR MARIE (5-1): Contender. Ramos and Beckman team up on this one.
  • #8 WADSWORTH (3-1): Fringe Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 9 – 6 – 1 – 8

The Plays

Win: #9 at 4-1

Exacta: 9/ 6,1,8

Turfway Park Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:43 PM ET; Bourbonette Oaks $300k; 1 1/16 M All Weather; Field of 12 runners.

  • #1 RESPLENDENCE (5-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #2 RESIST (12-1): Major Player. Running well of late. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #9 LOVELY GREY (6-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level.
  • #11 LORELEI LEE (12-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 9 – 11

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 1,2,9

Turfway Park Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:25 PM ET; Jeff Ruby Steaks $777k; 1 1/8 M All Weather; Field of 12 runners.

  • #2 FULLEFFORT (7-2): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
  • #8 CHAOS AGENT (10-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #7 MAXIMUS PRIME (20-1): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
  • #4 TWO OUT HERO (8-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 7 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 4-1

Exacta: 2/ 8,4

Turfway Park Picks – Race 13

Post Time: 7:05 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F All Weather; Field of 14 runners.

  • #13 ARLO'S GAMMY (6-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Should still have something in the tank late.
  • #3 LETS SHANCE IT (9-2): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #2 ZENGRAYA (6-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
  • #11 CAFE CULTURE (12-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 13 – 3 – 2 – 11

The Plays

Win: #13 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 13,3,2

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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