Royal Son Rolls to Battaglia Runaway

Racing

Royal Son coasted to victory in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Satutrday at Turfway Park. (Coady Photography)

Royal Son took it to heavily favored The Great War right from the start of the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and imposed his will on his more accomplished opponent on the far turn at Turfway Park.

Royal Son powered away from The Great War and opened up a commanding advantage entering the stretch. He coasted to a 5 1/4-length runaway victory under Rodney Prescott for his second win in five starts.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Royal Son entered the Battaglia off a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, in which he dropped back far off the pace early on. Prescott encouraged Royal Son to utilize his speed early in the Battaglia as he had done when finishing first or second in each of his first three races, and the result was a far better performance.

The Great War broke alertly as the 3-to-10 favorite and went to the front, but Royal Son quickly seized command from the inside and led through a half-mile in :49.88.

The Great War made a run at Royal Son on the backstretch and then again on the turn, but Prescott never moved and his mount held his ground. Midway on the turn, Prescott asked Royal Son to accelerate and the response was immediate. He shook free of The Great War and built an insurmountable lead.

Royal Son completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.84 for his first career stakes win for owner-breeder WinStar Farm.

By Tiznow, Royal Son is out of the stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Mama Nadine. His grandam (maternal grandmother) is 1997 champion two-year-old filly Countess Diana.

Sent off as the 9.30-to-1 third choice, Royal Son paid $20.60 for a $2 win ticket. Pepper Roani finished second at 14.30-to-1 odds, followed by 66.50-to-1 Milwaukee Mist, who was another 12 ¾ lengths back. The Great War faded to finish last of 10.

Based on the Battaglia win, Royal Son figures to be one of the favorites for the Grade 3 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes on March 21 at Turfway Park.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

ROYAL SON

Coady Photography

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