The lone domestic Kentucky Derby qualifying points available this week come at Turfway Park, where Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial Stakes serves as the local prep to the Jeff Ruby. The $175,000 event at 1-1/16 miles on the Tapeta synthetic surface has attracted an overflow field in the entry box.
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Let’s meet the contenders for the John Battaglia Memorial (Race 9):
#1-STREET BEAST: Likely favorite wired the Leonatus Stakes in his local unveiling Jan. 17 and followed up a strong freshman season in which he won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Ben Colebrook trains the son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and local ace Luan Machado has the return mount.
#2-STEEL IMPERIUM: Romped in a Feb. 7 local debut sprint by 4 lengths while rallying last to first and circling the field. Caio Caramori steps this Essential Quality colt up in class immediately. With a $510,000 price tag, there’s a ton of turf distance stamina on the bottom of his pedigree.
#3-MAXIMUS PRIME: 7-race maiden was runner-up last spring in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs. Exits a third-place local maiden mile try with the addition of Lasix, but the Maximus Mischief colt won’t have Lasix in this stakes for trainer Anthony Mitchell.
#4-KILO TANGO: Rallying, 1-mile maiden breaker Jan. 3 at Turfway in his third lifetime start for trainer Brad Cox. This $575,000 Candy Ride colt was third on the Churchill turf prior. Jockey Luan Machado hops seats to ride Street Beast in the Battaglia, leaving the mount to Fernando de la Cruz. Dam Up In Smoke was a stakes-winning dirt sprinter.
#5-BAYTOWN DREAMER: Busy colt makes his third prep start of 2006 after a third in the Smarty Jones and 11th In the Southwest, both at Oaklawn. Would be returning on 15 days’ rest while looking to snap a 6-race losing streak. Turfway debut for this Paul McEntee trainee who has been based here all winter.
#6-TIME FOR MONEY: First-time gelding finished a late-running fourth in a Turfway mile allowance Dec. 27 and makes his first appearance since. Not This Time colt for trainer John Ennis has won 1 of 5, breaking his maiden on turf at Churchill in October. Ennis finished second in this race in 2024 with eventual Kentucky Derby starter Epic Ride.
#7-ATTFIELD: Tom Morley brings this one from his Belmont Park training base and tries synthetic for the first time. Vekoma colt won 2 of 3 last season, including the Central Park at 1-1/16 miles on grass at Aqueduct. Ricardo Santana Jr. keeps the mount with the change of venue and this one figures to view for favoritism.
#8-GREAT WHITE: John Ennis stablemate of Time For Money gives the barn two shots Saturday. Dec. 12 debut winner ran an even fifth in the Leonatus Stakes and must improve just under 5 lengths vs. Street Beast in the rematch. Troubled trip last out could give the Volatile gelding reason under return river Alex Achard.
#9-STOP THE CAR: Opened career 2-for-2 with Keeneland and Churchill victories before disappointing seventh-place effort in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds at 9-2 odds. Lecomte alumni returned to finish second and third in last weeks’ Risen Star in New Orleans. Brendan Walsh trainee by Maximum Security has yet to try anything but dirt to date. Edgar Morales rides for the first time.
#10-ACES HONOR: Ethan West charge has posted back-to-back wins, including the Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston on Jan. 24. The Code of Honor colt is 2-for-4 overall and will be ridden by Victor Carrasco for the first time. West barn developed last year’s Kentucky Derby performer Chunk of Gold after wintering at Turfway and looks for a follow-up success.
#11-FULLEFFORT: Runner-up as the favorite in the Leonatus Stakes seeks rematch revenge on Street Beast in the Battaglia. Joins Kilo Tango in the lineup for trainer Brad Cox. This $425,000 son of Liam’s Map won Kentucky Downs and Keeneland turf tests to wrap a 2-for-2 first season. He hits the Battaglia in a favorable, second-off-the-layoff form cycle. Vince Cheminaud has the return call.
#12-TWO OUT HERO: Canadian stakes winner makes his 3-year-old debut for leading Woodbine conditioner Kevin Attard. This War Front colt won his debut on Tapeta by 12 lengths and then won the Soaring Free sprinting on turf. He closed his campaign third in September’s Grade 1 Summer by a length. Rafael Hernandez has been aboard in each start and will be once again.
(AE) #13-SMALL TOWN: Jan. 10 debut winner will need a scratch in order to participate. Michael McCarthy trainee won locally over 6 furlongs and would land a tough post for first 2-turn effort. Son of Speightstown has stamina damside of his pedigree.
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