Dual graded stakes-placed Eunomia heads a compact but deep field for Saturday’s Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont at the Big A, with Saffie Joseph Jr. responsible for nearly half the line-up as he bids to turn a strong spring run of form into a breakthrough graded success.
Saffie Joseph Jr Has Three Ruffian Runners
Saturday’s Grade 2 Ruffian has emerged as one of the sharper supporting features on NYRA’s May 9 card, with seven older fillies and mares entered for the one-turn mile and three of them coming from the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr.
Eunomia is the headline name among that trio.
The four-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law arrives off a neck defeat in the Grade 2 Doubledogdare at Keeneland on April 17, where she posted a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure after briefly taking command in the stretch.
But won the time before, when taking the Sandy Bottom Stakes at Colonial Downs on March 14 (watch below).
Eunomia The Ruffian Stakes Favorite
NYRA’s advance for the race notes that Joseph believes the mare has continued to move forward since changing hands late last year and that her recent form has been boosted by the strength of the Royal Delta and Doubledogdare form lines.
“Hopefully, we can get a graded stakes win on her résumé here. We feel she’s a filly that will continue to improve,” Joseph said.
She is listed as the 6-5 morning-line favourite from post 3 in the official entries, with Sahin Civaci named to ride at 122lb.
Stablemates Dazzling Move, drawn in post 4 at 8-1, and Ultimate Authority, in post 2 at 20-1, give Joseph numerical strength in a race that still looks far from straightforward.
The most obvious danger on paper may be Chad Brown’s unbeaten Inefficiency, who is 2-for-2 over the same course and distance and has been installed at 3-1 from post 5 under Flavien Prat.
Irish Maxima, a multiple stakes winner for John Servis, is another live contender after back-to-back sprint wins and is set to break from post 6 at 5-1.
The Ruffian is scheduled as Race 7 at 4:09 p.m. Eastern on Saturday’s Aqueduct programme.
NYRA’s spring and summer stakes schedule places it alongside the Grade 3 John A. Nerud, Grade 3 Peter Pan and Take the A Train on an 11-race card that should give the older female division a meaningful early-May checkpoint.
Ruffian Stakes Runners 2026
- Inefficiency (Chad C. Brown)
- Dry Powder (Chad Summers)
- Ultimate Authority (Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.)
- Dazzling Move (Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.)
- Irish Maxima (John C. Servis)
- Eunomia (Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.)
- Cassiar Claude (R. McGaughey III)
2026 Ruffian Stakes Race Details Summary
- Race: Grade 2 Ruffian
- Venue: Belmont at the Big A / Aqueduct
- Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Post time: 4:09 p.m. Eastern
- Distance and surface: 1 mile on dirt
- Purse: $200,000
- Field size: 7
- Key runners: Eunomia, Inefficiency, Irish Maxima, Dazzling Move, Ultimate Authority, Cassiar, Dry Powder
- Trainer Angle: Saffie Joseph Jr. saddles Eunomia, Dazzling Move and Ultimate Authority
Who Won The Ruffian Stakes in 2025?
12 months ago, the Jorge R. Abreu-trained Jody’s Pride won the Ruffian Stakes (watch below) – under Joel Rosario.
But she’s failed to win another race since – running seven times without getting her head in front.
