The Great War takes on invaders in John Battaglia Memorial

Due to the presence of The Great War, ranked among the top 20 3-year-olds in Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, Saturday evening’s $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park is among the most intriguing stakes of the day.

Although The Great War is a deserving favorite – coming on the heels of a 7 1/4-length romp Jan. 31 in the 96Rock Stakes at Turfway, which followed a fourth-place finish in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – the competition is of better quality than what he faced in his first race over the Turfway strip this winter.

Of the 10 horses left in the 1 1/16-mile Battaglia as of midday Thursday – Bordini was an early scratch – four are Florida invaders with prominent trainers.

Todd Pletcher is represented with the Sam F. Davis Stakes seventh-place finisher, Royal Son, who adds blinkers; Graham Motion ships in Midnight Trace after a third in an allowance at Tampa Bay Downs; and Mike Maker brings Task Force Glory and Firespike up from Florida.

Maker and Motion also are represented with other entrants – with Maker starting the locally based Pepper Roani and Motion shipping Mini Cosmo down from his northern Fair Hill base after that colt was unplaced in a pair of dirt stakes.

The Great War, a son of War Front favored at even-money on the morning line, is trained by Wesley Ward, ridden by leading rider Albin Jimenez, and owned by a partnership that includes Joseph Allen and representatives from Coolmore Stud.

Key contenders

The Great War (Last 2 Beyers: 93-89)

* In addition to having the top Beyer Speed Figure in the race, a 93 posted in taking the 96Rock, he leads the field in earnings, having made more than $248,000 in winning 4 of 9 races.

Task Force Glory (Last 3 Beyers: 74-79-71)

* Although untested on Polytrack, he has quality turf form, with all six of his starts having come in two-turn races. A winner in fast time on turf at Churchill to close out his 2-year-old season in 2014, he was elevated to second upon a disqualification in his seasonal debut Jan. 14 at Gulfstream.

Firespike (Last 3 Beyers: 71-69-70)

* A two-time stakes winner going a route, he carries the high weight of 124 pounds. He won a restricted sales stakes at the Ocala Training Center most recently on its Safetrack synthetic footing.

Royal Son (Last 3 Beyers: 73-75-69)

* Is one of several front-runners, along with the longshot Candy Charger and the favored The Great War. Drawn in post 3 and now racing with blinkers, he should be forwardly placed.

Pepper Roani (Last 3 Beyers: 91-61-57)

* Equipped with blinkers for the first time Jan. 31 at Turfway, he responded with a breakout effort, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in a strung-out field.