Meet the Contenders: 2025 John Battaglia Memorial
First Resort winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
February 19th, 2025
Meet the horses running in the 2025 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents their opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Spirit Rags wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#1 Spirit Rags *
Pro: Finally broke through with his first win in 11 tries at a double-digit price.
Con: Hard to envision he’ll back that maiden win up in a stakes.
Shan wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)
#2 Shan **
Pro: Retreating third in stakes debut despite setting a tepid, uncontested pace.
Con: Seven-start veteran concedes upside to others in here.
Studlydoright wins the Nashua Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
#3 Studlydoright **
Pro: Two-time stakes winner has been facing tougher fields in New York.
Con: Has lost position late in last two and might have distance limitations.
Calling Card wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#4 Calling Card ***
Pro: NY-bred should appreciate class drop after no-show in Lecomte (G3).
Con: Needs to find more while adapting quickly to a synthetic surface.
California Burrioto at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#5 California Burrito **
Pro: Lulled rivals to sleep on the front end for a local allowance win.
Con: Unlikely to get away with those tactics against a much stronger field.
Banks wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#6 Banks ***
Pro: Likely better than Leonatus S. clunker last time suggests.
Con: Probably hurt by the soft pace in his stakes debut, so might need help with that
Baby Max wins the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#7 Baby Max ****
Pro: Proved best in Leonatus while beating Risen Star (G2) runner-up.
Con: Few apparent negatives other than faces stronger, deeper cast this time.
King of Ashes wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#8 King of Ashes ***
Pro: Has taken to Tapeta well, albeit only against maiden company so far.
Con: Lack of experience facing winners is his primary hurdle.
First Resort winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
#9 First Resort *****
Pro: Class of the field as he exits a comfortable win in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).
Con: Has had weather-related training interruptions and hasn’t yet run over Tapeta.
First Resort is on the #KentuckyDerby trail now! 🌹
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 30, 2024
He wins the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at 6/1 for trainer Eoin Harty with @luissaezpty aboard! Another impressive win for @godolphin.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/3yznMMYq54
Coming In Hot at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#10 Coming in Hot ***
Pro: Living up to his name having won two in a row, including Turfway Prevue.
Con: All-or-nothing type hasn’t yet run beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.
TwinSpires
#11 Brereton’s Baytown *
Pro: Has won two of his last three, albeit against far easier and over wet dirt.
Con: Hard to make a case class-wise, having just beaten $40,000 claimers.
Maximum Promise wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#12 Maximum Promise ***
Pro: Closed the gap late in Lecomte, albeit in a slow edition of that race.
Con: Slow starts have been a problem and not acquainted yet with this surface.
Special Caliber wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#13 Special Caliber *
Pro: Addition of Lasix seemed to help him post massive upset versus maiden foes.
Con: AE goes without Lasix here and is taking a big hike in class.
Maitre D wins the Bob Will Memorial at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#14 Maitre D **
Pro: Surprise winner in his debut over the track, and dull try in Swale S. looks a tossout.
Con: Relatively inexperienced and two-deep on the AE list.
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