John Battaglia Memorial

John Battaglia Memorial History 

Inaugurated in 1982, the John Battaglia Memorial S. was added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series in 2021, and the 1 1/16-mile race on Turfway Park’s Tapeta track offers points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May.

It’s the first of two Kentucky Derby qualifiers at the Northern Kentucky oval. Turfway will also feature the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in late March, a major qualifier awarding points on a 100-50-25-25-10 scale.

The Battaglia Memorial gained added significance in 2022 when it produced its first Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike, who finished fourth in the Battaglia Memorial two starts previously to recording an 80-1 upset under the Twin Spires. The 2022 winner, Tiz the Bomb, finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

Entering the 2024 edition, the Battaglia Memorial has produced Kentucky Derby starters two of the last three runnings.

Notable past winners include Grade 1 winners Mahogany Hall (1994), K One King (1999), and Request for Parole (2002), and Grade 2-winning millionaire Concerto (1997).

The race honors John Battaglia, former general manager at Latonia (now Turfway) and other tracks. His son, oddsmaker and retired announcer Mike Battaglia, called the Kentucky Derby from 1978-1996.

TwinSpires Staff/TwinSpires.com