There is only one Kentucky Derby prep race this weekend and that is the John Battaglia Memorial on the synthetic at Turfway Park by Florence Kentucky.
A full field of 12 are entered to go 1-1/16-miles for the right to Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2.
Post time is 6:55 p.m. PDT.
John Battaglia
(9th race)
Street Beast (Ben Colebrook, Luan Machado) was the winner if the $124,000 Leonatus over the track at Turfway on Jan. 17 at 5/2. That day he wired the field coming off an almost three-month break. He has won three of five starts and has shown speed in all five starts. He took to the synthetic so should be a contender here.
Fulleffort (Brad Cox, Vincent Cheminaud) was second in the Leonatus as the favorite, closing strong but didn’t have enough the catch the winner that day. It too was his first start on the synthetic and he appeared to take to it as well. Has won two of five career starts and always favors a closing run.
Stop the Car (Brendan Walsh, Edgar Morales) was last seen finishing seventh in the Grade III Lecomte at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 17. He came into that start with two wins to start his career but after stalking the pace he faded into the lane. This is an easier spot to be sure, and this must be a fish or cut bait type race. A bad showing here and I am thinking he is off the Derby trail.
Two Out Hero (Kevin Attard, Rafeal Hernandez) has three starts, all at Woodbine, the last two bring on the turf. The last start came Sept. 13 in the Grade I Summer where he was third. He has been training well for the return and does have a win over the synthetic and figures to be a pace factor here.
Attfield (Thomas Marley, Ricardo Santana Jr.) has won two of three career starts but all three starts have come on the turf. In his last start on Nov. 7, he took the $150,000 Central Park on the turf at Aqueduct. He is always close to the pace and if he takes to the synthetic, he should be a factor.
Upcoming contests at Pleasanton OTB!
We have two more new, FREE handicapping contests taking place at the Pleasanton OTB.
On February 28, we will be having a contest including races from Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct, highlighted by a pair of Kentucky Derby prep races in the Fountain of Youth (Gulfstream) and the Gotham (Aqueduct).
The contest will include the two preps and other races on the undercard. Entry forms will be available on Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Pleasanton OTB.
April 4 will be the next contest, featuring races at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Aqueduct.
The Derby preps that day are the Santa Anita Derby, the Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland), and the Wood Memorial (Aqueduct).
Once again, races on the undercard at those three racetracks, with the entry forms available Thursday, April 2.
Of course, our traditional contests will take place May 2 for the Kentucky Derby, May 16 for the Preakness Stakes, and June 6 for the Belmont Stakes.