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Turfway Park / Coady Media

California Burrito turned back a determined challenge from Baby Max to win Saturday night at Turfway Park in the 43rd running of the listed, $173,500 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park, a Kentucky Derby 2025 points prep.

Owned by Aaron and Victoria Haberman, trained by Tommy Drury and ridden by Irving Moncada, California Burrito completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:45.98 while earning 20 qualifying points toward a spot in the starting gate for the Derby on May 3.

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California Burrito broke aggressively from the gate and was sent immediately to the lead by Moncada. Long shot Maitre D, who broke from the far outside post, pressed California Burrito into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in 24.50 seconds.

Up the backside California Burrito maintained a half-length margin through a half-mile clocking of 49.41 seconds. As California Burrito rated on the lead, Baby Max tracked his every move under jockey Luis Sáez while sitting in third, about two lengths off the front.

Around the second turn, Baby Max launched his bid three wide. Turning for home California Burrito’s lead was down to a head as the two battled the entire length of the Turfway Park stretch. At the line California Burrito battled back to Baby Max’s inside to finish a half-length in front.

“He’s been working lights out in the morning,” Moncada said. “I was very confident in him coming into the race. The plan was to be aggressive early to get him into a good spot, and he took me right to the lead. He was doing it very easily on his own most of the race. I’m very impressed with how he battled back down the lane. I think the future is very bright for him. I see no problem with him stretching out in distance from today.”

It was 5 1/2 lengths back to Maximum Promise in third followed by Banks, Studlydoright, Coming in Hot, Shan, Special Caliber, King of Ashes, Maitre D and Spirit Rags.

“His first race was sort of a head-scratcher,” Drury said. “We knew we’d be able to be aggressive with him entering for the $150,000 claiming tag because of that, and it actually gave him a confidence boost. Watching these 3-year-olds develop is like watching teenagers and trying to pick out which ones will make it to the NBA. It’s so difficult at this stage.

“His last race he got an easy lead and did everything on his own, so we really didn’t know a lot about him. Tonight he made the lead very easily again, but the way he battled back against Baby Max told us a lot. He has a lot of fight in him. He doesn’t need the lead. He’s worked behind horses in the morning.”

Sent off at odds of 7-2, California Burrito returned $9.42, $4.50 and $3.18. Baby Max paid $3.72 and $2.62 with Maximum Promise returning $3.92 to show.

Saturday marked California Burrito’s third victory from six starts, increasing his career earnings to $222,941 after earning $102,850 for the win. The son of Army Mule out of Hard Spun mare Bluegrass Sunset was bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables.

The Battaglia was part of the road to the Kentucky Derby prep season and awarded the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. These were the first points California Burrito earned, so he is 11th in the current qualifying standings with 20.

The race served as the local prep for the Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, which is worth 100-50-25-15-10 points and is scheduled for March 22.