John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Picks —Betting Preview and Predictions (Feb 21)

There’s just one race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby this weekend, with the Listed John Battaglia Memorial Stakes being run at Turfway Park. The race is most famous for producing the 2022 shock Derby victor, Rich Strike. Find the odds and our John Battaglia Memorial Stakes picks for the 2026 renewal here.

Odds

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Recent Winners

• 2025- California Burrito
• 2024- Encino
• 2023- Congruent
• 2022- Tiz The Bomb
• 2021- Hush of a Storm

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes: Event Information

ALSO SEE: Autotrader 400 Picks, Odds, and Preview (Feb 22)

Race Preview

The winner of the Kentucky Derby has only come through the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on one previous occasion, with Rich Strike producing a stunning upset in 2022. However, this weekend’s edition could involve a number of interesting contenders.

Among those include the current market leader, Street Beast, for trainer Ben Colebrook. The three-year-old has improved readily under rules, and his fourth-place finish in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf shows his class. Was a ready winner on all-weather debut at the start of this year, beating the reappearing Fulleffort.

Small Effort is an interesting contender in this field after winning on debut over six furlongs in January. His speed figure of 112 is eye-catching, but this step up in distance does present a question.

Brad Cox’s Fulleffort is one of a number of runners re-opposing Street Beast after finishing behind the market leader in the Leonatus Stakes. However, it would be hard to suggest that any of the runners from that contest will reverse the form on these terms.

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Picks

At the prices, and considering that Street Beast’s figures on the turf are better than his all-weather effort, I’d be prepared to side with Aces Honor at a double-digit price.

The Ethan West-trained runner is bred to get this distance, and he should be capable of making a mark on his synthetic debut after progressive speed figures on the turf. Most recently, he posted a 118 rating when winning the Texas Turf Mile at the end of January.