|
Catman Running, ridden by Willie Martinez, extended his win streak to three after an authoritative 1 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park.The 3-year-old son of Tactical Cat covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.42 and paid $11.20, $4.80, and $3.80 as the third choice in the field of eleven.
Joe Got Even, piloted by Miguel Mena, finished second and paid $3.20 and $2.20. Cobrador finished third under Victor Lebron and paid $4.20.The slow early fractions were set by Bubber who covered the first quarter-mile in :24.88 and the first half mile in :49.91. Bubber, an 85-1 longshot, was closely followed throughout by 40-1 longshot Tanyard Hill. The two crawled six furlongs in 1:15.05. Right in behind those two were Catman Running, Joe Got Even, and Cobrador. That trio moved into the top three slots at the top of the stretch and would hold their advantage all the way to the wire to finish 1-2-3 respectively. Catman Running came into the John Battaglia Memorial a sharp win over first level allowance foes in late January over the Turfway polytrack surface, when he closed from last after a rough start to capture the race by 4 ½-lengths. He has now won three races in a row since losing his career debut to the likes of highly regarded sophomores Teuflesberg and Ravel in a Keeneland maiden race. Joe Got Even, the 7-5 favorite off his win in the WEBN Stakes, could manage no better than second as he lacked the ability to make up any ground on the winner. Cobrador, second to Joe Got Even in the WEBN, finished third and was followed under the wire by Approval Rating, Legacy Reserve, Tanyard Hill, Rutledge Cat, Eighteenthofmarch, Digger, Bubber, and Dicey. Catman Running, owned by Joe Harris and trained by Eric Reed, ran his race record to 4-3-0-0 and boosted his lifetime earnings $90,685. None of those earning, however, were earned in graded stakes which leaves him at the bottom of preferred horses for the Kentucky Derby. In the case of an overflow field for the Kentucky Derby, preference is given to those who have compiled the most money in graded stakes events. Catman Running will have a chance to get some of those graded earnings in the Lanes End (GII) at Turfway Park on March 24. The race is 1 1/8-miles and carries a purse of $500,000. Catman Running is not currently nominated to the Triple Crown.
Source www.kentuckyderby.com |
