Cup Spotlight- Battle of Midway

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, Battle of Midway, was retired to stud and then found to be less than prolific when it comes to getting the ladies pregnant.  Thus, his label of being sub fertile.  I had never heard that term before this year, and to be honest I hope I never hear that term ever again.  Not that I want to have any more kids or anything.  But it’s nice to have options.  To be in control of your own fate, know what I mean?  But I digress.  Battle of Midway.  So yeah, he’s back to the races after the fertility issues, and the BC Dirt Mile is the goal.

His human connections picked quite the spot for the first race back, when he was 2nd to a monster by the name of Catalina Cruiser in the Pat O’Brien.  No shame in that effort given it was off an almost 10-month layoff.  Then they shipped him to New York for the Kelso, and he ran into a bit of traffic at exactly the wrong time and wasn’t able to continue the move he had started, which to be honest looked like it would come up short anyway.  But it was a big step up from his last and it showed that he’s ready for prime-time.  If Beyers are your thing, it was the third-fastest race of his career.  And the 97 BSF is five points higher than the BSF he earned in his BC prep last year.

An important question regarding Battle of Midway is whether or not he is at his best around one turn.  Last year, the Dirt Mile was around two turns at Del Mar.  But at Churchill it’s a one-turn affair.  Not that that means he isn’t a threat.  He is.  And he’s a big one.  Personally, I think I’ll end up on City of Light in the Dirt Mile, but you never know this far out.  Take a look at his Kelso effort and decide for yourself.  I think he’s one you have to deal with.  And off consecutive losses, he’ll be a price in the Breeders’ Cup.