Comma to the Top Stakes no gimme for Battle of Midway

ARCADIA, Calif. – There will be no Breeders’ Cup appearance at Churchill Downs next weekend for Battle of Midway, the winner of the BC Dirt Mile at Del Mar last November.

Battle of Midway, who was found to be subfertile as a stallion this year, has been back in training since the spring and will have the third start of his comeback in Sunday’s $75,000 Comma to the Top Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm, Battle of Midway could have been pushed into the BC Dirt Mile next Saturday after a second in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 25 and a fifth in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on Sept. 22.

“We’re thinking long term with the horse so we can be ready for next year,” Hollendorfer said between races on Thursday.

Third in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, Battle of Midway may have a 2019 campaign loaded with important races. But first, Sunday’s race will not be the easiest of assignments.

Battle of Midway will face a test from Tatters to Riches, who won the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 25, and Roman Rosso, a Group 1 winner in Argentina and Uruguay in the last year who was a well-beaten fourth behind Accelerate in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18 in his American debut.

KEY CONTENDERS

Battle of Midway, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 97-89-108

◗ Battle of Midway was beaten 2 1/2 lengths as the even-money favorite in the Kelso Handicap at a mile. Starting from the rail, Battle of Midway raced in third on the inside for the first six furlongs before launching a wide rally.

“I thought he was compromised because he had a bad post,” Hollendorfer said. “If he’d gone to the lead, he might have done better. He might have had a chance to win.”

◗ Hollendorfer said the failed stud career has not affected Battle of Midway’s enthusiasm for racing.

“He likes this track,” Hollendorfer said. “We’ll see if we can get him back on the win trail.

“It’s the same as last year. He likes to run and keeps trying.”

Roman Rosso, by Roman Ruler
Last 3 Beyers: 89-NA-NA

◗ Roman Rosso set the pace in the Pacific Classic before fading to finish 19 1/2 lengths behind Accelerate, the leading candidate for the BC Classic. More recently, Roman Rosso has been a workmate for some of trainer Bob Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup hopefuls. Last Sunday, Roman Rosso worked in company with West Coast, who is bound for the BC Classic.

“I love the way he’s training,” Baffert said of Roman Rosso. “His last two works have been strong.”

Tatters to Riches, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-65

◗ Tatters to Riches won the Shared Belief Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds by 3 3/4 lengths. He was scheduled to start in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby last month but bruised a foot.

“We were all but on the plane when it happened,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “I’m glad it happened here and not there.”

◗ Tatters to Riches drew the inside post in the Comma to the Top Stakes, a concern for Mullins, although Tatters to Riches can set the pace.

“The post is not the best for him,” he said.