Epic Ride Looks to Continue Roll in John Battaglia

Welch Racing's Epic Ride  will look to continue his dominance over the Turfway Park 3-year-old male division with a third straight victory in the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes March 2.

A winner of his last two starts by a combined nine lengths, Epic Ride made the ascent to stakes company with aplomb in the Feb. 2 Leonatus Stakes at Turfway over the re-opposing Blue Eyed George  and Good Bali . The son of Blame   has the chance to rack 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia, a local prep for the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 23.

Trained by John Ennis, Epic Ride exited his four-length Leonatus win with a bullet half-mile breeze in :47 3/5 Feb. 16 at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.

Adam Beschizza retains the mount on Epic Ride.

Although untried against stakes company and coming off a maiden special weight win Feb. 9 at Turfway, Ruis Racing's Bolt At Midnight 's eye-catching performance makes him an intriguing contender in the John Battaglia. The Bolt d'Oro   colt has stepped up tremendously since switching to the synthetic surface and adding Lasix for trainer Mick Ruis. His 107 Equibase Speed Figure is the highest in the 14-horse field.

Not to ever be discounted, trainer Brad Cox will saddle three contenders in the John Battaglia: Gettysburg Address  and Fidget , both of whom make their synthetic track debuts in the John Battaglia, and Encino , a last-out maiden winner over the course and trip.