Battle of Midway by a neck in Native Diver Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jerry Hollendorfer said he saw no difference in Battle of Midway last summer when he went back into training after being found to be subfertile at stud, and now his performances in his races are starting to mirror what was seen from him in his previous campaign in 2017.

Battle of Midway was beaten in his first two starts following the layoff, but he has now put together two straight stakes victories, including a hard-fought triumph over Dabster on Sunday at Del Mar in the Grade 3, $92,000 Native Diver Stakes for older horses.

The Native Diver only had three starters after half the field was withdrawn, and the race turned into a match race. Dabster, under Joe Talamo, went after Battle of Midway after the opening quarter-mile, and the two raced virtually head and head the rest of the way in the 1 1/8-mile race, with Battle of Midway ($3.20) and Flavien Prat prevailing by a neck in what turned out to be a very entertaining battle.

“We thought the tactics Dabster would use would be to get the lead or try to go with us,” said Hollendorfer, who instructed Prat to be aggressive early and not let Dabster take the lead. “It worked out perfect.”

Isotherm, the only other starter, was 26 lengths farther back.

Gift Box, Kershaw, and Roman Rosso were withdrawn.

Battle of Midway completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:50.23.

The win was the seventh in 14 starts for Battle of Midway, who has now earned more than $1.4 million. His biggest victory came in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at the end of his ambitious 3-year-old campaign, in which he ran 10 times, including a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

He then was sent to stud but was found to be subfertile. Don Alberto and WinStar Farm, which owned Battle of Midway from the Kentucky Derby onward, settled with the insurance carrier and retook possession of Battle of Midway, putting him back in training, being as he was sound and just 4 years old.

“He’s been real good. He hasn’t shown any difference at all around the racetrack,” said Hollendorfer, who has trained Battle of Midway throughout his career.

Hollendorfer said he treated Battle of Midway “the same as any horse off a layoff,” with jogs that progressed to gallops, which progressed to workouts, and finally a return to racing. Battle of Midway was “very businesslike” throughout, Hollendorfer said, just as he had been before going to stud.

“For me and our stable, it has gone perfectly,” he said. “I’m sorry about his stallion venture, but it has gone well for our stable.”

Hollendorfer said the Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 would be next. After that, the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream would be considered. Those races, like the Native Diver, are at 1 1/8 miles.

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