The John Battaglia Memorial, held over 1 1/16 miles at Tapeta, is a relatively new addition to the Kentucky Derby course and has been part of the qualifying points preparations since 2021. But it turned out to be a Kentucky Derby winner in 2022, when John Battaglia Memorial finished in fourth place Rich strike upset the Run for the Roses at odds of 80-1.
Submissions: John Battaglia Monument S.
Turfway Park, Saturday February 21, 2026, Race 9
- STK
- 1 1/16m
- All-weather track
- $175,000
- 3 years
- 9:55 PM (local)
A deep and competitive field has emerged for the 2026 John Battaglia Memorial. A few local runners are logical favorites, led by #1 Street animal the 5-2 favorite in the morning line.
Street Beast opened his career with four excellent starts on grass. Bee Kentucky downshe defeated the Juvenile Mile opposition by 7 lengths before finishing a respectable fourth against international competition in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
Sign up for Blood horse Daily
Street Beast made his Tapeta debut in Turfway’s one-mile Leonatus Stakes. January 17. Street Beast, normally a pace-pushing/following type, took the lead in the Leonatus, completing splits of :24.15, :48.54 and 1:14.53 before going ahead to win by a length over #11 Full effort (3-1), who is back for the John Battaglia Memorial.
Fulleffort broke his first in a one-mile special weight on turf at Kentucky Downs, then repeated his turf prowess with a 5-length rally over 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland. He made his Tapeta debut in the Leonatus and ran a solid race, closing 7 3/4 lengths off the pace to finish second. He gained 2 1/2 lengths in the final furlong alone, and if the John Battaglia Memorial unfolds at a slightly faster pace, you can make a case for Fulleffort to turn the tables on Street Beast.
While Street Beast and Fulleffort deserve respect, my top pick is a newcomer to the Turfway scene: #12 Two out hero (7-2).
There is plenty to like about Two Out Hero. First, he has proven himself against tough competition. Bee Woodbine last summer he won the 6 1/2 furlong Soaring Free Stakes over a field including the following Summer (G1T) winner Argos . Two Out Hero also competed in the summer and finished third, beaten only a length by Argos and the European raider Wild desert . Argos later finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, just 1 1/2 lengths behind Street Beast.
Two Out Hero’s two-stake runs have come on grass, but he has also shown talent on Tapeta. He made his debut in a 6-furlong special weight over Woodbine’s Tapeta course and led all the way to dominate by 12 lengths.
Returning to Tapeta on Turfway may unlock a major performance from Two Out Hero. Trainer Kevin Attard has saddled just four starters at Turfway since 2021, but one of them: 2024 King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrheid – successfully translated her talented form on 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 put in eight timed workouts at Palm Meadows in Florida since late December, including a 5-furlong shot from the gate in 1:00.65 two weeks ago, so he should be fit for a strong debut in 2026. Don’t leave him on your tickets.
#9 Stop the car (8-1) has never raced on a synthetic track, but he scored a nice win in a $100,000 optional one-mile claimer on dirt at Churchill Downs last fall, triumphing by 3 3/4 lengths. He stayed closer to a strong early pace than the other top finishers, earning a respectable 80 Beyer Speed Figure that fits well in the John Battaglia Memorial field.
Stop the Car started 2026 with a seventh-place finish in a quality field in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Stopping teaching and switching to Tapeta could lead to a major revival.
A longshot worth considering is number 2 Steel empire (15-1). A tough bred son of Essential quality from the Arch mare Summer solo Steel Imperium debuted two weeks ago in a 6-furlong first special weight at Turfway. He was 7 1/2 lengths off the early pace but charged down the homestretch and scored by 4 lengths.
Steel Imperium has a reputation for improving while stretching over 1 1/16 miles, and its deep-closing style suits the Turfway Tapeta, which tends to play favorably against late runners. 15-1 is a bit too high a price for a colt who dominated his only start to date, and for Tapeta no less.
Selections
1st: Two out hero
2nd: Street animal
3rd: Full effort
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? View the Unlock Winners Contest Page. Every week there is a new challenge!
*****
The unlocking winner’s path to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge is back! Check out the special competition page to play.
#Choosing #shipper #John #Battaglia #Memorial