The Great War looms as heavy favorite in Battaglia
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The battle for Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility is still several weeks away for The Great War (War Front), but the Wesley Ward-trained colt will participate in a preparatory skirmish on Saturday in the $125,000 Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. The Battaglia, at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack, is not part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series and thus does not offer qualifying points for entry to the Run for the Roses. However, it has long-served as the leading prep for Turfway's Spiral S. (G3), which will be run March 21 at nine furlongs and offers 50 qualifying points to its winner. A $1 million yearling purchase by Coolmore, The Great War was trained at two by Aidan O'Brien. Winner in three of seven starts in Ireland, including the Blenheim Stakes at The Curragh, the bay was a commendable fourth in his U.S. and dirt debut, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
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Staying stateside with Ward, The Great War was dazzling in Turfway's $69,000
96Rock on January 31. Pressing the early pace, the bay seized control turning
for home and drew off to win by 7 1/4-lengths as the prohibitive 1-10 favorite.
The Great War will be heavily favored to repeat in the Battaglia, but has not
yet won beyond the 96Rock distance of 6 1/2 furlongs. Among those who have shown
aptitude around two turns over the Turfway oval are maiden scorer Milwaukee Mist
(Milwaukee Brew) and allowance winner Candy Charger (Candy Ride), fifth and
sixth in the 96Rock when cutting back in distance. Another local who might do
well is Pepper Roani (Broken Vow), an impressive 3 1/2-length maiden winner last
time for trainer Mike Maker.
Maker will also saddle Firespike (Flower Alley), a stakes winner on turf and
synthetic, and Task Force Glory (Badge of Silver), a maiden winner on turf at
Churchill Downs in November and second against allowance foes at Gulfstream last
out.
Also expected to garner some wagering support are the Todd Pletcher-trained
Royal Son (Tiznow), who adds blinkers following a nondescript stakes debut at
Tampa Bay Downs last time. Graham Motion, who landed the Spiral four years ago
with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, is represented by Midnight
Trace (Scat Daddy), who won his debut over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and was
most recently third in allowance company over the same course.
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