Study Guide: 2025 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

Feb 17, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

First Resort wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (Photo by Coady Media)

Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park has drawn a competitive 14-horse field, including two also-eligible entrants.

The group includes four stakes winners and three horses who have earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points. The top five finishers in the John Battaglia Memorial will earn points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the field:

Spirit Rags

Spirit Rags wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 11
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Froylan Garcia
Breeder: Steven Nicholson and Brandi Nicholson
Trainer: Marcelino Salas
Jockey: Santo Sanjur

Top Speed Rating: (84) when winning a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $86,742

Sire: Union Rags
Dam: October Bride
Color: Gray/roan

Spirit Rags hasn’t finished out of the top two in three starts at Turfway, but those were maiden special weights, and the John Battaglia Memorial is a tougher spot.

Shan

Shan wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Steve Moger
Breeder: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr.
Jockey: Albin Jimenez

Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning an Ellis Park $30,000 maiden claimer.
Total Earnings: $74,436

Sire: Shancelot
Dam: Kada
Color: Bay

In his first start beyond a sprint distance, Shan tired to finish third in the one-mile Leonatus S. at Turfway, beaten 6 1/4 lengths. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables on Leonatus winner Baby Max.

Studlydoright

Studlydoright wins the Nashua S. at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit Chelsea Durand)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Mens Grille Racing
Breeder: Glenangus Farm
Trainer: John Robb
Jockey: Xavier Perez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Tremont S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $288,680

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Peach of a Gal
Color: Chestnut

Studlydoright’s first two Road to the Kentucky Derby forays yielded fourths in the Remsen (G2) and Jerome S. Perhaps switching from dirt to Tapeta will help this stoutly bred son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist challenge for victory.

Calling Card

Calling Card wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm, Manlius Stable, Built Wright Stables, et al.
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight for New York-breds.
Total Earnings: $75,350

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Graceful Rage
Color: Dark bay/brown

Calling Card joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with an eighth-place finish in the Lecomte (G3) on dirt. He’s run well on turf in the past, so there’s a chance he’ll handle Tapeta without issue. His best Brisnet Speed rating is fast enough to factor in the John Battaglia Memorial.

California Burrito

California Burrito wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Aaron Haberman and Victoria Haberman
Breeder: Westbrook Stables
Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr.
Jockey: Irving Moncada

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a Churchill Downs $150,000 maiden claimer.
Total Earnings: $120,091

Sire: Army Mule
Dam: Bluegrass Sunset
Color: Bay

California Burrito was tons the best in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Turfway last month, winning by 7 1/4 lengths. But he benefited from setting an extremely slow pace. When he encountered a faster tempo in his previous start over the same track, distance, and class level, California Burrito finished fourth behind John Battaglia Memorial rival Banks.

Banks

Banks wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Tom Lambro
Breeder: E H Beau Lane
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Top Speed Rating: (81) when winning a Turfway Park $62,500 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $51,802

Sire: Outwork
Dam: Blip Says Bye
Color: Dark bay/brown

In late December, Banks rallied from midfield to win a one-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Turfway by two lengths. But he subsequently finished seventh behind Baby Max in the Leonatus, so Banks will need better to challenge in the John Battaglia Memorial.

Baby Max

Baby Max wins the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: J S Stables
Breeder: Westbrook Stables
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Jockey: Abel Cedillo

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning the Leonatus S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $147,151

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Lemon Gal
Color: Bay

Baby Max impressed in the one-mile Leonatus at Turfway, tracking a modest pace before taking over to win by 2 1/2 lengths. He’s progressing in the right direction and has every chance to win right back in the John Battaglia Memorial.

King of Ashes

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Trade Winds Farm
Breeder: HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Declan Cannon

Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $51,250

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Causeforcommotion
Color: Dark bay/brown

King of Ashes rallied strongly to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight over the Gulfstream Park Tapeta track. The son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense has potential, but needs to improve upon his career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating.

First Resort

First Resort wins at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $338,671

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Fair Maiden
Color: Bay

The most accomplished John Battaglia Memorial entrant is First Resort, who joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a 2 1/4-length win in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. He’s never raced on Tapeta, but First Resort has trained extensively at Turfway and has every chance to add the John Battaglia Memorial to his win tally.

First Resort is on the #KentuckyDerby trail now! 🌹

He wins the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at 6/1 for trainer Eoin Harty with @luissaezpty aboard! Another impressive win for @godolphin.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/3yznMMYq54

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 30, 2024

Coming in Hot

Coming In Hot wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Rose Hill Farm, Vincent Colbert, John Trumbulovic, and James F. Connor
Breeder: Rose Hill Farm, Vincent Colbert, John Trumbulovic, and James Connor
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Edgar Morales

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Turfway Park $62,500 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $165,741

Sire: Maclean’s Music
Dam: Allianna
Color: Bay

Coming in Hot is unbeaten in two starts at Turfway, most recently charging from midfield to win the Turfway Prevue S. He brings competitive Brisnet Speed ratings to the table and warrants respect while stretching out beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time.

Brereton’s Baytown

Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Baytown Partnerships and Trawitzki Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Ehris Stables
Trainer: Paul McEntee
Jockey: Marshall Mendez

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Laurel Park $40,000 claimer.
Total Earnings: $54,523

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Kika
Color: Bay

Brereton’s Baytown launched a last-to-first rally to win a $40,000 claimer at Laurel Park last time out. He earned a sharp 88 Brisnet Speed rating, but that was on dirt. The John Battaglia Memorial is a tougher spot, and switching to Tapeta is a question mark for Brereton’s Baytown.

Maximum Promise

Maximum Promise wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Back Racing and Run for LaRoses
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $50,141

Sire: Maximum Security
Dam: Paixao
Color: Bay

Maximum Promise has shown flashes of talent. He crushed a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park last summer by 14 1/2 lengths, and last month he returned from a long layoff to finish fifth (beaten only 2 1/2 lengths) in a deep edition of the Lecomte (G3). Switching to Tapeta is an obstacle to overcome, but Maximum Promise has talent and must be viewed as a win threat.

Special Caliber

Special Cliber wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Mana Racing
Breeder: Westwind Farms
Trainer: Michel Douaihy
Jockey: Evin Roman

Top Speed Rating: (75) when winning a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $49,761

Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Adamas
Color: Dark bay/brown

The first also-eligible entrant is Special Caliber, who recently rallied to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Turfway over Spirit Rags. His career-best 75 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the John Battaglia Memorial field.

Maitre D

Maitre D wins the Bob Will Memorial at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Sonata Stable
Breeder: Drumkenny Farm and American Equistock
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Evin Roman

Top Speed Rating: (76) when winning a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $48,137

Sire: Game Winner
Dam: My Lady Munnings
Color: Dark bay/brown

The second also-eligible entrant is Maitre D. He finished last in Gulfstream Park’s Swale S. on dirt last time out, but in his debut over the Turfway Tapeta he rallied to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by 1 1/4 lengths. His affinity for Turfway is a positive, but Maitre D needs to step forward off his career-best 76 Brisnet Speed rating.