Kentucky Derby Road: Feb. 22 Saudi Derby, John Battaglia Memorial, Miracle Wood Stakes

G3 Saudi Derby, 1,600 Meters (about 1 Mile)
Golden Vekoma ran down pacesetter Shin Forever to win the $1,500,000 G3 Saudi Derby in a time of 1:38.19 despite not timely changing leads in the stretch. The winner is a $90,000 Ocala Breeders' Sale purchase trained in the UAE and will be pointed to the G2 UAE Derby. He wasn't early-nominated to the Triple Crown but can be late-nominated for $6,000. Japan-based Shin Forever, who is Triple Crown-nominated, had a two-length lead into the stretch before being overtaken about 75 yards from the finish line and finishing two lengths back in second. Mhally was third. The lone North American runner Cyclone State found himself too far back early to make an impression on the race. There are no Kentucky Derby points associated with the Saudi Derby.

The winner of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented By Longines on Jan. 24 was ridden by Connor Beasley and is trained by Ahmad Harmash for Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi. Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm. By Vekoma out of Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy.

Trainer Harmash on Golden Vekoma: "He's the kind of horse that has a big heart, and he tries all the time."


John Battaglia Memorial, 1 1/6 Mile
California Burrito led most of the way to win the Battaglia at Turfway Park on the synthetic in a languid 1:45.98. Maitre D shot from the gate at the far outside post to reach the first turn on top, but California Burrito and Irving Moncada were right there with Baby Max a close third. The first two contested the opening quarter-mile in 24.50, and from there it was California Burrito in charge up the backstretch under a strong hold through a half-mile in 49.41. Moncada began to ride him going six furlongs in a glacial 1:14.41 amidst the surrounding snow as Maitre D retreated. California Burrito had plenty left when Baby Max and Luis Saez came for him in earnest leaving the far turn and held on by a half-length. Maximum Promise, who was near or at the back of the field early on, made a solid-but-too-late move around the turn before getting up for a non-threatening third. Longshot Banks was fourth and Studlydoright fifth. The morning line favorite, First Resort, was by far the most significant scratch of three. Kentucky Derby points 20-10-6-4-2. Banks is not nominated to the Triple Crown.

The winner is trained by Tom Drury, Jr. for owners Aaron and Victoria Haberman. He was bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables. By Army Mule out of Bluegrass Sunset, by Hard Spun.

California Burrito got a 92 Beyer but the Equibase figure is 107.

Winning trainer Tommy Drury Jr.: “His first race was sort of a head-scratcher. We knew we’d be able to be aggressive with him entering for the $150,000 claiming tag because of that, and it actually gave him a confidence boost. Watching these 3-year-olds develop is like watching teenagers and trying to pick out which ones will make it to the NBA—it’s so difficult at this stage. His last race, he got an easy lead and did everything on his own, so we really didn’t know a lot about him. Tonight, he made the lead very easily again, but the way he battled back against Baby Max told us a lot. He has a lot of fight in him. He doesn’t need the lead—he’s worked behind horses in the morning.”

Winning jockey Irving Moncada: “He’s been working lights out in the morning. I was very confident in him coming into the race. The plan was to be aggressive early to get him into a good spot, and he took me right to the lead. He was doing it very easily on his own most of the race. I’m very impressed with how he battled back down the lane. I think the future is very bright for him. I see no problem with him stretching out in distance from today.”

Runner-up trainer Kelsey Danner (Baby Max): “We’re proud how well he ran. He just came up second best tonight.”


Miracle Wood Stakes, 1 Mile
Barbadian Runner ran down early leaders Crab Daddy and Pay Billy in the stretch to win the one-turn Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel by a head. The early pace was tepid as Crab Daddy ran the first quarter- and half-mile in 24.82 and 48.92 with Pay Billy attending the pace and Barbadian Runner never far back. Coming out of the turn Pay Billy overtook Crab Daddy and looked best for a moment, but Barbadian Runner loomed outside mid-stretch and narrowly edged by Pay Billy as Crab Daddy rapidly faded to fourth after being overtaken by 6-5 favorite Sacred Runner. The time was 1:38.39. The race carries no Derby points.

Ridden by Forest Boyce for trainer Henry Walters, Barbadian Runner is owned by AJ Will Win Stables. He was bred in Maryland by Shamrock Farm. Barbadian Runner is not a Triple Crown nominee and is unlikely to be late-nominated.

Barbadian Runner earned a 90 Equibase figure.

Winning trainer Henry Walters: “[Forest] said he ran as straight as an arrow until it got late in the race. That could be because he had to run another sixteenth of a mile. He’s a peculiar horse because he doesn’t [lug in] in the morning. I don’t know if he gets anxious. Sometimes he’ll do it down the backside, sometimes he won’t.

“I was expecting a much faster pace. I was a little worried going down the backside that he wouldn’t have as much punch. I thought everybody would be running at the end. Turning for home, Forest put him where he belonged, and he was right there. He’s very gritty. If I stick to my plans, he’s probably going to go to the farm three or four weeks and rest up for the spring."

Wining jockey Forest Boyce: “He didn’t drift nearly as bad as he had in the past. I thought we’d get a little more pace. We got to sit the perfect trip. I felt super confident [turning for home]. He’s just so full of himself right now.”