(First Resort / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Turfway Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

FIRST RESORT TO SCRATCH FROM SATURDAY’S $175,000 JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL

FLORENCE, Ky. (Friday, Feb. 21, 2025) – Godolphin’s First Resort will scratch from Saturday’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming after exiting a workout earlier this week with stiffness in his left hind leg, according to trainer Eoin Harty.

The 2-1 morning line favorite was set to make his 3-year-old debut following a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) last fall at Churchill Downs. He worked a half-mile in :51.20 seconds Monday but showed signs of stiffness behind two days later.

“I worked him Monday, and by Wednesday he was a little stiff behind,” Harty said. “He hasn’t really improved, so we’re erring on the side of caution to get him back to 100 percent before he runs again.”

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the John Battaglia Memorial will go as the featured seventh race on the 10-race program with a post time of 8:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.

The complete field for the John Battaglia Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

  • Spirit Rags (Santo Sanjur, Marcelino Salas, 20-1)
  • Shan (Albin Jiminez, Ed Moger Jr., 30-1)
  • Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, John Robb, 8-1)
  • Calling Card (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker, 10-1)
  • California Burrito (Irving Moncada, Tom Drury Jr., 8-1)
  • Banks (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp, 15-1)
  • Baby Max (Abel Cedillo, Kelsey Danner, 6-1)
  • King of Ashes (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh, 15-1)
  • First Resort (Luis Saez, Harty, 2-1)
  • Coming in Hot (Edgar Morales, John Ennis, 5-1)
  • Brereton’s Baytown (Marshall Mendez, Paul McEntee, 30-1)
  • Maximum Promise (Luan Machado, Kenny McPeek, 8-1)
  • AE: Special Caliber (Evin Roman, Michel Douaihy, 30-1)
  • AE: Maitre D (Evin Roman, Doug O’Neill, 30-1)

With the scratch of First Resort, Special Caliber would draw into the field.

The John Battaglia Memorial will award the top 5 finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

The Road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Turfway Park on Saturday, March 22, for the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), a key stop in the Championship Series.

For more information about racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.