Final Gambit rallied from last to first with a six-wide run down the stretch and won the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on Saturday, punching his ticket to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) in six weeks.
The 3-year-old trained by Brad Cox earned 100 qualifying points to move into second place on the 2025 Kentucky Derby leaderboard with his 3 ½-length victory over fellow closer Flying Mohawk.
Final Gambit was sent off at 15-1 in the field of 12, with favorite John Hancock, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial over Turfway’s synthetic surface, winding up fourth after setting the pace.
Final Gambit, a gray son of Not This Time, was bumped at the start, but Luan Machado was able to right his colt and set him up to move past the leader, California Burrito, in the stretch and cruise to victory.
Final Gambit returned $32.14 on a $2 win bet and covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.10. Flying Mohawk picked up 50 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and moved into 10th on the leaderboard – a spot that would likely get him into the 2025 Kentucky Derby field limited to 20 starters.
Maximum Promise was third for 25 points and moved to 16th with 33 overall points. Poster, the favorite, was fourth and picked up 15 points (33 overall for 18th on the leaderboard).
“I knew keeping (Final Gambit) in the clear around the turn would probably be best, but I was worried with how wide the horses on the front end were going,” Machado said. “Sometimes when he’s between horses he doesn’t try as hard as when he’s in the clear. He really closed fast down the lane and was impressive late.”
Whit Beckman, who trains Flying Mohawk, was impressed with his colt’s finished.
“When you’re from Louisville, there’s only one race you’re aiming for and that’s the Derby,” he said.
Bless the Broken won the $280,000 Bourbonette Oaks earlier on the card and earned 50 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points.
Trained by Will Walden, the 3-year-old filly ridden by John Velazquez covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.65.
As Catch Can is close to finishing second, with Admit third, Bracelet fourth, and White Rocks fifth in a field of 11.
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