Champali Goes For Third Turfway Stakes Win, If Mother Nature Cooperates
By: John Gaver III

(Feb. 28, 2003) - Lloyd Madison Farm's Champali isn't stabled at Turfway Park but has proven he's the top 3-year-old to compete this winter at the Florence, Ky. racetrack by virtue of his wins in the Prevue and WEBN Stakes. The Greg Foley-trainee will have the opportunity to enhance his already lofty local reputation in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, which will be contested at a mile and sixteenth trip on Saturday, Mar. 1, if mother nature cooperates.

Turfway cancelled live racing for the evening of Friday, Feb. 28, but officials are hopeful they can have the surface ready for Saturday's card, on which two stakes races are scheduled. On Wednesday, Feb. 27, live racing was stopped after one race because of unsuitable conditions. Turfway completed a card on Wednesday, Feb. 26 but lost the previous nine programs because of inclement weather and poor track conditions.

Turfway president Bob Elliston told The Blood-Horse on the morning of Feb. 28 that the track maintenance crew would be working continuously to push water out and create firmer terrain for the Mar. 1 program. "That's 100% the plan," Elliston said.

No additional precipitation is expected in Florence, Ky. until late afternoon on Mar. 1, though foggy, overcast conditions on Feb. 28 have hampered the drying out process.

Champali, 8-5 on the morning line, is a mere 2 ¾-lengths shy of winning his past four starts against stakes company, and the colt has won his past two stakes appearances in Florence over racetracks containing moisture. The bay colt will break from 11-hole - the widest stall of all - however he has the tactical speed to overcome the poor post draw and gets the services of the meet's leading rider, Jason Lumpkins.

New York invader Grey Comet, who has never missed the exacta from five starts lifetime for trainer Gary Contessa, is coming off a game second-place finish to Boston Park in the $81,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct, where he suffered the first loss of his career on Feb. 8. Like Champali, Grey Comet possesses tactical speed and is undefeated over "off" tracks. Unlike, Champali, Grey Comet will break from the rail. The colt is 2-1 on the morning line and will run with Lasix for the first time.

Another new shooter in the Battaglia is the Irish-bred Grand (Ire), who will be making his first start for trainer Elliott Walden and Team Valor Stables. The son of Grand Lodge finished third, beaten 5 ¾-lengths for all the money, behind the respected pair of Wando and Gigawatt in last fall's Grey Breeders' Cup (Gr. 2 - Can.) at Woodbine when last seen at the races. His form has improved since he was switched to dirt, and is another entrant that will run with Lasix for the first time.

Chicken Soup Kid, who was a gallant second behind Champali in the WEBN Stakes despite rearing at the start and encountering traffic problems at the five-sixteenths pole; Honeagle, an honest third in the WEBN Stakes and the graded stakes-placed Tito's Beau, who was the recipient of a wide trip in the WEBN Stakes, are the top locally based contenders.

The field for the 21st running for the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, in post position order with riders, weights and morning line odds is Grey Comet, Aaron Gryder, 121, 2-1; Chicken Soup Kid, Brian Peck, 114, 10-1; False Promises, Orlando Mojica, 114, 30-1; Tito's Beau, Dean Butler, 114, 12-1; Steelyeyed, Joe Deegan, 114, 15-1; Wendar, Perry Ouzts, 114, 30-1; Lx Commander, Rodney Prescott, 114, 12-1; Paula's Pride, Jeff Johnston, 114, 15-1; Honeagle, Rafael Bejarano, 114, 12-1; Grand (Ire), Tony D'Amico, 116, 10-1; Champali, Lumpkins, 121, 8-5.

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