Encino grabs Derby points with late run in Battaglia

FLORENCE, Ky. – The lightly-raced Encino threw his name into the Kentucky Derby ring on Saturday night at Turfway Park, reeling in favored Epic Ride in the stretch to win the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.

Encino ($13.38) earned 20 points toward a spot in the Derby field by winning the Battaglia, which is the final local prep toward the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby on March 23. That race, the final prep for 2022 Derby winner Rich Strike and 2023 runner-up Two Phil's, awards points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

Godolphin homebred Encino, by 2016 Derby winner Nyquist, was a last-out maiden winner at Turfway. He was making his stakes debut, and just his third career start, in the Battaglia.

"He's really, really stepped forward, especially in the last month since he broke his maiden," said assistant trainer Tessa Walden, who oversees trainer Brad Cox's string at Turfway.

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Encino, with Eclipse Award winning apprentice jockey Axel Concepcion in the irons, broke from post 10 in the field of 11 starters, giving him an immediate challenge in the run into the first turn to save ground. Meanwhile, toward the inside, Bolt at Midnight was away alertly and intent on the lead. Epic Ride used front-running tactics to win the Leonatus Stakes last month at Turfway, but as runners began to stack up into the first turn, Adam Beschizza conceded the lead to save ground. Bolt at Midnight hit the backstretch leading by a length through a half-mile in 48.31 seconds on the Tapeta, tracked by Fidget and Blue Eyed George. Epic Ride was tucked in fourth and saving ground – and, although the colt rated relatively kindly, trainer John Ennis thought his charge might have been more relaxed if out front.

"I think he would have switched off a little bit if he was on the front end," Ennis said.

Meanwhile, Encino was sitting in sixth after the half, having found a ground-saving position. Walden was pleased to see the colt, who she said can be unfocused at times, with targets in front of him.

"Getting that stalking trip was something we thought would help him stay focused, and Axel did an incredible job," she said.

Around the far turn, Fidget was the first to throw in the towel as Epic Ride, full of run, tipped out and ranged up on Bolt at Midnight, who briefly put up a fight. The favorite seized the lead near the three-eights pole and came into the stretch with a length advantage. But Encino was in the clear on the outside and doggedly taking aim on his target. He reeled in the favorite and cleared in the final yards to win by a length.

“He relaxed very well down the backside and around the far turn, I was able to ask him for his best run," Concepcion said. "I had a lot of horse still left down the lane, and he continued to run hard all the way to the wire."

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.22.

Epic Ride was a clear second by 1 3/4 lengths over Leonatus runner-up Blue Eyed George, who was never far off and ran on gamely in the stretch for third. It was another 4 3/4 lengths to Mugatu in fourth, followed, in order, by Ode to Balius, Bolt at Midnight, Mission Ready, Karlwithanarl, Good Bali, Fidget, and Mr. Faversham.

Epic Ride earned 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby with his runner-up efforts, with Blue Eyed George, Mugatu, and Ode to Balius finishing in positions with six, four, and two points, respectively. Mugatu and Ode to Balius are not currently nominated to the Triple Crown series, but can become eligible through $6,000 late nomination fee due April 1.

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