The talented Tiz the Bomb held off familiar foe Stolen Base for a neck victory in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points race, on Saturday night at Turfway Park. Tiz the Bomb ($5.20), a son of Hit It a Bomb trained by Ken McPeek for Magdalena Racing, is now a winner on three surfaces. After winning his maiden in a mile dirt race taken off the turf last summer at Ellis Park, he emerged as one of the standout turf 2-year-olds of last season, winning the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile and the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland before finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Tiz the Bomb made his 3-year-old debut with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes last month, which McPeek attributed to the colt's dislike for having sand in his face at Gulfstream Park. Tiz the Bomb, with Alex Achard in the irons for the first time, was away in good order from near the outside, in post 10 in the field of 12, and was racing in seventh and on the outside heading into the first turn. Erase, winner of the Leonatus Stakes in January, was hustled away from post 8 to secure early position, and bounced away to a clear lead through the opening quarter of 23.97 seconds, and the half in 48.18 seconds. The pack began to tighten up leaving the backstretch, with Achard scrubbing on Tiz the Bomb's neck and bringing him wide around the far turn for the drive. He stuck the front in upper stretch and began to power clear. Stolen Base, who had to work his way through traffic in the stretch while unleashing his customary rally, fell just short under Gerardo Corrales. Grael was third another 2 1/4 lengths back, and Rich Strike was fourth. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play like a pro with free Formulator, DRF's premium data product This was the third career stakes-placing for Stolen Base, a debut winner sprinting on the Saratoga dirt last summer for Mike Maker. The colt was a closing second to Tiz the Bomb in the Bourbon before finishing seventh in the Juvenile Turf. He was third in the Texas Turf Mile in January at Sam Houston. The Battaglia Memorial had Kentucky Derby points available for its top finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale; none came in with prior points. Grael is not a current Triple Crown nominee; he will be able to use any points he has earned if he is made a late nominee by March 28, or supplemented to the Derby for a steep fee. The Battaglia is the local prep for the Grade 3, $600,000 Jeff Ruby on April 2, which is designated as part of the final major round of Derby preps, awarding points on a 100-40-20-10 basis. *** One race later, Bubble Rock got the best of rival Marissa’s Lady, drawing away from the previously unbeaten favorite in the final stages to win the $125,000 Cincinnati Trophy for 3-year-old fillies, a Kentucky Oaks points race. Bubble Rock ($12.40), with Marcelino Pedroza Jr. in the irons for Brad Cox, stalked Marissa’s Lady around the track in the one-mile race before confronting her turning into the stretch. Marissa’s Lady, winner of three straight stakes, including the Valdale Stakes at Turfway over Bubble Rock last out, responded gamely but ultimately gave way. Bubble Rock stopped the clock in 1:37.19 for the mile. Bubble Rock’s previous stakes victory came in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes last fall sprinting on the Belmont turf. In her only previous try at a mile, she was a troubled 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Cincinnati Trophy awarded Kentucky Oaks points on the 10-4-2-1 scale. Like the Battaglia, it is a springboard to Turfway's major spring races for 3-year-olds, leading to the Bourbonette Oaks on April 2, which awards Oaks points 50-20-10-5. Tap Dancing Lady and Bhoma were third and fourth, respectively; Tap Dancing Queen is not a current Oaks nominee.