In that January 17 Leonatus, the son of Volatile had pulled the rail and endured a tough trip, but still managed to finish fifth, beaten by 4 3/4 lengths. Jockey Alex Achard was clear this time as he broke from post 8 to ensure Great White swam into contention early.
“The last race was everything against us,” said Achard. “Today we just came back and knew we had to be more aggressive and closer. He put me there and he did it in a good way.”
Achard came third as Street Beast and Attfield moisture by fractions of :23.88, :48.84 and 1:14.65. On the outside, Great White balanced in an ambush at the 5/16th post and took the lead down the stretch. Fulleffort, as he did in the Leonatus, gobbled up the ground late but fell a neck short as Great White covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.83.
The large gray or roan gelding was purchased for $55,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton December Digital Selected Sale by Three Chimneys Farm. Trainer John Ennis had expressed an interest in the youngster during the sale and was approached by Three Chimneys a few weeks later to join them in a partnership.
“I was privileged to even be asked by Three Chimneys to be involved with a horse of theirs,” Ennis said.
However, Great White proved baffling to train, with Ennis describing it as one step backward for every two steps forward. Finally Ennis got him to the races with a debut win at Turfway. On December 12, Ennis still entered the Battaglia thinking there was room for improvement.
“I always loved the horse, but I thought he was a little weak,” Ennis said. “I spoke to Gonçalo (Torrealba, president of Three Chimneys) and the guys at Three Chimneys and said, ‘Look, he’s just not there yet. He’ll be a nice horse in the summer, a real horse in the summer, but he’s just not there yet. But whatever he does today, he’ll improve the next day.’ I think you will see significant improvement with him every race.”
The May 14 foal seems to be ahead of his true potential, which is perfect timing to let him grow into it. Saturday’s victory, for which he paid $32.32, also earned him 20 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The rest of the top five finishers: Fulleffort, Maximus Prime , Baytown dreamer And Steel empire —points earned on a scale of 10-6-4-2.
Ennis was first introduced to the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2024. Epic ride who had come second in that year’s Battaglia and finished 14th on Churchill Downs after collecting the list that also qualifies.
“This doesn’t happen to someone like me. It’s crazy to be in the picture right now,” Ennis said of a potential second Derby runner.
Epic Ride would prove to be more of a turf miler than a classic dirt horse, winning the Mint Millions Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky downs last summer. Great White’s sire, Three Chimneys stallion Volatile, was a Grade 1-winning sprinter. However, Ennis believes this gelding will be able to go the extra distance.
“There is so much more improvement in this horse,” Ennis said. “He’s obviously from Volatile, who was a fast horse, but (Great White) gets the two turns so well. I don’t think distance will be a problem for him.”
The diminishing margin of victory may leave doubts about his abilities beyond 1 1/16 miles, but both Ennis and Achard believed this was partly due to him moving into the lead so early and waiting for competition.
“I took the lead quite early and was alone for a while,” Achard said. “So he got tired and waited for the other one too. … He’s going to keep getting better. He’s huge. Physically he’s going to change a lot, and mentally too.”
Ennis did say he believes the horse will improve with more space between races. Ennis made no commitment to return to Turfway in four weeks on March 21 for the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), but said the colt will most likely make his final Derby preparation in Kentucky. The other option would come in six weeks’ time in the April 4 Blue Grass Stakes (G1). Keenelandwhich would be Great White’s first start on dirt.
“I think the bigger the track is, like Keeneland, he could be even better at it,” Ennis said. “He works phenomenally (on dirt tracks) at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, and that’s a deep track.”
Out of Uncle Mo’s mare Kelly bag Great White was bred in Kentucky by Stud Farm TNT. Volatile is selling the 2026 season at Three Chimneys Farm for $10,000.
Video: John Battaglia Memorial S. (BT)
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