Picking a Shipper in John Battaglia Memorial

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes a detour to an all-weather track Feb. 21 for the running of the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park. Held over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, the John Battaglia Memorial is a relatively new addition to the Kentucky Derby trail, having been a part of the slate of qualifying points preps since 2021. But it did turn out a Kentucky Derby winner in 2022, when John Battaglia Memorial fourth-place finisher Rich Strike upset the Run for the Roses at 80-1 odds. A deep and competitive field has turned out for the 2026 John Battaglia Memorial. A couple of local runners are logical favorites, led by #1 Street Beast, the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Street Beast opened his career with four fine starts on turf. At Kentucky Downs, he trounced the Juvenile Mile opposition by 7 lengths, after which he finished a respectable fourth against international competition in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). Street Beast made his Tapeta debut in Turfway's one-mile Leonatus Stakes. Jan. 17. Normally a pace pressing/tracking type, Street Beast made the lead in the Leonatus and carved out splits of :24.15,:48.54, and 1:14.53 before kicking on to win by a length over #11 Fulleffort (3-1), who is back for the John Battaglia Memorial. Fulleffort broke his maiden in a one-mile maiden special weight on turf at Kentucky Downs, then reiterated his grass prowess with a rallying 5-length allowance win over 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland. He made his Tapeta debut in the Leonatus and ran a solid race, closing from 7 3/4 lengths off the pace to finish second. He gained 2 1/2 lengths through the final furlong alone, and if the John Battaglia Memorial unfolds at a little faster tempo, you can make a case for Fulleffort to turn the tables on Street Beast. While Street Beast and Fulleffort warrant respect, my top choice is a newcomer to the Turfway scene: #12 Two Out Hero (7-2). There's plenty to like about Two Out Hero. For one, he's proven against tough competition. At Woodbine last summer, he won the 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free Stakes over a field including next-out Summer (G1T) winner Argos. Two Out Hero likewise competed in the Summer and finished third, beaten only a length by Argos and European raider Wild Desert (IRE). Argos later finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, only 1 1/2 lengths behind Street Beast. Two Out Hero's two stakes runs came on turf, but he's also shown talent on Tapeta. He debuted in a 6-furlong maiden special weight over Woodbine's Tapeta track and led all the way to dominate by 12 lengths. Returning to Tapeta at Turfway may unlock a big performance from Two Out Hero. Trainer Kevin Attard has saddled only four starters at Turfway since 2021, but one of those—2024 King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness—successfully translated her accomplished form over Woodbine's Tapeta into victory in Turfway's My Charmer Stakes in late 2024. I'm optimistic that Two Out Hero can follow a similar path. He's posted eight timed workouts at Palm Meadows in Florida since the end of December, including a bullet 5 furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00.65 two weeks ago, so he should be fit for a strong 2026 debut. Don't leave him off your tickets. #9 Stop the Car (8-1) has never raced over a synthetic track, but he scored a nice win in a one-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer on dirt at Churchill Downs last fall, triumphing by 3 3/4 lengths. He stayed closer to a hot early pace than the other top finishers and earned a respectable 80 Beyer Speed Figure that fits well against the John Battaglia Memorial field. Stop the Car kicked off 2026 with a seventh-place finish against a quality field in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Dropping in class and switching to Tapeta could unlock a big rebound. One longshot worth considering is #2 Steel Imperium (15-1). A stoutly bred son of Essential Quality out of the Arch mare Summer Solo, Steel Imperium debuted in a 6-furlong maiden special weight at Turfway two weeks ago. He dropped 7 1/2 lengths off the early pace, but stormed down the homestretch to score by 4 lengths. Steel Imperium has the pedigree to improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles, and his deep-closing style is suited to the Turfway Tapeta, which tends to play favorably toward late runners. Surely 15-1 is a bit too high a price on a colt who dominated his only start to date, on Tapeta no less. Selections 1st: Two Out Hero 2nd: Street Beast 3rd: Fulleffort Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the John Battaglia Memorial? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests page. There's a new challenge every week! ***** The Unlocking Winners Road to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge is back! Check out the special contest page to play along.