The Spiral Stakes (known as the Jeff Ruby Steaks, a homophone of the word Stakes, for commercial reasons) is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at a distance of a one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic track in late March at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers a purse of $777,000.

History The event was inaugurated on 1 April 1972 as the Latonia Spiral Stakes over a distance of one mile, established by the General Manager of the Latonia race track John Battaglia for horses "spiraling up" to the Kentucky Derby.

The race in its infancy attracted many entries and the administration of the track decided to run the event in two divisions in the following years: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, and 1980.

In 1982, bourbon whiskey maker Jim Beam acquired naming rights sponsorship and the race was renamed the Jim Beam Spiral Stakes. That year the distance of event was increased to miles. Two years later the event was named the Jim Beam Stakes. The sponsorship deal lasted for 17 years, and the event attracted many of the prominent three-year-olds during that time.

In 1984, the event was upgraded to Grade III status. In 1988, two years after the track changed owners and was renamed Turfway Park, it was upgraded to a Grade II race and was lengthened to miles.

In 1999 the race was sponsored for one year by Jim McIngvale of the Gallery Furniture chain of retail stores, and was run as the Galleryfurniture.com Stakes. In 2003, Lane's End Farm took over sponsorship of the event for eight years.

In 2006, the race was run for the first time over an all-weather surface. It was downgraded back to Grade III status in 2011.

Vinery Racing sponsored the Spiral Stakes in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati became the sponsor of the race for five years. As of 2018 the race is sponsored by Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, owner of Jeff Ruby's Steakhouses. As part of the sponsorship, the race is referred to as the Jeff Ruby Steaks (similar to other sporting events named for a product).

In 1991 Hansel set a track and stakes record while winning the Jim Beam Stakes on his way to winning champion three-year-old honors, while Serena's Song became the first filly to win the race in 1995. Winners who would go on to capture at least one of the American Classic Races include Summer Squall (1990), Lil E. Tee (1992), Prairie Bayou (1993), and Animal Kingdom (2011).

Records Speed record miles – 1:46.60 Hansel (1991) miles – 1:42.00 Banner Bob (1985) 1 mile – 1:36.60 Major Run (1980)

Margins 15 lengths – Bootlegger's Pet (1973) 13 lengths – Five Star General (1980) lengths – Balto Star (2001)

Most wins by an owner 4 – Golden Chance Farm (1977, 1978, 1980 (2))

Most wins by a jockey 5 – Pat Day (1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992)

Most wins by a trainer 7 – William E. Adams (1977 (2), 1978 (2), 1979, 1980 (2))

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefJeff Ruby Steaks2026FulleffortIrad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxSt. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing miles1:49.94$777,000III 2025Final Gambit Luan MachadoBrad H. CoxJuddmonte Farm miles1:50.10$776,364III 2024Endlessly Umberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthyAmerman Racing miles1:50.15$700,000III2023 Two Phil's Jareth Loveberry Larry Rivelli Patricia's Hope & Philip Sagan miles1:49.03$694,000III 2022Tiz The BombBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekMagdalena Racing miles1:48.60$600,000III2021Like the KingDrayden Van DykeWesley A. WardM. Racing Group miles1:50.22$243,325III2020Field PassIrad Ortiz Jr.Michael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles1:49.34$217,175III2019SomelikeithotbrownTyler GaffalioneMichael J. MakerSkychai Racing & Sand Dollar Stable miles1:52.05$200,000III2018Blended CitizenKyle FreyDoug F. O'NeillGreg Hall & Sanjay Racing miles1:50.15$200,000IIISpiral Stakes2017Fast and AccurateTyler GaffalioneMichael J. MakerKendall E. Hansen miles1:50:96$500,000III2016Oscar NominatedBrian Hernandez Jr.Michael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:51.12$500,000III2015Dubai SkyJose LezcanoWilliam I. MottThree Chimneys Farm & Besilu Stables miles1:50.26$535,750III2014We Miss ArtieJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:51.98$518,950III2013Black OnyxJoe BravoKelly J. BreenSterling Racing miles1:51.98$550,000III2012Went the Day WellJohn R. VelazquezH. Graham MotionTeam Valor & Mark Ford miles1:51.33$500,000III2011Animal KingdomAlan GarciaH. Graham MotionTeam Valor miles1:52.32$500,000IIILane's End Stakes2010Dean's KittenCornelio VelasquezMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:50.59$500,000II2009Hold Me BackKent J. DesormeauxWilliam I. MottWinStar Farm miles1:49.63$500,000II2008AdrianoEdgar S. PradoH. Graham MotionCourtlandt Farms miles1:50.20$500,000II2007Hard SpunMario G. PinoJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farms miles1:49.41$500,000II2006With A CityBrice BlancMichael J. MakerEquirace.com miles1:51.11$500,000II2005Flower AlleyJorge F. ChavezTodd A. PletcherMelnyk Racing Stables miles1:50.33$500,000II2004Sinister GPaul R. ToscanoJohn T. Toscano Jr.John T. Toscano III, Kim Corrado & Yamile Carlat miles1:50.71$500,000II2003New York HeroNorberto Arroyo Jr.Jennifer Pedersen Paraneck Stable miles1:50.68$500,000IISpiral Stakes2002Perfect DriftEddie DelahoussayeMurray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farm miles1:48.83$500,000II2001Balto StarMark GuidryTodd A. PletcherAnstu Stable miles1:47.23$600,000II2000GlobalizeFrancisco C. TorresJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer, Howard Litt & George Todaro miles1:49.16$600,000IIGalleryfurniture.com Stakes1999Stephen Got EvenShane SellersNicholas P. ZitoStephen Hilbert miles1:49.03$750,000IIJim Beam Stakes1998Event of the YearRussell BazeJerry HollendorferGolden Eagle Farm miles1:47.00$600,000II1997ConcertoJohn J. Tammaro IIIKinsman Stable miles1:48.20$600,000II1996RoarMike E. SmithClaiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider miles1:49.60$600,000II1995ƒ Serena's SongCorey NakataniD. Wayne LukasBob & Beverly Lewis miles1:49.60$600,000II1994Polar ExpeditionCurt C. BourqueHugh H. RobertsonJames B. Cody miles1:49.00$600,000II1993Prairie BayouChris McCarronThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable miles1:50.80$600,000II1992Lil E. TeePat DayLynn S. Whiting W. Cal Partee miles1:53.40$500,000II1991HanselJerry D. BaileyFrank L. BrothersLazy Lane Farm miles1:46.60$500,000II1990Summer SquallPat DayNeil J. HowardDogwood Stable miles1:49.40$500,000II1989Western PlayboyPat DayHarvey L. VanierNancy Vanier miles1:49.00$500,000II1988KingpostEugene J. Sipus Jr.Dianne CarpenterMark Warner miles1:50.80$500,000II1987J. T.'s PetPat DayLynn S. Whiting W. Cal Partee miles1:42.80$500,000III1986Broad BrushVincent Bracciale Jr.Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff miles1:44.20$350,000III1985Banner BobK. Keith AllenJerome J. Sarner Jr.Sharon E. & William J. Walsh miles1:42.00$350,000III1984At the ThresholdPat DayLynn S. Whiting W. Cal Partee miles1:42.80$300,000IIISpiral Stakes1983MarfaJorge VelasquezD. Wayne LukasBarry Beal, Robert French Jr. & D. Wayne Lukas miles1:42.40$233,500 1982Good n' DustyMichael MoranJasper AdamsLarry R. Lehmann miles1:44.60$188,500 1981Mythical Ruler Keith Wirth Fred V. WirthAl Risen Jr. & Paxton Price1 mile1:38.00$60,350 1980Major RunMark S. SellersWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm1 mile1:36.60$31,025 Spruce NeedlesJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm1:37.20$31,0251979Lot o' GoldDon BrumfieldWilliam E. Adams Frederick E. Lehmann 1 mile1:37.60$48,000 1978Five Star GeneralJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. Adams Robert N. Lehmann 1 mile1:38.80 $21,000 Raymond EarlJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. Adams Golden Chance Farm 1:37.80$21,6001977Smiley's DreamW. DestefanoWilliam E. Adams Golden Chance Farm 1 mile1:39.40$21,312 Bob's DustyJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. Adams Robert N. Lehmann 1:38.80$21,3621976Inca RocaWilliam NemetiAlbert T. SkinnerCharles Raymond Jarrell1 mile1:37.40$31,300 1975Naughty JakeGerman VasquezJake BachelorMildred Bachelor1 mile1:40.00$26,400 Eddie SnellDonald L. BallDonamire Farm 1:38.40$26,4501974King of RomeKeith WirthFred V. WirthFred V. Wirth1 mile1:45.40$18,575 AgloriteJohn Beech Jr.Rose BrambleAugust Muckler1:44.60$18,6751973Jacks ChevronBilly PhelpsCarl SitgravesW. C. Hines & Mrs. Carl Sitgraves1 mile1:41.00$16,207 Bootlegger's PetMickey SolomoneCharles C. PatrickCharles C. Patrick, G. McGinnis & V. Victor1:42.00$16,1071972Big Dot Jim Murchison James Eckrosh Everett Lowrance1 mile1:38.80$11,525

Legend:

Notes:

ƒ Filly

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Turfway Park Media Guide 2018–19

References