Playing For Keeps (USA) Horse

Country

United States

Foal Date

28-Mar-20

Colour

chestnut

Sire

Dark Kestrel

Dam

Buckler

Prize Money

165897

Trainer

Louis V. Ruberto, Jr.

Owners

Ruberto Racing Stable, Inc

About

Thistledown R6 Race 6 Playing For Keeps is a 6yo ch unknown from United States trained by Louis V. Ruberto, Jr., who is based at . It is sired by the stallion Dark Kestrel out of the dam Buckler. Playing For Keeps has managed to win 4 races in its career so far. On 27th May 2025 at Thistledown, Playing For Keeps scored its most significant win to date, getting the money in the $40100.00 Race 5.

Raced At

Penn National • Thistledown • Presque Isle Downs

Race Record

Event Summary	Runner Stats	Rank
Mahoning Valley 03-Dec-25 1110m R8 Race 8 $259 (of $25,900) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:05.530, SP: 21.00 1st Kinderhook ( E Barbaran 124 ) 2nd Bohemian Style ( A Chavez 123 ) 0.10L 3rd Sunset Town ( R Bowen 124 ) 0.85L 8th Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 124 ) 5.95L See full results	M Cedillo 56.2kg 5.95L	8 (9)
Penn National 14-Nov-25 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8 $660 (of $22,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:10.290, SP: 21.00 was well placed early on the inside and faded. 1st Neon Sign ( A Cruz 121 ) 2nd Mask Patrol ( J Torres 121 ) 0.75L 3rd Yo Yo Candy ( R F Moya 121 ) 2.25L 5th Playing For Keeps ( M Rojas 121 ) 4.50L See full results	M Rojas 54.9kg 4.50L	5 (6)
Mahoning Valley 30-Oct-25 1210m R8 Race 8 $259 (of $25,900) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:12.100, SP: 17.00 1st Win Herbie Win ( V R Fernandez 121 ) 2nd Don't Stop ( T D Houghton 124 ) 2.00L 3rd Bohemian Style ( A Crispin 121 ) 4.00L 7th Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 124 ) 9.40L See full results	M Cedillo 56.2kg 9.40L	7 (9)
Thistledown 26-Jun-25 1110m FIRM R1 Race 1 $280 (of $28,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:04.660, SP: 7.00 chased the winner three then two wide to the top of the stretch then weakened. 1st Platinum Ghost ( L R Rivera 119 ) 2nd Wetzel ( Y Aviles 119 ) 5.75L 3rd Frosty Paws ( L A Batista 119 ) 6.50L 6th Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 123 ) 8.30L See full results	M Cedillo 55.8kg 8.30L	6 (7)
Thistledown 27-May-25 1207m FIRM R5 Race 5 $25,263 (of $40,100) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:11.740 away alertly, set all the pace and finished full of run under right handed urging to win going away. 1st Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 119 ) 2nd Momma K's Boy ( J A Bracho 119 ) 3.25L 3rd Private Moment ( R Feliciano 119 ) 3.50L See full results	M Cedillo 54kg	1 (7)
Thistledown 04-May-25 1207m R4 Race 4 $3,400 (of $34,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:11.820 never far back, closed ground late three wide. 1st Roll On Big O ( L A Batista 119 ) 2nd Run Red Run ( V R Fernandez 119 ) 0.25L 3rd Playing For Keeps ( R Feliciano 121 ) 1.00L See full results	R Feliciano 54.9kg 1.00L	3 (6)
Mahoning Valley 10-Apr-25 1210m FIRM R4 Race 4 $3,620 (of $36,200) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:12.220, SP: 3.50 stalked the pacesetter from striking distance to the top of the lane and lacked a clsoing kick. 1st Little Toy Guns ( J A Bracho 124 ) 2nd Knock Wood ( D J Haldar 124 ) 1.75L 3rd Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 126 ) 2.50L See full results	M Cedillo 57.2kg 2.50L	3 (6)
Mahoning Valley 19-Mar-25 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8 $22,112 (of $35,100) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:11.870, SP: 8.50 was bumped from both sides at the start, made the lead quickly, set all the pace, turned back a strong bid from the runner up on the turn and proved best in a stretch long drive under left handed urging. 1st Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 124 ) 2nd Reigning Dream ( A Chavez 124 ) 0.50L 3rd Right On The Munny ( E Barbaran 118 ) 7.25L See full results	M Cedillo 56.2kg	1 (8)
Mahoning Valley 28-Dec-24 1610m FIRM R7 Race 7 $351 (of $35,101) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:41.720, SP: 13.00 set a pressured pace for a half and was through early. 1st C V Shackles ( G A Martinez 124 ) 2nd Reigning Dream ( A J Ayala 123 ) 1.75L 3rd Orfano ( J A Bracho 124 ) 1.85L 7th Playing For Keeps ( L A Batista 124 ) 14.60L See full results	L A Batista 56.2kg 14.60L	7 (8)
Mahoning Valley 10-Dec-24 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8 $2,457 (of $35,101) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:12.710, SP: 3.75 pressured the winner two wide into the stretch and faded late. 1st Lust For Life ( Y Aviles 123 ) 2nd Romanian Prince ( E Paucar 125 ) 1.50L 3rd Color Bearer ( A Y Nunez 124 ) 4.00L 4th Playing For Keeps ( L A Batista 124 ) 8.00L See full results	L A Batista 56.2kg 8.00L	4 (8)
Mahoning Valley 07-Nov-24 1210m FIRM R7 Race 7 $351 (of $35,101) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:14.270, SP: 7.00 Bmp 7/16p,just failed 1st Bold Buckeye ( J A Bracho 124 ) 2nd Color Bearer ( A Y Nunez 124 ) 1.10L 3rd Lust For Life ( G A Martinez 122 ) 2.60L DQ Playing For Keeps ( L A Batista 124 ) 0.10L See full results	L A Batista 56.2kg 0.10L	UPD (7)
Thistledown 26-Jul-23 1110m R2 CL $22,554 (of $35,800) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:05.660 Bore out,bmp,wide,drvn 1st Playing For Keeps ( A R Ramgeet 115 ) 2nd Prosecutor ( J J L Velez 115 ) 0.75L 3rd Little Toy Guns ( J A Bracho 115 ) 2.75L See full results	A R Ramgeet 52.2kg	1 (7)
Thistledown 05-Jul-23 1210m R1 CL $7,160 (of $35,800) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:12.020 Early lead,2best rail 1st Our Buckwheat ( C Keiser 117 ) 2nd Playing For Keeps ( A R Ramgeet 115 ) 1.75L 3rd Prosecutor ( J J L Velez 115 ) 3.25L See full results	A R Ramgeet 52.2kg 1.75L	2 (7)
Presque Isle Downs 05-Jun-23 1210m FIRM (of $48,000), Winning Time: 01:10.680, SP: 61.00 Pc,faded turn 1st Dreaming Of Kona ( S Spieth 124 ) 2nd Closethegame Sugar ( J Ortiz 118 ) 0.50L 3rd Where Is Mike ( J Toledo 118 ) 3.25L 6th Playing For Keeps ( A Ramgeet 118 ) 9.00L	A Ramgeet 53.5kg 9.00L	6 (7)
Thistledown 28-Apr-23 1110m FIRM R3 Race 3 $7,160 (of $35,800) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:06.460 matched strides for the early lead along the rail, dropped back on the turn, swung out to the six path entering the stretch then came on again to finish clear for second while gaining on the winner. 1st Awesomely Inspired ( L R Rivera 115 ) 2nd Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 114 , Cd 109 ) 1.00L 3rd Flag Raiser ( E Barbaran 117 ) 3.00L See full results	M Cedillo 51.7kg, Cd 49.4kg 1.00L	2 (8)
Thistledown 27-Apr-23 1110m FIRM (of $22,733), Winning Time: 01:06.460, SP: 2/1 Came again 6path 1st Awesomely Inspired ( L Rivera 115 ) 2nd Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 119 ) 0.15L 3rd Flag Raiser ( E Barbaran 117 ) 0.15L	M Cedillo 54kg 0.15L	2 (8)
Mahoning Valley 13-Apr-23 1210m FIRM R5 Md (of $31,800) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:15.240, SP: 1.05 Clear, roused late 1st Playing For Keeps ( M Cedillo 119 , Cd 124 ) 2nd Nosey Power ( T Houghton 126 ) 1.75L 3rd Sol Of Vaquero ( L Briceno 126 ) 7.75L	M Cedillo 54kg, Cd 56.2kg	1 (12)
Thistledown 12-Oct-22 1210m R5 Race 5 $6,780 (of $33,900) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:13.820 was steadied at the start, rushed up to contention down the backside, could not challenge the winner late but was second best. 1st Primitivo ( E Barbaran 118 ) 2nd Playing For Keeps ( T D Houghton 118 ) 3.00L 3rd Smoocher ( A I Diaz 118 ) 4.50L See full results	T D Houghton 53.5kg 3.00L	2 (7)
Belterra Park 24-Sep-22 1210m R8 Loyalty Stakes (Stakes) $5,250 (of $75,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:13.780 was wellback in the three path, was cued from four wide into the lane, but finished evenly. 1st Sammy And Shorty ( L R Rivera 118 ) 2nd Excitement ( J Sanchez 118 ) 4.25L 3rd Ronni's Wind ( I Wiseman 113 ) 5.75L 4th Playing For Keeps ( T D Houghton 116 ) 12.75L See full results	T D Houghton 52.6kg 12.75L	4 (8)