Kentucky Derby trail: First Resort leads full field in Battaglia
Photo:
Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire
Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club winner First Resort leads an overflow field of 12 3-year-olds plus two also-eligibles Saturday night for the 43rd running of the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial, a Kentucky Derby 2025 points prep at Turfway Park. Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Battaglia will go as the featured seventh race on the 10-race program with a post time of 8:55 p.m. EST. First post is 5:55 p.m. EST.
First Resort, a Godolphin homebred son of Uncle Mo, has been training at Turfway Park through the winter in preparation for his 3-year-old debut. Under the care of Eoin Harty, First Resort stamped himself as a Kentucky Derby prospect with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. Before that start, First Resort won his debut at Ellis Park by 3 1/2 lengths before finishing second in the Saratoga Special (G2). Jockey Luis Sáez, who guided First Resort to victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club, retains the mount from post 9.
Leonatus Stakes winner Baby Max, Turfway Prevue victor Comin in Hot and eye-catching allowance winner California Burrito return to Turfway to challenge First Resort.
Calling Card, a New York-bred maiden special-weight winner by 17 1/4 lengths; Maximum Promise, who scored a 14 1/2-length maiden victory at Ellis Park; and two-time stakes winner Studlydoright are among the talented 3-year-olds set to make their first start at Turfway.
The John Battaglia Memorial will award the top ficw finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Turfway Park on March 22, for the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), from which the winner will be an automatic qualifier for the May 3 classic.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Spirit Rags Union Rags |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Shan Shancelot |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Studlydoright Nyquist |
6.15 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Calling Card Complexity |
6.06 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
California Burrito Army Mule |
5.93 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Banks Outwork |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Baby Max Maximus Mischief |
5.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
King of Ashes Street Sense |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
First Resort Uncle Mo |
7.17 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Coming In Hot Maclean’s Music |
6.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Brereton’s Baytown Upstart |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Maximum Promise Maximum Security |
5.89 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
13 ae |
|
Special Caliber Mo Town |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
14 ae |
|
Maitre D Game Winner |
0.00 | Doug O’Neill | Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Related
Leading Parx jockey Sanchez will serve 7-day suspension
Photo: Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire Jockey Mychel Sanchez will serve a seven-day suspension and pay an additional $1,750 in fines
Bill Mott talks about plans for Sovereignty, Just F Y…
Photo: Gulfstream Park / Lauren King Sovereignty, dramatic late-running winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, is being pointed
Up-and-coming Cavalieri chases Grade 1 glory in Beholder Mile
Photo: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo Cavalieri and Alpha Bella, who finished one-two in the Grade 3 La Cañada in January at Santa Anita,
4 stakes showcase shipping stars on Tampa Bay undercard
Photo: Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire The stars will shine Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, and not just in the Grade 3 Tampa Ba
