FLORENCE, Ky. – Those using Turfway Park’s signature Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, as their final springboard to Churchill Downs have sparkled under the twin spires in recent years. That history, plus a shot at major points toward the starting gate, has lured a full field for Saturday’s renewal on the Tapeta. The Ruby, named for the sponsoring steakhouse, awards its top finishers points toward the Kentucky Derby on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale on the system used by Churchill – the parent company of which also owns Turfway – to determine the field. Rich Strike, third in the 2022 Ruby, drew into the Derby as an also-eligible and pulled off the second-biggest upset in the history of the classic. Two Phil’s won last year’s Ruby, then was a gallant second in the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile Ruby highlights Turfway’s marquee day of racing, which also includes the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic, elevated to a Grade 3 this year; the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, which awards the winner 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks; the $250,000 Latonia, won last year by Idiomatic as part of a championship campaign; and both sprint and route options for 3-year-olds, the Animal Kingdom and Rushaway, worth $250,000 each. First post for the 13-race card is 12:45 p.m., Eastern. Graded stakes winner Endlessly is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Ruby, which drew a field of 12, plus two also-eligibles. Graded stakes winner Agate Road, the second choice on the morning line at 4-1, will instead run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, in which he was cross-entered, for Todd Pletcher. The first also-eligible, Circle P, was also an early scratch, with Pletcher’s Triple Espresso drawing in as a result. Pletcher is also represented by Noted, a stakes winner on both dirt and turf at 2. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  But it’s a classic-winning former Pletcher assistant, Michael McCarthy, with the favorite in this lineup. Endlessly won his first three starts, including the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes, before finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. In his 3-year-old debut, he won the El Camino Real Derby on Golden Gate’s synthetic surface, opening new doors. “I had considered some options at home,” McCarthy said, “nothing that I really was crazy about. . . . The last race, obviously, on the synthetic was so good at Golden Gate Fields, taking a swing made sense.” Umberto Rispoli, aboard Endlessly in the El Camino Real, comes in to ride. The colt has drawn post 10, with some speed appearing to be inside him. McCarthy said he would like to see Endlessly “tuck in behind the speed, getting some good position going into the first turn.” The other graded stakes winner among the expected starters is West Saratoga, who took the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes last September at Churchill Downs but is winless since. He was most recently third in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes to No More Time and Agate Road. “We like where we’re at with him,” trainer Larry Demeritte said. “He can do anything – he can go early, or you can bring him from midpack.” Among the other entries, Lucky Jeremy won the Riley Allison Derby before finishing third in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby; Northern Flame and Woodcourt were third and fourth, respectively, in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes; and Otello won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes before finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes. Dancing Groom was Grade 1-placed at 2, but is unplaced in two outings this year. Minor stakes winners Baytown Chatterbox and Freedom Principle and stakes-placed Seize the Grey complete the field. This card brings a number of prominent riders to town. Celebrated international jockey Frankie Dettori, in from California, is making his first trip to Turfway and has the call on Dancing Groom in the feature. Jose Ortiz, who will have the mount on Triple Espresso, also is active on the card as he prepares to move his tack to the Kentucky circuit. The Ruby’s full field is the norm on the Saturday card, with an average field size of 11.3 horses, not counting also-eligibles. In addition to an all-stakes pick four, pick five, and pick six on the wagering menu, Churchill’s parent company has fashioned the “Bayou Bluegrass 5,” an all-stakes pick five linking stakes at Turfway and Fair Grounds, including the Louisiana Derby. Both Derby preps will be broadcast by NBC Sports on CNBC and Peacock, beginning at 6 p.m., Eastern. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.