Study Guide: 2021 John Battaglia Memorial
Feb 23, 2021
The $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park has long served as a local steppingstone toward the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway's signature race. But Friday's renewal of the John Battaglia is the most significant to date—for the first time, the 1 1/16-mile race serves as a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep event awarding qualification points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 basis.
| Total 5 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Soaring Free S. |
| Wins: 3 | Total Earnings: $272,205 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber | Sire: Nyquist |
| Breeder: Anderson Farms Ont. | Dam: Pearl Turn |
| Trainer: Mark Casse | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Gerardo Corrales |
A son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Gretzky the Great is easily the most accomplished runner in the John Battaglia field. A two-time stakes winner, Gretzky the Great used his pace-tracking speed to dominate the Summer (G1) at Woodbine last fall by 3 1/4 lengths. Although he hasn't run since finishing sixth against a tough field in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Gretzky the Great has been training forwardly for his return and looks tough to beat under hot jockey Gerardo Corrales. Don't forget, Gretzky the Great broke his maiden over the Tapeta track at Woodbine last summer, so switching from turf to the Tapeta footing at Turfway shouldn't be an issue.
| Total 8 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (86) when breaking his maiden at Turfway. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $61,230 |
| Place: 5 | |
| Show: 2 |
| Owner: Ramspring Farm and Blazing Meadows Farm | Sire: Gemologist |
| Breeder: Ramspring Farm and Clay B. Patrick | Dam: Granby Girl |
| Trainer: Timothy Hamm | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Rafael Hernandez |
An experienced runner with eight starts under his belt, The Predicament required seven starts to break his maiden, finally doing so in a six-furlong sprint at Turfway. The consistent gelding has never finished out of the trifecta, but his most recent effort—a runner-up finish in a six-furlong allowance race at Turfway—suggests he'll need improvement to keep his streak alive in the John Battaglia.
| Total 4 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning a Turfway allowance race. |
| Wins: 2 | Total Earnings: $40,759 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Sandra Sexton and Ortiz Racing Stables | Sire: Twirling Candy |
| Breeder: Sandra Sexton | Dam: Bluster |
| Trainer: John Ortiz | Color: Dark bay/brown |
| Jockey: Albin Jimenez |
Speed is the name of the game for Twirling Mamba, who hails from the high-percentage barn of trainer John Ortiz. The son of Twirling Candy clearly relished the Turfway Tapeta in a six-furlong allowance race on Jan. 23, tracking a fast pace before charging clear to beat The Predicament by 2 1/4 lengths. But Twirling Mamba has never run farther than seven furlongs, and with a career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating under his belt, he'll need a step forward to vie for victory against tougher company on Friday.
| Total 4 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (91) when wiring a Turfway allowance race. |
| Wins: 2 | Total Earnings: $39,380 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: M Racing Group | Sire: Palace Malice |
| Breeder: Horseshoe Racing | Dam: Like a Queen |
| Trainer: Wesley Ward | Color: Chestnut |
| Jockey: Rafael Bejarano |
Leading trainer Wesley Ward has won at a 33% rate at Turfway since the beginning of 2021, stamping Like the King as a contender to fear in the John Battaglia. A 7 1/2-length maiden winner racing a mile on turf, Like the King thrived when switching to Tapeta for a Dec. 4 allowance race at Turfway, leading all the way to win the one-mile heat by 3 1/2 easy lengths. This eye-catching victory produced a 91 Brisnet Speed rating (the second-highest figure in Friday's field), so don't be surprised if Like the King posts another gate-to-wire win in the John Battaglia.
| Total 3 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (82) when breaking his maiden at Fair Grounds. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $38,370 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Robert V. LaPenta | Sire: Runhappy |
| Breeder: Elm Tree Farm, Curt Leake, TimeWill Tell, and Warren Harang | Dam: Sky America |
| Trainer: Brad Cox | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Deshawn Parker |
Fair Grounds maiden winner Kinetic Sky has already faced some quality rivals, coming home third behind future Risen Star (G2) runner-up Proxy in a Nov. 26 maiden heat. But the son of Runhappy has never run on synthetic and brings a career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating to the mix, suggesting the John Battaglia will be a tougher test than usual for Kinetic Sky.
| Total 8 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Juvenile S. at Ellis Park. |
| Wins: 2 | Total Earnings: $114,697 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Sandin Syndicate Stable | Sire: Curlin |
| Breeder: Southern Equine Stables and Southern Equestrian Stables | Dam: Michelle d'Oro |
| Trainer: William Morey | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: John McKee |
As a son of Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, Pico d'Oro is bred top and bottom to thrive over classic distances. So it's a bit surprising to note that Pico d'Oro boasts a 2-0-0-0 record running long and a 6-2-1-1 record sprinting, with the latter resume highlighted by a stretch-running victory in the Juvenile S. at Ellis Park. On the bright side, Pico d'Oro is already proven at Turfway, flashing more tactical speed than usual to win a six-furlong allowance sprint in December. But the 1 1/16-mile distance of the John Battaglia might prove to be out of Pico d'Oro's reach.
| Total 5 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing second in a Turfway allowance race. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $38,968 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Bourbon Lane Stable | Sire: Hard Spun |
| Breeder: Godolphin and John R. Penn | Dam: La Pomme d'Amour |
| Trainer: Ian Wilkes | Color: Chestnut |
| Jockey: Chris Landeros |
After displaying only so-so form on turf and dirt, Hard Rye Guy took a big step forward when switching to Tapeta at Turfway. A rallying maiden win racing one mile was followed by a close runner-up effort in an allowance race over the same distance. The son of Hard Spun is progressing in the right direction, though his Brisnet Speed ratings suggest a top-four finish might be the ceiling for his potential against tougher competition in the John Battaglia.
| Total 3 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a Turfway allowance race. |
| Wins: 2 | Total Earnings: $14,090 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Joseph P. Morey Jr. Revocable Trust | Sire: Creative Cause |
| Breeder: Hush Now | Dam: Hush Now |
| Trainer: William Morey | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Santiago Gonzalez |
Unbeaten in two starts over the Turfway Tapeta, Hush a Storm is a mid-pack closer with eye-catching acceleration. After dominating a one-mile maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths, Hush of a Storm jumped up in class for a one-mile allowance race and rallied tenaciously to beat Hard Rye Guy by three-quarters of a length. Hush of a Storm's proven affinity for the local course is a positive, and trainer Bill Morey has been hot at Turfway this winter, winning at a lofty 29% rate. Ignore this improving youngster at your own risk.
| Total 2 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (89) when breaking his maiden at Turfway. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $14,090 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Helen C. Alexander | Sire: Mosler |
| Breeder: Helen C. Alexander | Dam: Lovely Moon |
| Trainer: Reeve McGaughey | Color: Dark bay/brown |
| Jockey: Rodney Prescott |
Although Fort Moultrie failed to fire in his debut racing one mile at Turfway, the son of Mosler improved tremendously in his second start, rallying from a few lengths off the pace to narrowly win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race. By holding off Bakwena through the drive, Fort Moultrie posted a sharp 89 Brisnet Speed rating, suggesting one more small step forward could put him in the hunt for victory on Friday.
| Total 3 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (77) when winning his debut at Arlington Park. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $22,550 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Calumet Farm | Sire: Street Sense |
| Breeder: Calumet Farm | Dam: Poco Mas |
| Trainer: Jack Sisterson | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Declan Cannon |
A son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Notable Exception has failed to challenge in his last two starts on dirt, including a distant defeat in the American Pharoah (G1). But the Calumet Farm homebred has been freshened since October and posted a romping 5 1/4-length victory in his debut over the synthetic Polytrack at Arlington Park, suggesting a switch to Tapeta for the John Battaglia will be right in his wheelhouse. Now Notable Exception just needs improvement on the speed figure scales—his career-best 77 Brisnet Speed rating leaves him with a lot of ground to make up.
| Total 6 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning the Laurel Futurity. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $118,532 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, John Piehowicz, Angelo Carlesimo, and Mike Maker | Sire: Kitten's Joy |
| Breeder: Steve Feiger and Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey | Dam: Fab Flowers |
| Trainer: Mike Maker | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Emmanuel Equivel |
Winner of the Laurel Futurity racing 1 1/16 miles over yielding turf last fall, Catman has shown a variety of running styles while competing at six different tracks in as many starts. But the son of Kitten's Joy hasn't seriously factored in his last three runs (all against stakes company), so bettors will have to hope the switch to Tapeta reawakens Catman's competitive spirit.
| Total 3 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (88) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs. |
| Wins: 1 | Total Earnings: $52,448 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 0 |
| Owner: Three Chimneys Farm, Fern Circle Stables, and C & H Diamond Racing | Sire: Kantharos |
| Breeder: Woods Edge Farm | Dam: On Reflection |
| Trainer: Kenny McPeek | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Robby Albarado |
Warrior in Chief lost his first two starts sprinting, but relished the chance to stretch out over 1 1/16 miles in his third run, employing pace-pressing tactics to narrowly win over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Trainer Kenny McPeek has been hot at Turfway this winter, winning at a 24% rate, and Warrior in Chief's career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating stamps him as a contender. Butt he son of Kantharos has never run on synthetic, a meaningful question mark in this field of proven Tapeta performers.
| Total 3 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in a Turfway maiden race. |
| Wins: 0 | Total Earnings: $9,490 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Silverton Hill | Sire: Graydar |
| Breeder: Silverton Hill | Dam: Oculuna |
| Trainer: Darrin Miller | Color: Gray/roan |
| Jockey: Rodney Prescott |
With a maximum field of 12 allowed to start in the John Battaglia, Bakwena has been placed on the also-eligible list as #13. That's understandable since the son of Graydar has yet to win in three starts, though he did take a notable step forward in his most recent effort, rallying to finish second by a head against Fort Moultrie. Bakwena isn't overmatched from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, so If a scratch from the main body of the field allows him to start, Bakwena's pure late-running style could potentially land him a top-four finish at huge odds.
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