Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway was an easy winner of Sunday’s $78,845 Comma to the Top S. at Santa Anita in what was just his second start of 2018.
Owned by WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable, the 4-year-old colt had a brief career at stud earlier this year before returning to the races in late August. His Breeders’ Cup win topped off a terrific 3-year-old campaign that saw him win the Affirmed S. (G3) and place in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Derby (G1).
With regular rider Flavien Prat in the irons on Sunday, Battle of Midway was three-wide in third for the first six furlongs, then took command on the final turn and drew away in style in the stretch. The official margin was 4 1/2-lengths over All Out Blitz, with a final time of 1:36.87 for the one mile on a fast track.
Battle of Midway, the first foal out of Grade 1 winner Rigoletta, is now 6-3-2 in 13 starts and has earned $1,349,049.
