John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Recap
by Kenneth Strong of Predictem.com
Absolutely Cindy waves bye-bye to boys in Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park
Mar 1. 2008 As a Kentucky Derby prep the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday was a flop at least for the 10 males in the field. As a Kentucky Oaks prep it was excellent for the only filly in the field – Absolutely Cindy at 19-1.
The 3-year-old filly came into the Battaglia off a 23 length drubbing in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 9 and reversed form with a vengeance. Last early and 15 lengths back of pacesetter Mr. Harry, Absolutely Cindy stalked fast fractions of 23.60, 45.78 and 1:11.35 before making a swooping 6-wide move on the final turn. She then turned on the afterburners under jockey Orlando Mojica to catch second choice Your Round late and draw out to win by 1 lengths. The final time for the mile and a sixteenth over an all weather surface rated as fast was 1:44.69.
Your Round made a solid move to take over the lead outside in early stretch and appeared to be home and cooled out with a clear lead after a mile in 1:38.21, but he couldnt hold on late. Dixie Decision came from well back to finish third at 40-1, 6 lengths behind Your Round and a length in front of third choice Big Glen. Favorite Briarwood was never in the race, stalking 4-wide before fading to last in the 11-horse field.
Owned and trained by Ronald Kinmon, Absolutely Cindy paid $41.60 to win. The daughter of Arch-Ms. Boucheron by LEnjoleur, who was also bred by her owner, increased her lifetime earnings to $163,374 from a record of 3-2-3 in 10 starts. Her next start is likely to be in either the Mar. 22 Bourbonette Stakes at Turfway Park or the Ashland Stakes-G1 On April 5 at Keeneland, with a possible shot at the Kentucky Oaks-G1 on Friday May 3 at Churchill Downs.
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Results and Payoffs
March 1, 2008 – Race 11 Turfway Park
8 Absolutely Cindy $41.60 $13.80 $6.60
7 Your Round $5.00 $3.20
5 Dixie Decision $17.20
3 Big Glen
$2 Exacta 8-7 paid $244.80
$2 Trifecta 8-7-5 paid $4,074.00
$2 Superfecta 8-7-5-3 paid $12,301.60
$2 Daily Double 5-8 paid $92.20
$2 Pick 3 4-5-8 paid $904.00
