Road To The Kentucky Derby: Epic Ride Headlines Full Field For John Battaglia Memorial

Welch Racing’s Epic Ride headlines an oversubscribed field of 14 3-year-olds entered in the 42nd running of the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) next Saturday at Turfway Park.

The John Battaglia Memorial, named in honor of the late longtime general manager of Turfway and predecessor Latonia Race Track, will go as Race 6 at 8:25 p.m. (ET). First post is 5:55 p.m.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the John Battaglia Memorial will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5-million Kentucky Derby (G1 May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Epic Ride has been impressive in his young three-race career at Turfway Park, including last month’s Leonatus Stakes by four lengths, the local prep for the John Battaglia Memorial. 

A Blame colt, Epic Ride just missed winning his career debut Dec. 8 when he made a late surge up the rail and lost by a neck to Smokey Smokey. At second asking, Epic Ride was much the best winning by five lengths against 11 rivals in a maiden special weight contest Jan. 5. Jockey Adam Beschizza, who’s been aboard Epic Ride for all three of his starts, will once again have the call in the John Battaglia Memorial and break from post 6

Among Epic Ride’s rivals that entered are three from trainer Brad Cox: Encino, Fidget, and Gettysburg Address.

Godolphin’s homebred Encino, who was supplemented for the Battaglia Memorial, recently won a maiden special weight contest at Turfway Park. Jockey Axel Concepcion will pilot the Nyquist colt from post 12. His stablemates, WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Smarty Jones fourth-place finisher Gettysburg Address along with Calumet Farm’s allowance winner Fidget, will break from posts 5 and 1, respectively. Jockey Gerardo Corrales has the call on Gettysburg Address, a Constitution colt, while Fidget, a More Than Ready colt, will be ridden by Fernando De La Cruz.

Another breakthrough maiden special weight winner that is entered in the John Battaglia Memorial is Ruis Racing’s Bolt At Midnight. Trained by his owner Mick Ruis Sr., he earned a stout 92 Brisnet Speed Rating when he broke his maiden three weeks ago at Turfway Park in front-running fashion. A son of the former Ruis-trained Bolt d’Oro, Bolt At Midnight will be ridden by Martin Garcia from post 4.

Following is the complete field for the John Battaglia Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer): Gettysburg Address (Corrales, Brad Cox); Ode to Balius (Sonny Leon, Concepcion Torres); Mr. Faversham (Orlando Mojica, Stephen Lyster); Bolt At Midnight (Garcia, Mick Ruis Sr.); Fidget (De La Cruz, Brad Cox); Epic Ride (Adam Beschizza, Ennis); Blue Eyed George (Luan Machado, Michael McCarthy); Break Out (Tyler Conner, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mission Ready (Gavin Ashton, Ed Fernandez); Good Bali (Colby Hernandez, Rusty Arnold); Mugatu (Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler); Encino (Axel Concepcion, Brad Cox). Also-eligible: Karlwithanarl (Axel Concepcion, Robert Medina); Katheeb (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh).

The John Battaglia Memorial is the first of two races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Turfway Park. The $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is set for Saturday, March 23.