Meet the Contenders: 2026 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes
Street Beast wins the Leonautus Stakes at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Renee Torbit)
February 18th, 2026
Meet the horses running in the 2026 John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents their opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Street Beast wins the Leonautus Stakes at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Renee Torbit)
#1 Street Beast *****
Pro: Stakes winner both here and at Kentucky Downs; top contender.
Con: Might not be able to dictate terms as easily as he did in Leonatus S.
Steel Imperium wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#2 Steel Imperium ***
Pro: Won easily at first asking and bred to like this distance and farther.
Con: Limited experience compared to others, the obvious drawback.
#5 Pinky Finger edges #2 Maximum Prime in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coadyt Media)
#3 Maximus Prime *
Pro: Stakes-placed colt gets blinkers back on after recent dud.
Con: Six-start maiden hardly fits the profile of an impending stakes winner.
Kilo Tango wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#4 Kilo Tango ***
Pro: Rallied from well back to graduate over this strip for the leading barn.
Con: Should continue to improve, but perhaps not soon enough to upset these.
Baytown Dreamer wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#5 Baytown Dreamer *
Pro: Distantly placed against Street Beast the last time they faced each other.
Con: Ten-start veteran pretty well exposed and doesn’t appear quick enough.
Time for Money wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#6 Time for Money *
Pro: Local debut was better than the initial allowance attempt at Churchill.
Con: Seemingly overmatched, given out of the money finishes versus softer.
Attfield wins the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
#7 Attfield ****
Pro: Solid form on the grass last season in NY; class should carry him far.
Con: Main concern is that he might be better suited to the turf.
Great White wins the Gary L. Wilfert Memorial at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
#8 Great White *
Pro: Debut winner here, but didn’t have the best of starts in the Leonatus.
Con: Likely a cut or two below others exiting the same prep.
Stop The Car wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#9 Stop the Car **
Pro: Won well first two starts, though outclassed in Lecomte (G3) last time.
Con: Like many here, how he will handle the new surface remains to be seen.
Aces Honor wins at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#10 Aces Honor ***
Pro: Gutsy colt has won two straight on turf, including Sam Houston turf stakes.
Con: Recent hard races might have taken their toll; lacks Tapeta experience.
Fulleffort wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
#11 Fulleffort *****
Pro: Excellent form last fall and comeback effort is something he can build on.
Con: Tends to be well supported, so value might be lacking.
Two Out hero wins the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine. (Photo by Micheal Burns Photo)
#12 Two Out Hero ****
Pro: Stakes winner on turf but captured only Tapeta start by 12 lengths.
Con: Hasn’t run since mid-September and drew poorly here.
Small Town wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
AE Small Town **
Pro: Won on debut for a respected barn; remains with a high ceiling.
Con: AE will be challenged by wide draw if he gets in; concedes experience.
