Exciting stretch duels were the day’s theme Feb. 22. Nine hours after the sensational Saudi Cup battle between Forever Young  and Romantic Warrior, another close finish took place several thousand miles away at Turfway Park when California Burrito outlasted Baby Max to win the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.

Sure, this duel was only for $173,500 instead of $20 million, but for the connections of California Burrito the Battaglia Memorial win was every bit as exciting.

“It was fantastic,” trainer Thomas Drury Jr. said of California Burrito’s performance. “This horse just continues to go the right way. It’s been a lot of fun to watch him and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

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The victory was earned with a veteran ride by apprentice jockey Irving Moncada, who told Drury he planned to be aggressive. Breaking well, Moncada pushed California Burrito to the lead and established himself in command.

“He relaxed for me and I was able to give him a breather,” Moncada said. “Once I went to call on him, he was right there for me. It was really a question if he could hold up with the pace.”

In his previous start, an allowance optional claimer at Turfway Jan. 24, the Army Mule colt set leisurely fractions of :26.13 and :51.64 for a quarter-mile and half-mile, respectively. This time, he went quicker in :24.50 and :49.41.

“He proved today that he was able to go faster,” Moncada said.

The test came as favored Baby Max challenged the pacesetter at the quarter pole, but the tenacious California Burrito would not give in.

The two were even for an eighth of a mile, but once California Burrito switched leads – and while Baby Max drifted out a bit – he regained command and hit the finish line3 a half-length clear. He completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.98 and paid $9.42 to win. Maximum Promise closed from last to finish third.

The John Battaglia Memorial is part of Churchill Downs’ Road to the Kentucky Derby series, and as such the top five Battaglia finishers received qualifying points to the 151^st Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. Battaglia morning-line favorite First Resort, winner of last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, was scratched Feb. 21 due to leg stiffness.

Although his last two scores have been on Turfway’s Tapeta surface, California Burrito is proven on the Churchill Downs dirt. He broke his maiden on the surface traveling seven furlongs in a $150,000 claiming race.

“His first race (a sixth-place finish at Ellis Park in July) was a head scratcher, we thought he would run well and he didn’t,” Drury said of the decision with owners Aaron and Victoria Haberman on running in a claiming race, where he could have been bought by another owner. “We knew we could get away with it.”

Winning connections. (Coady Media)

They were right as the colt bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables went unclaimed and now holds a record of 3-1-0 in six starts for earnings of $222,941.

Drury said the horse has thrived since moving to Turfway and expects him to continue to get stronger.

“He’s made the lead the last couple times by default,” Drury said. “He doesn’t have to be there, I think he’s a versatile horse. We’ve worked him behind horses in the morning. He seems to handle the kickback well.”

Also thriving at Turfway is Moncada, who leads the meet’s jockeys standings.

“As an apprentice, just want to do the best I can,” said the young rider from Lexington. “Make a name for myself here in Kentucky. I’m really happy to be doing it here in Kentucky.”

Despite the pressure of being on the Derby trail, Drury said neither he nor the Habermans ever wavered on keeping Moncada aboard.

“I think this kid has a chance to be a next-level rider, and we’re happy to have him whenever we can get him,” Drury said. “Where this kid goes, the sky’s the limit.”