First Resort to Scratch Out of John Battaglia Memorial

First Resort is not so fit, after all.

A few days after declaring First Resort “as fit as I can get him,’’ trainer Eoin Harty said the 2-1 favorite will scratch out of Saturday night’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park with stiffness in his left hind leg.

Favored First Resort out of chilly Battaglia

The stiffness developed earlier this week after a workout on Feb. 17.

With First Resort out of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) prep offering 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points on a sliding scale, Coming in Hot likely moves into the favorite’s role. He was the second choice at 5-1 on the morning line.

Others looking to step up and join the road to the Derby include California Burrito and Baby Max.

The scratch allows Special Caliber to draw into the race at 30-1 to round out the 12-horse field.

Maximum Promise looking to pull off the upset

While trainer Kenny McPeek will be in Riyadh to watch his Rattle N Roll run in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), he’ll be keeping tabs on Maximum Promise, who is listed at 8-1. The colt ran a closing fifth in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), less than two lengths behind the winner Disco Time.

The Battaglia will be run over the Tapeta all-weather track with a post time of 8:55 p.m. ET.

For those who bet horse racing on chilly nights ...

The picks: 1 Maximum Promise 2 Coming in Hot 3 Studlydoright

The field for the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1 Spirit Rags (Santo Sanjur, Marcelino Salas), 20-1

2 Shan (Albin Jimenez, Ed Moger, Jr.), 30-1

3 Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, John Robb), 8-1

4 Calling Card (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker), 10-1

5 California Burrito (Irving Moncada, Tom Drury, Jr.), 8-1

6 Banks (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp), 15-1

7 Baby Max (Abel Cedillo, Kelsey Danner), 6-1

8 King of Ashes (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh), 15-1

9 First Resort (Luis Saez, Eoin Harty), 2-1 (SCRATCH)

10 Coming in Hot (Edgar Morales, John Ennis), 5-1

11 Brereton’s Baytown (Marshall Mendez, Paul McEntee), 30-1

12 Maximum Promise (Luan Machado, Kenny McPeek), 8-1

13 Special Caliber (Evin Roman, Michel Douaihy), 30-1

Also-eligible

14 Maitre D (Evin Roman, Doug O’Neill), 30-1

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.