Rivelli remains confident in two Phil’s for Saturday’s Grade III $700,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes
At 2h24, on March 25, 2023 • By TURFWAY PARK
Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan’s Two Phil’s has been on the Road to the Kentucky Derby since October and now the talented 3-year-old colt will attempt to etch his name in the “Run for the Roses” starting gate in Saturday’s $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Trained by Larry Rivelli, Two Phil’s workman-like all-dirt resume includes a victory in the Street Sense Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs, a runner-up finish to Instant Coffee in the Lecomte Stakes (GIII) and third-place finish to Angel of Empire and Sun Thunder in the Risen Star (GII) at Fair Grounds. The Jeff Ruby Steaks will be Two Phil’s first race on a Tapeta surface.
“At one point the horse did a two-minute lick for me one time over a synthetic surface and it was almost an eye-opening move,” Rivelli said. “I’ve been trying to think of the easiest spot for the money and I think this will be the spot. If he absolutely hates the surface, that’s on me. I’m sort of putting myself out there saying that I think he will run well over it. Working a half-mile or five-eighths is a lot different than running a race. That’s when you find out if a horse doesn’t like a surface. I’m pretty confident he will like it but like anything else in racing there could be a chance he doesn’t like it. I didn’t think he’d like the mud at Churchill (in the Street Sense) until he did.”
Two Phil’s already has 23 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Rivelli is confident the son of Hard Spun belongs with the top 3-year-olds.
