Jorge Ruiz notches three victories

LAUREL, MD— “It was a stall accident,” said owner-breeder Helen Marshall about the unfortunate incident that cost Big Earn her left eye. "It happened at Pimlico. One morning, she became upset when a horse walked by, reared up, and her head went through the ceiling.”

Big Earn lost her eye, but not her will to win.

Her heart is immense, as evidenced by her popular 2 ½-length score in Sunday’s co-featured eighth race, a state-bred or state-sired allowance event for fillies and mares over six furlongs on the Fort Marcy Turf Course.

“She's a racehorse,” said Tana Aubrey, assistant to winning trainer Michael Trombetta. “She gives it her all every time she runs.”

Lady Ensign blasted out of the gate to take an early lead, with Big Earn settling just off the pacesetter while racing outside and remaining in the clear.

Lady Ensign sped through the opening quarter in 23.04 seconds, but Big Earn traveled comfortably. She engaged Lady Ensign in the upper stretch before drawing away to prevail by 2 ½ lengths in 1:09.03 on firm going.

Clawless Brit rallied gamely to second, half a length ahead of Lady Ensign. Juniper Juice, Over My Cents, Preparefortakeoff, Brief Affair, and Meg completed the order of finish.

Big Earn returned $4.20 as the betting favorite, with jockey Jorge Ruiz aboard. She is a 5-year-old mare by Warrior’s Reward, out of Noble Nation, by Cal Nation. Her dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy, and her second dam is the multiple stakes-winning sprinter Noble Maz, by Storm Boot.

Big Earn began her career under the tutelage of trainer Kieron Magee, running six times on dirt without winning. During this period, she suffered her accident.

Marshall transferred Big Earn to trainer Steve Asmussen last year, and the mare raced five times across all three surfaces without success.

Finally, Big Earn settled into the Trombetta barn.

“When we got her back last summer, she was out at Ellis,” Aubrey said. “We decided to put blinkers on her and shorten her up. I only had her for three weeks, and then we ran her in Virginia. It was a bad maiden race, but she won nicely, and then she won two more after that."

Big Earn finished fourth twice against open allowance company before the turf season ended. She then raced twice on dirt while wearing goggles to protect her eye, before being freshened up for a 2026 grass campaign.

That campaign began on May 2, when she finished a rallying second behind favored Mopo.

Big Earn has four wins from 20 starts, earning $149,654.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Aubrey beamed proudly. “She's a beautiful mare and so kind. She's a pleasure to train and a pleasure to have in the barn."

*Jorge Ruiz notches three wins

Big Earn was the second of three turf winners ridden by Ruiz on Sunday.

The veteran persevered with late-running Stay in Tune ($10.40) to take the fifth race for trainer Kieron Magee. He closed out the afternoon by riding Trombetta’s Golf Cart Ryder ($5.80) to a half-length victory.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ruiz, 40, is one of the most dependable riders in the region and one of the most underrated turf jockeys in the entire country.

In 2025, Ruiz finished sixth among all North American jockeys by turf wins (80). A handicapper who blindly bet on all of Ruiz’s 427 grass mounts earned a $2.09 return on investment on a $2.00 flat bet.

Ruiz rode 923 winners in Argentina before moving to the United States in the summer of 2016.

Ruiz enjoyed his best season in 2025, setting single-season records in wins (116) and earnings ($5,601,685)

This year, he rode No Show Sammy Jo to victory in the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Aqueduct.

*Around the track:

Apprentice jockey Jose Vargas completed a natural double. In the second race, he settled Gimme Two Shots ($5.80) just off the early leaders, then drew off to a runaway victory for trainer Mike Geralis. Vargas came right back to take the third on Sweeterthanwhiskey ($4.60) for trainer Georgia Andreadakis.

Mychel Sanchez also booted home two winners. He placed favored Ecumenical ($4.40) right on the lead in the fourth race for trainer Hugh McMahon, then wired the field aboard Guaponess ($11.80) in the co-featured eighth race for trainer Jamie Ness.

Live racing resumes Friday with a 10-race card featuring two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate. The first post time is 12 pm ET.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday afternoon. Click here to view it.

Join us Saturday for the “Belmont Stakes Watch Party” at Laurel Park. Gates open at 10:45 AM, and advance wagering on the full card is available at Saratoga. Enjoy food and drink specials, six Grade 1 races from Saratoga, including the third jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, and action-packed live racing at Laurel Park. For more information, visit here.

Tickets are available for “Tacos & Margaritas at Laurel Park” on Sunday, June 7, between 1 PM and 4 pm. Enjoy great food, exciting live racing, and a relaxing social atmosphere. For menu and ticket information, visit here.

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