Deep Fields in Turfway's Battaglia, Cincinnati Trophy

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Deep Fields in Turfway's Battaglia, Cincinnati Trophy
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Photo: Coady Photography
Artemus Eagle trains in the snow in advance of the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park

Anchored by a couple of black-type contests—the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and $75,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes—the Feb. 14 evening card at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., serves as a reminder that the track's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and supporting races are just around the corner.

The 1 1/16-mile Battaglia serves as a prep for the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby, and the 6 1/2-furlong Cincinnati Trophy acts as a steppingstone to the one-mile Bourbonette Stakes. The Ruby and Bourbonette—both run March 14—are minor qualifiers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively.

No points are up for grabs Friday at Turfway, though that did not seem to affect entries. Both races drew fields of 12, though some horses are cross-entered elsewhere and could be scratched.

Trainer Mike Maker, who won the Battaglia last year with Somelikeithotbrown before that colt added the Jeff Ruby, has a pair of entries in the Battaglia, as do trainers Wesley Ward, James Chapman, and Jack Sisterson. 

Maker is represented by Artemus Eagle (5-1 morning-line odds, Rafael Hernandez aboard) and Tomo Todo (5-1, Gerardo Corrales); Ward starts Hail to the Chief (8-1, Joe Bravo) and Invader (9-2, Albin Jimenez); Chapman has Drew (30-1, Arnaldo Bocachica) and Ryan's Cat (15-1, John McKee); and Sisterson has entered Truculent (6-1, Declan Carroll) and Declared (12-1, Declan Cannon).  

Maker's duo bring imposing form into the Battaglia. Artemus Eagle, a 3-year-old son of Wicked Strong , comes off a local allowance optional claiming victory in a two-turn mile contest Dec. 31, and Toma Todo, an English Channel  3-year-old colt, enters the race after a second in the Jan. 26 Texas Turf Mile Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in his first start around two turns. He won a five-furlong turf race in his May 24 debut at Churchill Downs and ran third in a Dec. 19 return at Turfway against allowance-level rivals at six furlongs.

Video: Texas Turf Mile S. (BT)



Bloom Racing Stable owns Toma Todo, and Artemus Eagle is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The Ramseys also have Hail to the Chief.

The morning-line favorite at 7-2 is Silverton Hill's High Holy, a winner of two consecutive sprints this winter at Turfway for trainer Darrin Miller. The second choice at 4-1 is Shake Some Action, a maiden winner at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on grass Jan. 18 for trainer Brad Cox and owner Rupp Racing. Alan Garcia is on High Holy, and Corey Lanerie is aboard Shake Some Action.

Truculent, Shake Some Action, and Declared were also entered in races Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds.

In the Cincinnati Trophy, the morning-line choices are multiple winners Anna's Fast (3-1 odds), Rising Seas (7-2), and Karak (7-2). Anna's Fast and Karak ventured overseas to Ascot last year for Ward, going unplaced in stakes races. Rising Seas has remained in Kentucky, winning back-to-back races at Churchill Downs in November after a debut fourth at Keeneland.


Entries: John Battaglia Memorial S.

Turfway Park, Friday, February 14, 2020, Race 5

  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • All Weather Track
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 8:12 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Hail to the Chief (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joe Bravo 118 Wesley A. Ward 8/1
2 2Drew (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Arnaldo Bocachica 118 James K. Chapman 30/1
3 3Artemus Eagle (KY) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 118 Michael J. Maker 5/1
4 4Ryan's Cat (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John McKee 118 James K. Chapman 15/1
5 5High Holy (KY) Alan Garcia 118 Darrin Miller 7/2
6 6Truculent (KY) Declan Carroll 118 Jack Sisterson 6/1
7 7Toma Todo (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gerardo Corrales 118 Michael J. Maker 5/1
8 8Invader (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Albin Jimenez 118 Wesley A. Ward 9/2
9 9Shake Some Action (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Corey J. Lanerie 118 Brad H. Cox 4/1
10 10My Man Flintstone (KY) Luan Machado 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 6/1
11 11Bahama Channel (KY) Julie Burke 118 Larry W. Demeritte 20/1
12 12Declared (KY) Declan Cannon 118 Jack Sisterson 12/1


Entries: Cincinnati Trophy S.

Turfway Park, Friday, February 14, 2020, Race 7

  • STK
  • 6 1/2f
  • All Weather Track
  • $75,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 9:12 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1My Good Girl (KY) Rolando Aragon 118 Michael Evans II 30/1
2 2Kay Bee Gee (KY) John McKee 118 Ronald Kahles 6/1
3 3Rising Seas (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 118 Ben Colebrook 7/2
4 4Baileston Lassie (KY) Rodney A. Prescott 118 Ronald Kahles 12/1
5 5Miss Firecracker (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Sonny Leon 118 Jeff A. Hiles 30/1
6 6Fashion Code (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Alan Garcia 118 Steven M. Asmussen 10/1
7 7Anna's Fast (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Albin Jimenez 118 Wesley A. Ward 3/1
8 8Snaffle (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luan Machado 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 8/1
9 9Las Ramblas (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Alex Achard 118 Kim Hammond 15/1
10 10Karak (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gerardo Corrales 122 Wesley A. Ward 7/2
11 11Secretly Wicked (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ajhari Williams 118 Jack L. Hancock 20/1
12 12L. A. Star (KY) Leandro D. Goncalves 118 Ted W. Lucas 30/1