Battle of Midway edges McKinzie in San Pasqual

ARCADIA, Calif. – Battle of Midway was brighter than the weather at Santa Anita on Saturday.

In the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses, Battle of Midway repelled a sustained challenge from McKinzie to win his third stakes in his last four starts.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Battle of Midway ($6.80) won by a half-length, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.95 on a sealed and sloppy track. Rain fell for most of the morning and afternoon.

Breaking from the outside post in a field of five, Battle of Midway was wide throughout, which was vital, Prat said.

“I think the key was being outside,” he said. “I was able to stay just outside McKinzie the whole way.”

Prat had Battle of Midway in last on the first turn and fourth on the backstretch, racing three wide on the backstretch. On the turn, pacesetter Giant Expectations was challenged by McKinzie and Battle of Midway, with the three runners within a little more than a half-length.

Entering the stretch, Battle of Midway took the lead, but was challenged by McKinzie who briefly had his head in front in the final furlong before Battle of Midway regained control.

“My horse likes to play around a little when he makes the lead, but he still finished good,” Prat said.

McKinzie, the 1-2 favorite who was ridden by Mike Smith, finished 4 1/4 lengths in front of 9-1 Giant Expectations, who was followed by Pavel and Dalmore.

Dabster, Shivermetimbers, and Sonneteer were withdrawn earlier in the day.

Smith said that he would have preferred McKinzie had not been between Giant Expectations and Battle of Midway on the final turn.

“I didn’t like where I had him,” Smith said. “He was stuck between the two of them.”

Battle of Midway, 5, has won 8 of 16 starts and earned $1,589,049. The $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes was his sixth stakes win, the most prominent of which was the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in 2017.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Battle of Midway races for Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm.

Battle of Midway was retired to stud in 2018 but was found to be sub-fertile and was put back in training last spring. Since his return, Battle of Midway has won 3 of 6 starts.

By Smart Strike, Battle of Midway won the Comma to the Top Stakes here in October, the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar in November and was second in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes here on Dec. 26.

“He’s a big, good and solid horse right now,” Hollendorfer said. “I don’t think we’ve ever led him over and had him look better than today.”