Tipsheet: 2023 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

An overflow field of 14 sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Turfway Park All-Weather surface in Saturday’s $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial S. The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis.

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Picks

• #10 Bromley
• #4 Scoobie Quando
• #11 Moon Landing
• #6 American Speed

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Wagers 

• $20 win: #10 Bromley
• $3 exacta: key box 10 with 4, 6, 11
• 50-cent trifecta: 10 with 4, 6, 11 with all

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Contenders

#1 GOOD HEART: The Brendan Walsh pupil was a smart debut winner at Kentucky Downs on the turf but has failed to impress in two straight in advance of Saturday. The Good Samaritan colt comes in fresh for a top layoff conditioner, and improvement is fully expected with Jane Elliot in the silks.

#2 ARISTOCRACY: The Brad Cox trainee is two-for-two led by an allowance score on the oval on January 1. The gray Tapit colt was game in victory last time out and has room to move forward while making his third lifetime appearance. Fernando de la Cruz will be in the silks.

#3 GILMORE: The second runner from the Brendan Walsh shedrow rallied from well back to be second while making his synthetic debut in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate most recently. The West Coast invader has never run a bad one in his lifetime, and could be the one if he doesn’t have too much to do late with Joseph Ramos in the silks.

#4 SCOOBIE QUANDO: The Ben Colebrook pupil was a stakes sprint winner here at first asking prior to gamely getting second in the allowance ranks last time out. The son of Uncle Mo endured a wide trip throughout in his latest offering and will receive a better voyage in his second stakes attempt as a logical win contender. Luan Machado will be up aboard the contender.

#5 ACCIDENT: The Tale of Verve gelding is still a maiden but has finished fourth in a trio of black-type runs in succession, and he could grab a share late with the right set up. Trained by Tommy Short, the bay will make one run late with Orlando Mojica in the stirrups.

#6 AMERICAN SPEED: The More Than Ready colt rallied to be second in the Leonatus S. at Turfway in his first try for Brad Cox. He has posted four solid morning drills in the interim, and could be the one with a move forward in his second for this potent outfit. Chris Landeros retains the mount.

#7 EYES ON THE KING: The Mark Casse trainee will add blinkers for his first run on the course. The $485,000 son of Street Sense was a sharp winner in his lone prior synthetic effort to date, and will be a contender in this run with something resembling that showing. Brian Hernandez Jr. will pilot him.

#8 MIRANDA RIGHTS: The Constitution colt has run well in each of his three local assignments to date and rates a top three chance with a career best performance on Saturday. The bay has good tactical speed in a cast with numerous closing types, and he will be well positioned at the top of the lane with Rafael Hernandez riding. 

#9 FREEZING POINT: The Frosted sophomore graduated in style on the dirt beneath the Twin Spires to cap his juvenile campaign. The $13,000 two-year-old purchase rises up in class, stretches out in distance, and also tries the All-Weather for the first time in this spot. Others seem more likely to me.

#10 BROMLEY: The top pick was a fine allowance sprint winner two back in his lone local try and I expect him to prove his class in this endeavor. The $450,000 Mastery colt never fired in the Lecomte S. (G3) on dirt most recently, but he faces an easier task here while returning to a surface he appears to thrive upon. The Paulo Lobo pupil possesses early foot and will be forcing the issue from the break.

#11 MOON LANDING: The $200,000 son of Nyquist romped at first asking at Woodbine before checking in fourth in a subsequent allowance run on the lawn in Florida last time out. The Kevin Attard charge has obvious ability and will likely move up getting back on the All-Weather against this group. Walter Rodriguez will pilot the stalker.

#12 CONGRUENT: This Tapit colt has faced stakes foes in five straight, the last three on the green, and he merits respect as a top-three contender in the contest. The $350,000 juvenile buy has the speed to overcome this post slot and could be in the mix for a placing late with a sensible trip under Sonny Leon.

#13 IRONSIDES: Vicki Oliver's pupil has shown marked improvement at this meeting and came home a solid third in the stakes ranks here last time out. The Midshipman gelding will run all day and will be doing his best work late with Declan Cannon up.

#14 CLEAR THE AIR: The Will Walden trainee was a decent fourth in an allowance test here most recently but will need better to make an impact in the race on the class rise. The Ransom the Moon colt did look the part in his maiden romp two prior, so I won’t dismiss his chances of running well while making a second route run on Saturday.