John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Turfway Park, Florence, KY
  • Inaugural Race: 1982
  • Distance: 1 1⁄16 miles (​8 1⁄2 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-handed, PolyTrack
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • 2024 Purse: $150,000
  • 2024 Race Date: Saturday, March 2nd

2024 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Race Results

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
12
Encino
Axel Concepcion / Brad H. Cox
$13.38 / $5.66 / $4.12
6
Epic Ride
Adam Beschizza / John Ennis
$3.12 / $2.56
7
Blue Eyed George
Luan Machado / Michael W. McCarthy
$2.82
11
Mugatu
Joseph Talamo / Jeff Engler
2
Ode to Balius
Sonny Leon / Concepcion Torres
4
Bolt At Midnight
Martin Garcia / Mick Ruis, Sr.
9
Mission Ready
Gavin Ashton / Edward Fernandez
13
Karlwithanarl
Declan Cannon / Robert Medina
10
Good Bali
Colby J. Hernandez / George R. Arnold, II
5
Fidget
Fernando De La Cruz / Brad H. Cox

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $2 Exacta (12-6) Paid: $39.28
  • $0.50 Trifecta (12-6-7) Paid: $32.08
  • $0.10 Superfecta (12-6-7-11) Paid: $98.45

Watch the 2024 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

The History of the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

The John Battaglia Memorial Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses held in early March at Turfway Park. Inaugurated in 1982, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the polytrack. The race is an ungraded stakes with a current purse of $150,000. The race acts as a prep to the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

The race was named in honor of John Battaglia, the former general manager of Turfway Park when it was known as the Latonia Race Track. His son, Mike Battaglia, is also involved in racing and served as the track announcer at both Turfway and Churchill Downs for many years. Mike has also served as a race analyst as part of the NBC Sports broadcast team, working Triple Crown races, the Breeders' Cup Championship, and other races broadcasted on NBC starting in 1993.

As part of the Road to The Kentucky Derby, the race offers the first five finishers 20-10-6-4-2 points respectively.