Ky. Derby trail: Battaglia favorite First Resort will be scratched
Photo:
Jessica Morgan / Eclipse Sportswire
First Resort will scratch from Saturday’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park after exiting a workout earlier this week with stiffness in his left hind leg, according to trainer Eoin Harty.
The 2-1 morning line favorite, a homebred for Godolphin, was set to make his 3-year-old debut following a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall at Churchill Downs. He worked a half-mile in 51.2 seconds Monday but showed signs of stiffness behind two days later.
“I worked him Monday, and by Wednesday he was a little stiff behind,” Harty said. “He hasn’t really improved, so we’re erring on the side of caution to get him back to 100 percent before he runs again.”
With the scratch of First Resort, Special Caliber would draw into the field. The John Battaglia Memorial will award the top 5 finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby.
Run at 1 1/16 miles, the John Battaglia Memorial 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.
The road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Turfway on March 22 for the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), a qualifier worth 100 points to the winner.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
Special Caliber Mo Town |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 14 |
|
Maitre D Game Winner |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
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