Endlessly surged to the lead around the final turn, took charge in the stretch, and cruised to a four-length victory in the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on Saturday.
The 3-year-old colt was clearly the best in the field of 10 and earned 100 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby (G1), clinching a spot in the field for the Run for the Roses on May 4.
However, Endlessly has yet to run over a dirt surface (the Derby is 1¼ miles on dirt), and trainer Mike McCarthy confirmed the colt will instead run in the American Turf Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
Endlessly Shines, West Saratoga Surprises, Lukas Looks Ahead to Future Races
Endlessly, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, returned $4.88 for a $2 win bet as the favorite and improved to five wins in six starts.
West Saratoga, meanwhile, finished second at 36-1 odds and picked up 50 qualifying points to clinch a Derby spot with a total of 67 points for fourth place on the leaderboard.
Seize the Grey, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, was third to pick up 25 points, not enough to make the Derby field. Lukas, though, has been known to send out a 3-year-old he believes could contend in the Lexington (G3) on April 12 (the final Derby prep), which has qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2.
Endlessly won his first four races on the turf, then finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He won the El Camino Real Derby on the artificial surface prior to his win in the Jeff Ruby over the same surface.
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