by John Mucciolo
Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stables’ Somelikeithotbrown lived up to his favored status with a convincing victory in the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park on Saturday. Trained by Mike Maker and guided home by Tyler Gaffalione, the sophomore colt was 3 1/4 lengths clear under the line while stopping the teletimer in 1:52.05 for the nine-furlong feature.
The 3-5 favorite broke well and tracked in second early before taking the edge after a half-mile in :47.03. Somelikeithotbrown was one length in front at the six-furlong marker and he held a two-length advantage after getting the mile in 1:37.84 on the all-weather surface. The race was all but over by that time.
Dynamic Racer, who was second in the John Battaglia Memorial behind Somelikeithotbrown most recently, chased the winner through the stretch and was clearly second best at 45-1 odds. The 59-1 second-longest shot Moonster had just one horse beaten after six panels but made a fine run on the far outside to garner show honors, another 1 1/4 lengths in arrears.
Somelikeithotbrown was an impressive winner on the lawn second time out at Saratoga, romping by eight lengths in a very sharp performance. He then placed in a trio of graded races on the lawn to conclude his two-year-old campaign, capped by a fine third-place result in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
In his 2019 bow, Somelikeithotbrown was an easy winner of the local prep when drawing off by 3 1/2 lengths in the John Battaglia Memorial. His career line now reads 7-3-2-1, $363,478 following the victory. His tally also earned him 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The winner was bred in the Empire State by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables. By Big Brown, he hails from the same female family as 2005 champion two-year-old colt Stevie Wonderboy, as well as 2015 champion turf male Big Blue Kitten.
Somelikeithotbrown is the stakes first winner produced from Marilyn Monroan. The Tapit mare is also responsible for an unnamed two-year-old colt by Mission Impazible and an unnamed yearling colt by Temple City.
