Great White capsizes favorites in John Battaglia Memorial

Three Chimneys Farm and trainer John Ennis’s Great White sprang a 15-1 surprise in Saturday night’s $174,835 John Battaglia Memorial. 

Earning 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the aptly-named gray also emerged as a candidate for Turfway Park’s signature Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, the March 21 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). 

Great White was overlooked after a sneaky fifth behind Street Beast and Fulleffort in the Jan. 17 Leonatus S. But a much better trip in the Battaglia enabled him to reverse the form.

Street Beast, in contrast, experienced an unpleasant reversal of fortune when trailing home last in the Battaglia. The 1.89-1 favorite hinted that it wouldn’t be his night early on. First, he acted up in the gate prior to the start. Then he sped to the front from his rail post, but experienced a more challenging race dynamic.

Unlike his front-running coup in the Leonatus, Street Beast did not enjoy an easy lead here. Attfield pressed him through fractions of :23.88 and :48.84 on the Tapeta surface. By the time he clocked six furlongs in 1:14.65, Street Beast was a spent force.

Meanwhile, Great White was working out a far more favorable passage with Alex Achard. A better break enabled the son of Volatile to put himself into the game right away, and he was well placed in a stalking third.

Rounding the far turn, Great White accosted Attfield and the weakening Street Beast, and the big gelding strode away at the top of the stretch. Fulleffort closed furiously from far back, but Great White held on by a neck. 

By finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.83, Great White rewarded his backers with $32.32.

“He was in a great spot throughout the race,” Ennis said. “Last time out, he didn’t get away from there well, but Alex (Achard) was able to get him away from the gate better tonight and got a good position. Alex thought he might have moved a little too soon, but the horse kept finding more for him.”

“He was traveling great the entire race,” Achard said. “I was a little worried when I hit the front because I didn’t want to move too soon on him, but he really stretched out nicely.”

Fulleffort picked up 10 points in second. Maximus Prime, an 88-1 maiden, did his best work late in third and added six points to his account (for a total of seven). The 112-1 Baytown Dreamer was a one-paced fourth (four points for a total of seven). 

Steel Imperium checked in fifth (two points), followed by Kilo Tango; Attfield; Aces Honor; Two Out Hero, who failed to factor after a stumbling start; Time for Money; and Street Beast, who was wrapped up once his race was over. Small Town and Stop the Car were scratched.

Great White has bankrolled $165,932 from his 3-2-0-0 line. He rolled from off the pace in his six-furlong debut Dec. 12 at Turfway before his fifth on the class and distance hike in the Leonatus. That experience likely helped him here.

The 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby would be the natural progression from the Battaglia. Ennis has no qualms about the added ground, but he’s in no rush to confirm a target.

“You can see how big he is, and I think the greater the distance, the better for him,” his trainer/co-owner said. “With his size, you have to wait and see how he comes out of this before deciding the next option. We’ll talk it over with the owner and make a plan. He’s a very exciting prospect moving forward.”

Bred by Stud TNT in Kentucky, Great White is out of the Uncle Mo mare Kelly Bag. The $55,000 yearling purchase on Fasig-Tipton’s digital platform descends from Brazilian Horse of the Year Sweet Eternity.