War Front’s son Invader, a full brother to G1 winner Fog of War and stakes winner Naval Intelligence, earned his first stakes win Friday in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park for trainer Wesley Ward.
Invader put on a show in his maiden victory at Turfway on December 4th, hitting the wire 12-3/4th lengths ahead of the competition.
Jockey Albin Jimenez was on board for the John Battaglia win, holding Invader as long as he could. Once let loose, the colt bore down on the leader to take the 1 1/16th-mile test by 6-1/4 lengths, for a final time of 1:45.92.
“He’s a good horse from the gate, really quick, but there were a couple of speed horses in there and I didn’t want to go to the lead too early,” said Jimenez, the meet’s top rider. “I wanted to wait as long as I could, but he’s such a strong horse. By the three-eighths pole he was taking it by himself so I just him go.”
Invader is owned by Cheyenne Stables, Grandview Equine and LNJ Foxwoods. By War Front out of Say, by Galileo (IRE), he was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt. Invader’s second win from six starts and his first stakes win, the Battaglia pushed his earnings to $106,200.
The Battaglia Memorial is the local prep for the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), a Kentucky Derby (G1) points race.
War Front stands at Claiborne Farm.