Tipsheet: 2025 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

An overflow field of 14 sophomores are signed on to travel 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial S. The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the first five across the wire with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure. 

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Picks

• #9 First Resort
• #7 Baby Max 
• #4 Calling Card
• #12 Maximum Promise

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #9 First Resort
• $.50-cent superfecta 9 with 4,7,12 with 4,7,12 with all 

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Contenders

#1 SPIRIT RAGS: Recent maiden winner has improved his Brisnet Speed number in five straight races and rates an exotics chance with another forward move in this spot. This Union Rags colt is well perched on the rail to save ground throughout while forwardly placed under Santo Sanjur. 

#2 SHAN: Bay colt has finished third in a pair of outings since being claimed and will have to improve off of his third in the Leonatus S. on the course most recently. The Ed Moger, Jr. trainee will be in the mix early under Albin Jiminez. 

#3 STUDLYDORIGHT: Nashua S. winner exits a pair of fourth-place stakes results on the dirt and could be any kind while making his synthetic bow for trainer John Robb. This chestnut son of Nyquist will be stalking the tempo early on with regular pilot Xavier Perez taking the reins once again. 

#4 CALLING CARD: Dark bay son of Complexity was defeated by five lengths in the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds in his latest appearance and could prosper on the move to the all-weather for Mike Maker. The Empire State-bred will be of good value with Gerardo Corrales in the irons. 

#5 CALIFORNIA BURRITO: Tom Drury pupil blitzed an allowance field on the oval last out and can surely make some noise in this one with a forward move while making his initial stakes attempt. The dark bay colt has a versatile running style and will likely be rounding into contention approaching the turn for home beneath Irving Moncada. 

#6 BANKS: Joe Sharp trainee is 2-for-3 on the course and comes off an unplaced showing in the Leonatus S. here in his most recent showing. The dark bay son of Outwork is better than he showed last time and will be an off-the-pace player with Adam Beschizza in the silks. 

#7 BABY MAX: Maximus Mischief sophomore has put in two good runs on the oval this campaign, led by a strong tally in the Leonatus S. in preparation for Saturday. The Kelsey Danner trainee has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in every lifetime try and rates a big chance today with Abel Cedillo riding. 

#8 KING OF ASHES: Improving sort from the Brendan Walsh shedrow graduated in his synthetic bow at Gulfstream in advance of Saturday and could get a share with improvement in his Turfway debut. The dark bay son of Street Sense displayed a nice turn of foot in his maiden score and will be doing his best work in the stretch under the guidance of Declan Cannon. 

#9 FIRST RESORT: Godolphin homebred capped a good two-year-old season with a big win in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) beneath the Twin Spires. The talented son of Uncle Mo has trained well in the interim, and I expect him to handle this surface with ease. He fired a bullet five panels here as of late and will have Luis Saez on board. 

#10 COMING IN HOT: Turfway Prevue S. victor has won both starts since arriving at this venue and will attempt to handle the two turns in his route debut. The John Ennis pupil has shown marked improvement on the all-weather and wouldn’t be a major surprise beneath Edgar Morales. 

#11 BRERETON’S BAYTOWN: Bay son of Upstart has won two of his last trio of races in total, but he will be taking a major class rise and might be overmatched in his second stakes venture. 

#12 MAXIMUM PROMISE: Contender from the Kenny McPeek barn ran well when a closing fifth in the Lecomte S. (G3) most recently and can’t be ignored while making his second run off the long layoff. The bay son of Maximum Security should be fit following a trio of morning moves in the interim, and Luan Machado will be bringing the colt from off of the pace from the outside post slot. 

#13 SPECIAL CALIBER: Mo Town colt broke through with a maiden victory on the oval in his latest performance, but the dark bay will have to get a lot faster to challenge this field in the latter stages of the contest. 

#14 MAITRE D: Second on the also-eligible list won at first asking here prior to being a non-factor on the dirt in the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park second time out. The $260,000 son of Game Winner will be difficult to back if he draws in while going long for the first time at this level.