The John Battaglia Memorial Stakes is a key Kentucky Derby prep race on the Turfway Park card, offering 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers. This $175,000 listed stakes event is restricted to 3-year-olds and is contested over 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta surface. Named after a former Turfway Park general manager, it serves as a local stepping stone to the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21, 2026. The overflow field of 13 (with one also-eligible) features a mix of synthetic specialists, turf shippers, and dirt runners testing the surface, with early speed likely to play a prominent role given the track’s configuration.
Venue Location
Turfway Park is located in Florence, Kentucky, USA, just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. The facility features a one-mile all-weather Tapeta oval, known for its consistent surface that minimizes weather impacts and often favors tactical speed in routes. It hosts Thoroughbred racing during its winter/spring meet from December to March, with a capacity for up to 10,000 fans and additional amenities like a casino and simulcast wagering.
Scheduled Post Time9:55 PM Eastern Time (ET). The full card begins with the first post at 5:55 PM ET, making this the evening feature on a 10-race program.
Expected Weather Conditions
Cool and overcast with a high around 49°F (9°C) and a low of 32°F (0°C). Winds from the west at 8-10 mph, with a 30-40% chance of light rain (up to 0.2 inches) and humidity around 50%. Conditions should remain dry enough for comfortable racing, but any precipitation could slightly soften the Tapeta.
Track Conditions
Turfway Park’s all-weather Tapeta surface is expected to be fast, as it’s designed to drain efficiently and perform consistently regardless of weather. Recent meet trends show a slight bias toward early speed in synthetic routes (28% wire-to-wire winners at 1 1/16 miles), with the rail fair but outside paths benefiting closers in contested paces. No significant biases reported this week; the surface favors adaptable runners transitioning from dirt or turf.
Full Analysis of Each Horse, Jockey, and Trainer
The field includes 12 main entries plus one also-eligible, all carrying 122 lbs. Morning line odds are estimates based on form and expert previews, as official lines were not fully available (e.g., Street Beast as the likely favorite). Recent finishes focus on key races with approximate speed figures (Beyer equivalents inferred from performances). All are 3-year-old colts (C) or geldings (G).
| PP | Horse (Age/Sex, Sire – Dam) | Recent Finishes (Last Speed Figure) | ML Odds (Est.) | Jockey (Analysis) | Trainer (Analysis) | Overall Horse Analysis |
| 1 | Street Beast (3/C, Street Sense – Flower Party (IRE)) | 1st Leonatus S. (TP, Jan 2026, speed 95); Prior turf unplaced (e.g., 4th Aqueduct MSW, Dec 2025, speed 85). | 5/2 | Luan Machado: Leading rider at meet (25% wins); excels on front-runners (28% wire jobs). Rail draw perfect for speed. | Ben Colebrook: 18% stakes; strong local (20% TP). Develops synthetic specialists. | Likely favorite with sharp Tapeta debut win; front-runner who could wire again. Strong pedigree for distance. |
| 2 | Steel Imperium (3/C, Essential Quality – Summer Solo) | 1st MSW (6f, TP debut, Dec 2025, speed 92); No prior starts. | 8/1 | Dylan Machado: Solid (16% wins); good with debuting colts (18% first-timers). Inner post aids. | Caio Caramori: 15% stakes; underrated with Quality progeny (17% routes). Barn emerging. | Debut winner stretching out; stamina from Belmont-winning sire. Upside but class test. |
| 3 | Maximus Prime (3/C, Maximus Mischief – Sweet Alternative) | 2nd MSW (TP, Jan 2026, speed 88); 4th prior (7 starts maiden, Dec 2025, speed 82). | 20/1 | Walter Rodriguez: Apprentice (14% wins); tactical speed (16% mid-pack). Versatile. | Anthony Mitchell: 12% stakes; focuses on claimers (15% maidens). Low-key barn. | Maiden after 7 tries; late speed but overmatched. Longshot for exotics. Blinkers on. |
| 4 | Kilo Tango (3/C, Candy Ride (ARG) – Up in Smoke) | 1st MSW (1m TP, Jan 2026, speed 94); 5th prior dirt (Dec 2025, speed 85). | 6/1 | Fernando De La Cruz: Veteran (20% wins); strong in routes (22% TP). Good draw. | Brad Cox: Top trainer (28% stakes); dominates preps (30% 3yos). Multiple entries. | Rallied sharply in Tapeta debut; continued improvement expected. Threatening closer. |
| 5 | Baytown Dreamer (3/C, Mendelssohn – Colerful Bride) | 3rd Smarty Jones (OP, Jan 2026, speed 90 at 84-1); 8th Southwest (Feb 2026, speed 82). | 15/1 | Orlando Bocachica: Aggressive (17% wins); good on longshots (19% outsiders). Stalking post. | Paul McEntee: 13% stakes; value hunter (16% shippers). Steady. | Turf pedigree but dirt form; Tapeta try after stakes fizzle. Afterthought. |
| 6 | Time for Money (3/G, Not This Time – Free Money) | 4th Alw (TP, Jan 2026, speed 85 as fav); Prior wins dirt (Dec 2025, speed 88). | 12/1 | Danny Sheehy: International (15% wins); patient (17% routes). Mid-field. | John Ennis: 19% stakes; dual entries (21% geldings). Confident. | Faded in Tapeta debut; others preferred. Gelding since last. |
| 7 | Attfield (3/C, Vekoma – Graceful Witch) | 2nd Alw (Jan 2026, speed 92); 3rd G3 turf (Dec 2025, speed 89). | 5/1 | Ricardo Santana Jr.: Elite (24% wins); tactical (26% closers). Strong spot. | Thomas Morley: 16% stakes; turf specialist (18% synthetic). Form boost. | G3-placed on turf; first Tapeta but adaptable. Factor if transfers form. |
| 8 | Great White (3/G, Volatile – Kelly Bag) | 5th Leonatus S. (TP, Jan 2026, speed 88); 1st MSW debut (Dec 2025, speed 92). | 10/1 | Alex Achard: Consistent (18% wins); good with young geldings (20% sprints to routes). Outer inner. | John Ennis: As above; barn mate to #6. 22% routes. | Debut winner, faded stakes; step forward needed for exotics. |
| 9 | Stop the Car (3/C, Maximum Security – Pussyfoot) | 7th Lecomte S. (FG, Jan 2026, speed 85); 1st two prior MSW (Dec 2025, speed 94). | 8/1 | Edgar Morales: Local leader (22% wins); aggressive (24% stakes). Stalking draw. | Brendan Walsh: 20% stakes; sharp shippers (23% FG to TP). Value. | Stakes flop after hot start; first Tapeta. Worth a look at price. |
| 10 | Aces Honor (3/C, Code of Honor – Too Cool to Dance) | 1st turf stakes (HOU, Jan 2026, speed 90); Prior places (Dec 2025, speed 86). | 12/1 | Victor Carrasco: Journeyman (15% wins); good on turfers to synthetic (17% switches). Wide mid. | Ethan West: 14% stakes; underrated (16% turf to AW). Longshot play. | Turf stakes winner; first Tapeta. Potential for exotics. |
| 11 | Fulleffort (3/C, Liam’s Map – Callmethesqueeze) | 2nd Leonatus S. (TP, Jan 2026, speed 94 as 6-5 fav); Prior wins (Dec 2025, speed 90). | 4/1 | Vincent Cheminaud: International (19% wins); patient closer (21% routes). Tough post. | Brad Cox: As above; barn mate to #4. 30% preps. | Rallied well in stakes; distance suits but post concern. |
| 12 | Two Out Hero (3/C, War Front – Song River) | 3rd G1 turf (WO, Sep 2025, speed 92); 1st debut Tapeta by 12L (Aug 2025, speed 95). | 6/1 | Rafael Hernandez: Veteran (21% wins); strong shippers (23% WO to TP). Wide draw. | Kevin Attard: 17% stakes; turf/AW expert (19% layoffs). | G1-placed off layoff; Tapeta debut win impressive. Post issue but speed to position. |
| 13 (AE) | Small Town (3/C, Speightstown – Big Meesh (IRE)) | 1st MSW (6f TP, Jan 2026, speed 90); No prior. | 15/1 | Walter Rodriguez: As above; dual ride if draws in. | Michael McCarthy: 20% stakes; sharp debuts (22% first-timers). | Debut winner at sprint; stretch-out and post tough if in. |
