Juddmonte homebred Final Gambit (c, 3, Not This Time–Pachinko, by Tapit), an impressive last-to-first maiden winner at third asking at Turfway Park Feb. 15, ran by them all once again to pull off a 15-1 upset in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks in Florence, good for 100 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}), a winner of two straight on grass, was a good second. Maximum Promise (Maximum Security) was third.
Final Gambit was bumped at the start and broke in a tangle and trailed the field of 12 through fractions of :22.97 and :47.91. The flashy gray began to launch with a sweeping move beneath Luan Machado on the far turn, was parked out in about the eight path at the top of the stretch and came rolling down the center of the course to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths.
“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.”
Tessa Walden, assistant to winning trainer Brad Cox added, “He was visually impressive when he broke his maiden here. It gave us confidence he'd come with a run, especially with how he handled the surface this winter.”
Pedigree Notes:
Final Gambit becomes the 23rd graded/45th stakes winner worldwide for Not This Time. Juddmonte and Cox also campaign Not This Time's unbeaten GIII Lecomte Stakes winner Disco Time. The winning Tapit mare Pachinko, a half-sister to G1SW Announce (GB) (Selkirk), is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Conceit (Not This Time) and a yearling filly by Justify. She was bred to Mage for 2025. Final Gambit is bred on the same Not This Time x Pulpit cross as Sibelius, winner of 2023 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Broodmare sire Tapit was also represented by Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (Tiz the Law).
Final Gambit puts himself on the @kentuckyderby leaderboard after a big performance in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at @turfwaypark at 15/1! 🌹@luanmachado85 had the mount for trainer @bradcoxracing and owner @JuddmonteFarms!
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/WkhtdxokRR
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 22, 2025
Saturday, Turfway Park
JEFF RUBY STEAKS-GIII, $776,364, Turfway, 3-22, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:50.10, ft.
1–FINAL GAMBIT, 123, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Pachinko, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Hachita, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Choice Spirit, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luan Machado. $446,400. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $520,639. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flying Mohawk, 123, c, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Bonbons Fleur, by Twirling Candy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $72,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing; B-John O'Meara (KY); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $148,800.
3–Maximum Promise, 123, c, 3, Maximum Security–Paixao, by Scat Daddy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Back Racing, LLC and Run for LaRoses, LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $74,400.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 15.07, 9.29, 9.92.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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