Tale for Ruby, a 3-year-old daughter of Tale of Ekati, made her stakes debut Saturday at Laurel Park and came away with a 2 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Safely Kept S. for 3-year-old fillies.
A Charles Fipke homebred, Tale for Ruby is Tale of Ekati's 11th stakes horse of 2016. The top-15 Third-Crop Sire will stand next year at Darby Dan Farm for $7,500 live foal stands and nurses.
After having to check at the break of the seven-furlong contest, Tale for Ruby found herself near the back of the 13-horse field. She quickly found her stride though, and made a steady advance for the backstretch run. Sixth after a half-mile, Tale for Ruby was four-wide around the turn, but continued to gain ground and was in front at the top of the stretch.
Takrees mounted a brief challenge, but Tale for Ruby easily shook her off and was never seriously threatened in the final furlong, getting the distance in 1:23. 51.
Tale for Ruby broke her maiden in style July 27 at Saratoga, then ran second in a pair of Belmont Park allowance races before Saturday's breakthrough win. Her earnings stand at $146,690. Tale for Ruby's dam Ruby City is a sister to Grade 1 winners Hennessy and Pearl City.