Tiz the Bomb headlines John Battaglia Memorial

Magdalena Racing’s $200,000 Bourbon S. (G2) winner Tiz the Bomb led an oversubscribed field of 14 three-year-old colts and geldings that were entered in Saturday’s $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park.

The John Battaglia Memorial, run at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta surface, is the local prep toward the April 2, $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) – the premiere race of the Turfway Park Winter Meet. The John Battaglia will go as Race 5 of 8 with a post time of 8:14 p.m. (ET).

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Tiz the Bomb will make his first start on the Tapeta surface following an enigmatic seventh-place effort four weeks ago in the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) run on dirt at Gulfstream Park. Previously, the son of Hit It a Bomb reeled off two wins and a runner-up effort on turf. Along with his victory in the Bourbon, Tiz the Bomb held on for a three-quarters of a length score in the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile before his runner-up effort to Modern Games in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The three-time winner will be ridden by Alex Achard from post 10.

Chief among Tiz the Bomb’s rivals in the Battaglia is $100,000 Leonatus S. winner Erase. Owned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables and trained by Brad Cox, Erase has been based throughout the winter at Turfway. The son of Dialed In led every step of the way in the Jan. 22 Leonatus, the local prep to the Battaglia Memorial. Jockey Ry Eikleberry was named to ride Erase for the first time from post 8. 

Here’s the field for the John Battaglia Memorial from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Goldeneye (Albin Jiminez, Bill Morey); Rich Strike (Sonny Leon, Eric Reed); La Belleza Negra (Edgar Morales, Rey Hernandez); Stolen Base (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker); On Thin Ice (Chris Landeros, Mark Casse); Legendary Lore (Rafael Bejarano, Morey); Droppin G’s (Malcom Franklin, Jerry Antonuik); Erase (Eikleberry, Cox); O P Firecracker (Manny Esquivel, Robert Medina); Tiz the Bomb (Achard, McPeek); Bloodline (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Cox); Grael (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh). Also eligible: Amicable (Tiago Canuto, Charlie Livers); Winter Son (Gabe Lagunes, Jimmy Chapman). 

Goldeneye, La Belleza Negra, Legendary Lore, Droppin G’s, O P Firecracker, Grael, Amicable and Winter Son were not nominated to the Triple Crown. To become eligible, their connections could pay a $6,000 late nomination fee by Monday, Mar. 28.

Fans can bet the John Battaglia Memorial on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc.

The John Battaglia Memorial is named after Turfway Park’s former General Manager and father of Churchill Downs longtime oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.