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John Battaglia Memorial

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA 20-10-6-4-2
March 2, 2024

John Battaglia Memorial History 

Inaugurated in 1982, the John Battaglia Memorial S. was added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series in 2021, and the 1 1/16-mile race on Turfway Park’s Tapeta track offers points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May.

It’s the first of two Kentucky Derby qualifiers at the Northern Kentucky oval. Turfway will also feature the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in late March, a major qualifier awarding points on a 100-50-25-25-10 scale.

The Battaglia Memorial gained added significance in 2022 when it produced its first Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike, who finished fourth in the Battaglia Memorial two starts previously to recording an 80-1 upset under the Twin Spires. The 2022 winner, Tiz the Bomb, finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

Entering the 2024 edition, the Battaglia Memorial has produced Kentucky Derby starters two of the last three runnings.

Notable past winners include Grade 1 winners Mahogany Hall (1994), K One King (1999), and Request for Parole (2002), and Grade 2-winning millionaire Concerto (1997).

The race honors John Battaglia, former general manager at Latonia (now Turfway) and other tracks. His son, oddsmaker and retired announcer Mike Battaglia, called the Kentucky Derby from 1978-1996.

TwinSpires Staff/TwinSpires.com

Results

Win

Place

Show

12

Encino20

$13.38

$5.66

$4.12

6

Epic Ride10

$3.12

$2.56

7

Blue Eyed George6

$2.82

11

Mugatu4

2

Ode to Balius2

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Gettysburg Address

Gerado Corrales

WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC

Brad Cox

2

Ode to Balius

Sonny Leon

Arnaldo Monge

Concepcion Torres

3

Mr. Faversham

Orlando Mojica

Stephen S. Lyster

Stephen S. Lyster

4

Bolt At Midnight

Martin Garcia

Ruis Racing, LLC

Mick Ruis, Sr.

5

Fidget

Fernando De La Cruz

Calumet Farm

Brad Cox

6

Epic Ride

Adam Beschizza

Welch Racing, LLC

John Ennis

7

Blue Eyed George

Luan Machado

BG Stables

Michael W. McCarthy

8

Break Out

Tyler Conner

Kenneth L. Ramsey

Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.

9

Mission Ready

Gavin Ashton

Anthony Foglia

Edward Fernandez

10

Good Bali

Colby Hernandez

Calumet Farm

George R. Arnold II

11

Mugatu

Joseph Talamo

Average Joe Racing Stables, Ltd. and Dan Wells

Jeff Engler

12

Encino

Axel Concepcion

Godolphin, LLC

Brad Cox

Road to the Kentucky Derby

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