BATTLE OF MIDWAY & TATTERS TO RICHES HEADLINE SUNDAY’S COMMA TO THE TOP STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

BATTLE OF MIDWAY & TATTERS TO RICHES HEADLINE SUNDAY’S $75,000 COMMA TO THE TOP STAKES AT ONE MILE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2018)—A Breeders’ Cup Champion seeking his first win of the year and a $1 million 2-year-old on the ascendency at age three, Battle of Midway and Tatters to Riches headline a field of seven 3-year-olds and up going a flat mile in Sunday’s $75,000 Comma to the Top Stakes at Santa Anita.
Retired to stud following his career achievement in winning the Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 3, 2017, Battle of Midway soon proved subfertile and was returned to training this past May for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Second to likely 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile favorite Catalina Cruiser in his comeback race, the Grade II, seven furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 25, Battle of Midway was then a disappointing fifth as the even money favorite in the Grade II Kelso Handicap going a one turn mile at Belmont Park Sept. 22.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, Tatters to Riches, a $1 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase in April, 2017, is unbeaten in two starts this year, his most recent an authoritative 3 ¾ length score in the one mile Shared Belief Stakes Aug. 25, a race in which he was the 6-5 favorite.

BATTLE OF MIDWAY
Owner: Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm, LLC
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Third in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, this 4-year-old colt by Smart Strike picked up his first stakes win in his next start, the Grade III Affirmed Stakes here on June 24, 2017. With his crowning achievement a half length win in last year’s Grade I, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Battle of Midway held great promise as a freshman sire in Kentucky, but proved infertile, necessitating a return to the racetrack. With three wins, a second and a third from five starts at Santa Anita, he appears primed to return to top form going a flat mile on Saturday. With an overall mark of 12-5-3-2, Battle of Midway has earnings of $1,301,949.

TATTERS TO RICHES
Owner: Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
In his first try around two turns, this 3-year-old Union Rags colt was brilliant in winning the Shared Belief on Aug. 25, evidenced by his career-best 96 Beyer Speed figure. With regular rider Tyler Baze engaged, Tatters to Riches, who was well beaten by multiple graded stakes winner Bolt d’ Oro in his second career start, the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, on Sept. 4, 2017, will be making his fifth start on Saturday. A winner of three of his four races to date, Tatters to Riches could likely aim for Grade I competition in his next start if victorious in the Comma to the Top.

THE $75,000 COMMA TO THE TOP STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 9 – Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1. Tatters to Riches—Tyler Baze—123
2. Curlin Road—Rafael Bejarano—122
3. Roman Rosso—Joe Talamo—126
4. St. Joe Bay—Drayden Van Dyke—122
5. All Out Blitz—Martin Garcia—119
6. Very Very Stella—Agapito Delgadillo—122
7. Battle of Midway—Flavien Prat—122

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit www.santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.