Picks 'N Plays for the Ruffian Stakes
By: MaryJo Moncheski, ThoroFan Handicapper
Saturday’s Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont at the Big A
was named in honor of the tragic black heroine. Once a prestigious Grade 1
event at 1 1/8 miles, the Ruffian has been watered down to a Grade 2 at a mile.
This year, seven older fillies and mares will enter the
starting gate at 4:09 PM ET. Let’s review the field.
For this very short field, there isn’t a point in picking
a superfecta, so I went with just the trifecta. When fields are 7 horses or
less, you’re not going to make much on the superfecta, especially if a horse
ends up scratching. My trifecta includes longshot Dry Powder, Eumonia, and Irish
Maxima.
#7 Dry Powder to Win
I really like Dry Powder with Trainer Chad Summers, even
though she just ran last week in the G1La Troienne where she finished ninth.
She has had decent workouts leading up to the La Troienne so it makes me wonder
if that was a prep race for the Ruffian. When you consider Jockey Kazushi Kimura
is aboard and the fact she won at this distance at Belmont at the Big A twice,
I think she has a good chance. She has come back in form after a layoff, so
maybe this is the race she was always meant to run.
#3 Eunomia to Place
I went with #3 Eunomia to place mostly because I think
she will be a heavy favorite with Jockey Tyler Gaffalione. In December, she
came back to form after a few months off to win a $32k Optional Claiming Race
at Tampa Bay Downs. Since then, her form and speed have been pretty consistent
at various distances, including a mile. Her last race out in the Keeneland
Baird Doubledog Dare G2 she lost by just a neck. I think she has what it takes
to go to the front with Dry Powder.
#6 Irish Maxima to
Show
I liked #6 Irish Maxima over #5 Inefficiency because she
has proven herself more after a layoff. She was off from August 30, 2025 to
February 21, 2026 and came back to finish in the money on slop at Aqueduct. She
has been consistent in getting back to form, winning her last two races. I am
not sure how she will do going back up to a harder class, but with the small
field, she has a good chance.
My Bets:
$10 to win on #7
$2 exacta box 7-3
.50 trifecta box 7-3-6
