Battle of Midway points to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

OKLAHOMA CITY – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said before the Oklahoma Derby that a good race from Battle of Midway would put the multiple stakes winner on a path to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3 at Del Mar. Battle of Midway ran his race Sunday when second to Untrapped, and Hollendorfer said Monday that the horse looked good following the start and the plan is to proceed to the Dirt Mile.

“I thought he ran a real good race,” Hollendorfer said.

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Hollendorfer said the Dirt Mile is appealing because Battle of Midway ran an outstanding race over the Del Mar track in August, when he captured the Shared Belief Stakes at a mile with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

Battle of Midway was flying back to his Santa Anita base Monday, Hollendorfer said.

◗ Handle on the 12-race Oklahoma Derby Day card from all sources Sunday was $2.3 million, with more than $2 million of that amount bet offtrack. The total handle for the program was on par with 2016.

◗ Rose of Malibu, a 2-year-old half-sister to Grade 1 winner Shotgun Gulch, will attempt to improve her record to 2 for 2 on Thursday night in the third race at Remington. The optional $75,000 claiming sprint for 2-year-old fillies also drew Secret Passion, winner of the Prairie Gold Lassie at Prairie Meadows. Rose of Malibu is a candidate to advance to the Spendthrift Juvenile Filly Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs on Oct. 29, said trainer C.R. Trout.