The Great War Back for More in Battaglia

The Great War, a blowout winner of the 96ROCK Stakes in his 2015 debut, will take the next step at Turfway Park when he faces 10 other 3-year-olds in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Feb. 28 at the Kentucky racetrack.

The Battaglia Memorial, with a probable post time of 8:40 p.m. EST, is the sixth race on a Saturday card that begins at 6:15 p.m.

The Great War, owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Joseph Allen, will stretch out again in the 1 1/16-mile Battaglia Memorial. In his final race of 2014, the War Front   colt finished an even fourth in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park Nov. 1.

Trained by Wesley Ward and to be ridden again by Albin Jiminez at 120 pounds, The Great War, who has been based at Turfway this winter, made it look easy in the 6 1/2-furlong 96ROCK for 3-year-olds. He dueled for the early lead, took over on the far turn and drew away to win by 7 1/4 lengths over Two Step Temper in a good 1:18.69. He was 1-9 in the 11-horse field.

Of the three others who return from the 96ROCK, the closest to The Great War was Ekati Told Me, who finished fourth, beaten by 15 lengths.

There are some quality newcomers in the Battaglia Memorial, the final local prep for the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) March 21. Among them are two-time stakes winner Firespike and Royal Son, who finished seventh in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Firespike, a Flower Alley colt owned by Skychai Racing, Sand Dollar Stable, and Charles Warner, won the OBS Championship Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic surface at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Jan. 27 for trainer Mike Maker. Firespike also won the Juvenile Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park West in November and should have no issue with the surface or distance.

Edgar Prado is scheduled to come up from Florida to ride Firespike as the 124 highweight from post 9.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Royal Son, owned by WinStar Farm, has never crossed the wire first—he was placed first to get credit for his maiden win—but showed good speed in his first three races. He was 12-1 in the Sam F. Davis, won by Ocean Knight, and finished seventh, though he was forced to race inside from the rail post and never appeared comfortable.

The Tiznow   homebred colt drew post 3 and will be ridden by Rodney Prescott at 118 pounds