Exciting stretch duels were the day’s theme Feb. 22. Nine hours after the sensational Saudi Cup (G1) battle of Forever Young and Romantic Warrior , another close finish took place several thousand miles away at Turfway Park.
Sure, this duel was only for $173,500 instead of $20 million, but for the connections of California Burrito the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes was every bit as exciting.
“It was fantastic,” trainer Thomas Drury Jr. said of the performance. “This horse just continues to go the right way. It’s been a lot of fun to watch him and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
The victory was earned with a veteran ride by apprentice rider Irving Moncada, who told Drury he planned to be aggressive. Breaking well, he pushed California Burrito to the lead and established himself in command.
“He relaxed for me and I was able to give him a breather,” Moncada said. “Once I went to call on him, he was right there for me. It was really a question if he could hold up with the pace.”
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In his previous start, an allowance optional claimer at Turfway Jan. 24, the Army Mule colt set leisurely fractions of :26.13 and :51.64. This time, he went quicker in :24.50 and :49.41.
“He proved today that he was able to go faster,” Moncada said.
The test came as favored Baby Max challenged the pacesetter at the quarter pole, but the tenacious California Burrito would not give in.
The two were even for an eighth of a mile, but once California Burrito switched leads—and while Baby Max drifted out a bit—he regained command and hit the wire a half-length clear. He completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.98 and paid $9.42 to win. Maximum Promise closed from last to finish third.
A stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the top five Battaglia finishers received qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.
Although his last two scores have been on Turfway’s Tapeta surface, the colt is proven on the Churchill Downs dirt. He broke his maiden on the surface traveling seven furlongs for a $150,000 tag.
“His first race (a sixth-place finish at Ellis Park in July) was a head scratcher, we thought he would run well and he didn’t,” Drury said of the decision with owners Aaron and Victoria Haberman on running for a tag. “We knew we could get away with it.”
They were right as the colt bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables went unclaimed and now holds a record of 3-1-0 in six starts for earnings of $222,941.
Drury said the horse has thrived since moving to Turfway and expects him to continue to get stronger.
“He’s made the lead the last couple times by default,” Drury said. “He doesn’t have to be there, I think he’s a versatile horse. We’ve worked him behind horses in the morning. He seems to handle the kickback well.”
Also thriving at Turfway is Moncada, who leads the meet’s jockeys standings.
“As an apprentice, just want to do the best I can,” said the young rider from Lexington. “Make a name for myself here in Kentucky. I’m really happy to be doing it here in Kentucky.”
Despite the pressure of being on the Derby trail, Drury said neither he nor the Habermans ever wavered on keeping Moncada aboard.
“I think this kid has a chance to be a next-level rider, and we’re happy to have him whenever we can get him,” Drury said. “Where this kid goes, the sky’s the limit.”
