Derby Dreaming if Epic Ride Delivers in John Battaglia

A month ago, Irishman John Ennis was talking about hopes and dreams of a trainer looking to compete on a “bigger stage.”

As in the Kentucky Derby (G1), or the Kentucky Oaks (G1), or at the Breeders’ Cup.

A step in the Derby direction could take place for Ennis on Saturday when he sends out 5-2 morning-line favorite Epic Ride in the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race over Turfway’s all-weather surface is the final Derby ‘prep season’ test with points of 20-10-6-4-2. It’s also the first of two Turfway Park Derby preps – the other is the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 23 (100-50-30-20-10 points to the first five finishers).

Epic Ride, a son of Blame-Pick A Time, by Gio Ponti, was beaten a neck in his only start as a 2-year-old. He’s 2-for-2 this year, with a maiden win on Jan. 5 and a four-length victory in the Leonatus Stakes, all at Turfway Park.

Ennis and Epic Ride’s Road to the Derby

Ennis’ stable is at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, and Epic Ride put in a strong work there on Feb. 16 – 4 furlongs in 47.60, the fastest of 46 at the distance.

Ennis, who galloped horses for a while when he first arrived in America, then bought his first yearling in 2017. He’s been known to buy horses at a good price, train them for a bit, then sell them.

Epic Ride, a frontrunner, breaks from post 6 under regular rider Adam Beschizza.

Brad Cox has three entered in the race – Gettysburg Address (6-1), Fidget (15-1), and Encino (9-2).

Godolphin homebred Encino was supplemented to the race after a recent maiden win at Turfway. He leaves from post 12. Gettysburg Address ran fourth in the Smarty Jones and breaks from the rail.

A horse to watch is Bolt At Midnight, who broke his maiden three weeks ago with a frontrunning win at Turfway. He breaks from post 4 with Martin Garcia aboard for owner/trainer Mick Ruis.

Ennis, a trainer since 2013, has sent out 908 starters and has 119 wins. He’s still looking for his first graded stakes winner. Epic Ride, with a strong showing on Saturday, may give him that chance on the road to the Derby.

“I’d love to have a Derby horse or Oaks filly, or a Breeders’ Cup horse, to compete on the bigger stage if I could,’’ Ennis said in a story published last month by the Paulick Report. “But I’m getting better-bred horses in the barn now, and I have a couple of nice 3-year-olds that could keep progressing the right way and take us there.”

Post time for the John Battaglia is 8:25 p.m. ET.

The picks: 1 Epic Ride 2 Gettysburg Address 3 Bolt At Midnight

The field for the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1 Gettysburg Address (Gerardo Corrales, Brad Cox), 6-1

2 Ode to Balius (Sonny Leon, Concepcion Torres), 30-1

3 Mr. Faversham (Orlando Mojica, Stephen Lyster), 30-1

4 Bolt At Midnight (Martin Garcia, Mick Ruis), 4-1

5 Fidget (Fernando De La Cruz, Brad Cox), 15-1

6 Epic Ride (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis), 5-2

7 Blue Eyed George (Luan Machado, Michael McCarthy), 6-1

8 Break Out (Tyler Conner, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 12-1

9 Mission Ready (Gavin Ashton, Ed Fernandez), 15-1

10 Good Bali (Colby Hernandez, Rusty Arnold), 20-1

11 Mugatu (Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler), 20-1

12 Encino (Axel Concepcion, Brad Cox), 9-2

AE Karlwithanarl (Axel Concepcion, Robert Medina), 20-1

AE Katheeb (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh), 10-1