Battle of Midway Getting Closer to Racing Return

Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm's Battle of Midway, who was retired to stud then returned to training in May after it was discovered he was subfertile, took a serious step toward his racing return Aug. 1 with a bullet workout at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike worked five furlongs from the gate Wednesday in :59 4/5, the fastest of 52 at the distance. Graded stakes winners Abel Tasman (1:01 2/5), Vale Dori (1:01 2/5), and Prime Attraction (1:01 4/5) also worked at five furlongs Wednesday.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was pleased with the drill—the colt's first stretch out to five furlongs after a pair of half-mile drills July 19 and July 26 at Del Mar—and said a specific race target is not set, although he indicated the bay could be ready by the end of Del Mar's summer meet.

"He worked solo, and it was a very good work," the Hall of Fame conditioner said. "He's closer (to a race), but not ready yet."

Battle of Midway is undefeated at Del Mar, where he won the Shared Belief Stakes and Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in 2017. He also won the Affirmed Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park during his 3-year-old year campaign, along with placings in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), and Oklahoma Derby (G3).

BALAN: Battle of Midway Breaks Through in BC Dirt Mile

If he were to return to racing at Del Mar, potential stakes landing spots for older dirt horses include the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) Aug. 25 and the Aug. 22 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at a mile.

"We don't want to ship him if we don't have to," Hollendorfer said. "There are races we can look at for him (here). He could make the end of the Del Mar meet, but we're not going to push him."

Hollendorfer also said Wednesday that another Don Alberto runner, three-time grade 1 winner Unique Bella, is doing well following her victory in the July 29 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), during which she lost a shoe.

"We're, very, very fortunate she didn't injure herself," Hollendorfer said. "Supposing the shoe stuck on there and poked holes in her sole or in her frog, she could have a serious infection. It's a very dangerous thing."

BALAN: Unique Bella Holds on Late to Win Clement L. Hirsch

Before the Hirsch, Don Alberto racing manager Fernando Diaz-Valdes said the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, the Zenyatta Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in late September, and even an outside shot to run in the Aug. 18 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar were being considered for Unique Bella's next race.