John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Turfway Park, Florence, KY
  • Inaugural Race: 1982
  • Distance: 1 116 miles (​8 12 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-handed, PolyTrack
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • 2023 Purse: $150,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, March 4th

2023 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
12CongruentSonny Leon / Antonio Sano$35.00 / $11.08 / $7.94
4Scoobie QuandoLuan Machado / Ben Colebrook$6.06 / $3.72
10BromleyGerardo Corrales / Paulo H. Lobo$6.04
11Moon LandingWalter A. Rodriguez / Kevin Attard
8Miranda RightsRafael Manuel Hernandez / Mark E. Casse
3GilmoreJoseph D. Ramos / Brendan P. Walsh
7Eyes On the KingBrian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Mark E. Casse
5AccidentOrlando Mojica / Tommy C. Short
2AristocracyFernando De La Cruz / Brad H. Cox
1Good HeartJane Elliott / Brendan P. Walsh
9Freezing PointDeclan Cannon / Joe Lejzerowicz
6American SpeedChris Landeros / Brad H. Cox

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $2 Exacta (12-4) Paid: $242.64
  • $0.50 Trifecta (12-4-10) Paid: $526.39
  • $0.10 Superfecta (12-4-10-11) Paid: $792.44

Watch the 2023 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

The History of the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

The John Battaglia Memorial Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses held in early March at Turfway Park. Inaugurated in 1982, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the polytrack. The race is an ungraded stakes with a current purse of $150,000. The race acts as a prep to the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

The race was named in honor of John Battaglia, the former general manager of Turfway Park when it was known as the Latonia Race Track. His son, Mike Battaglia, is also involved in racing and served as the track announcer at both Turfway and Churchill Downs for many years. Mike has also served as a race analyst as part of the NBC Sports broadcast team, working Triple Crown races, the Breeders’ Cup Championship, and other races broadcasted on NBC starting in 1993.

As part of the Road to The Kentucky Derby, the race offers the first five finishers 20-8-6-4-2 points respectively.