John Battaglia Memorial Preview & Picks | Can Street Beast go back to back?
$175,000 Stakes | 1 Mile (Synthetic) | 3-Year-Olds
Saturday, February 21 | Post Time: 9:55 PM ET
Saturday night under the lights at Turfway Park features the John Battaglia Memorial, a $175,000 stakes at one mile over the Tapeta surface and an official stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Battaglia awards qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby starting gate, giving this race added significance beyond the purse. For many in this field, it represents the first opportunity to secure meaningful Derby positioning in 2026.
A full field of 13 three-year-olds lines up in what profiles as a key late-winter test for developing runners — particularly those looking to prove they can handle synthetic footing while staying on the Derby trail.
Pace Projection
If the race is run true to the pace figures, Street Beast, Two Out Hero, and Aces Honor will show early intent. Stop the Car also has enough tactical speed to sit close.
Great White has the fast late pace with Fulleffort not far behind, I expect these guys to be flying home late.
Top Contenders
Fulleffort
The Brad Cox trainee looks primed for a peak effort. He rallied strongly for second in the Leonatus Stakes over this track on January 17, finishing behind Street Beast despite a wide, grinding trip.
His 91 Late Pace rating was one of the strongest in that race, and Cox wins at a high percentage with synthetic runners and route types. This colt has already won twice on turf and owns a career-best Beyer of 82 — right at the top of this field.
If the pace is legitimate, he’s the most reliable finisher in the race.
Street Beast
By Street Sense, Street Beast already has proven class and a win over this surface and distance. He captured the $124,000 Leonatus Stakes here last month with an 80 Beyer, controlling the race throughout.
He also ran competitively in graded company on turf last season, including a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. His Early Pace figure (107) makes him the likely pace controller.
If he shakes loose or dictates moderate fractions, he’s extremely tough to reel in.
Two Out Hero
This Kevin Attard-trained colt is 2-for-3 lifetime and already owns a Grade 1 placing in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine. He has tactical speed (95 Early), has won on synthetic, and remains lightly raced with room to improve.
If he moves forward off his stakes experience and secures the right trip just off the leaders, he has the ceiling to win this outright.
High talent. Still developing. Legitimate threat.
Upside Play: Attfield
This could be where the value lies.
Attfield is lightly raced and still developing, which is exactly what you want in a Derby points prep this time of year. He hasn’t fully exposed his ceiling yet, and his forward progression pattern suggests there’s another move coming.
If he takes the expected step forward stretching into this spot, he has the kind of tactical speed to stay in touch early and enough upside to make the decisive move turning for home. In a field where several rivals have already shown their best cards, Attfield is the one who could jump up.
TracksideProfits Picks
Top Pick: Fulleffort
Strong closing profile, proven over the surface, and set up for a pace to run at.
Main Danger: Street Beast
Track winner with tactical control and legitimate class.
Third: Two Out Hero
Lightly raced, Grade 1–placed, synthetic winner with room to improve.
Upside Play: Attfield
improving each start, but has to transfer over turf form.
This $175,000 mile at Turfway Park feels like a legitimate developmental race for this crop. Several runners bring graded stakes experience, synthetic form, or emerging upside.
Expect a tactical first half, a contested far turn, and a competitive stretch drive under the lights.
