Battle of Midway Represented by First Foal
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Photo: Gary Tasich
Battle of Midway winning the San Pasqual Stakes Feb. 2 at Santa Anita
Grade 1 winner Battle of Midway, whose stallion carrier got derailed last year by subfertility, had his first reported foal arrive Feb. 7 at Chesapeake Farm near Lexington.
The filly out of the Giant's Causeway mare La Boheme was bred by Erik and Pavla Nygaard's Thor-Bred Stables, which also bred Battle of Midway.
"The birth went smoothly and both baby and mare are doing well. It was a family affair, with Battle of Midway's full sister Rigged Smart observing the arrival of her niece from across the hallway," said Collier Mathes, the owner/operator of Chesapeake.
Battle of Midway retired to stud in 2018 at WinStar Farm, which co-owns the four-time graded stakes winner with Don Alberto. Unfortunately, the stallion only impregnated five mares of 61 bred, according to WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden. Battle of Midway returned to training in May of last year.
His time away from racing didn't dull his competitive spirit. Battle of Midway won last year's Native Diver Stakes (G3) and Comma to the Top Stakes and started this year with a victory Feb. 2 in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The son of Smart Strike was also runner-up in last year's Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) and San Antonio Stakes (G2). To date, Battle of Midway has won eight of 16 starts and earned $1,589,049.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer told Daily Racing Form that Battle of Midway will be aimed for the $12 million Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline (G1) March 30.