Battle of Midway (USA)
January 30, 2014 – February 23, 2019
Smart Strike (CAN) x Rigoletta (USA), by Concerto (USA)
Family 10-a
January 30, 2014 – February 23, 2019
Smart Strike (CAN) x Rigoletta (USA), by Concerto (USA)
Family 10-a
Battle of Midway stayed well enough to run third in the 2017 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and second in the Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) but was at his best as a miler. He scored his marquee win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1), in which he notched a career-high Equibase figure of 133 while winning at odds of 14-1. Unfortunately, he proved subfertile when retired to stud following his 3-year-old season. Returned to training, he won graded stakes races at 4 and 5 but fractured a hind pastern while in training in February of his 5-year-old year and was too badly injured to be saved.
Race record
16 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,589,049
2017:
2018:
2019:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the 2017 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male, who also topped the Mile category with a rating of 131 pounds in that category).
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the 2019 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall higweight Crystal Ocean (the highweighted European older male over 11-14F) and 9 pounds below the top dirt miler, City of Light.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic bay horse, Battle of Midway was considered a standout among the foals at the farm where he was raised although he was “a bit ornery” according to Chesapeake Farm’s Drew Nardiello. He enjoyed racing and appeared to understand when he had won a race. He was game and determined when set down for a drive and was generally at his best when stalking the pace rather than setting it. He handled both fast and sloppy going. His form outside California was well below par compared to the form he showed on his favorite circuit.
As a stallion
Battle of Midway sired only five foals. Four have started and all four have won.
Connections
Foaled at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky, Battle of Midway was bred by Erik and Pavla Nygaard’s Thor-Bred Stables. After being sold for US$410,000 through the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, he raced at first for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm and later for Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm, which purchased the colt privately after his runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby. He was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and scored his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile win under the handling of Flavien Prat. He shattered a hind pastern during a timed workout on February 23, 2019, and was euthanized following veterinary consultation.
Pedigree notes
Battle of Midway is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Moretti (by Medaglia d’Oro), who placed in two Grade 2 races.
Rigoletta, the dam of Battle of Midway, won the 2010 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1). She is a half sister to Almost a Valentine (by High Cotton), dam of 2018 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Patternrecognition (by Adios Charlie) and stakes winners Florida Fuego (by Kantharos) and Lovesick (by Adios Charlie).
Rigoletta and Almost a Valentine are out of the winner Almost Aprom Queen (by four-time champion Florida sire Montbrook, by Buckaroo), who is a half sister to multiple listed stakes winner Sea of Green (by Seacliff) and to listed stakes winner Lady Gin (by Saint Ballado), dam of stakes winner Queen Amira (by Forestry) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Dolce Zel. Produced from the winner Romantic Dinner (by 1984 Arlington Handicap, USA-G1, winner Who’s for Dinner), Almost Aprom Queen is also a half sister to Candlelightdinner (by Slew Gin Fizz), dam of 2011 American champion female sprinter Musical Romance (by Concorde’s Tune), three-time Puerto Rican champion Vuelve Ruben M. (by Concerto), and multiple listed stakes winner Forevamo (by Uncle Mo). In addition, Almost Aprom Queen is a half sister to Potluck Dinner (by Pentelicus), dam of 2010 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (USA-G3) winner Gourmet Dinner (by Trippi) and stakes winner Gaston A. (by Concorde’s Tune).
Books and media
Footage of Battle of Midway’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Rts_oDavg.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 22, 2024
Race record
16 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,589,049
2017:
- Won Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Affirmed Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Shared Belief Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Oklahoma Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Remington Park)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd San Vicente Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
2018:
- Won Native Diver Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Del Mar)
- Won Comma to the Top Stakes (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Antonio Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Pat O'Brien Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Del Mar)
2019:
- Won San Pasqual Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the 2017 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male, who also topped the Mile category with a rating of 131 pounds in that category).
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the 2019 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall higweight Crystal Ocean (the highweighted European older male over 11-14F) and 9 pounds below the top dirt miler, City of Light.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic bay horse, Battle of Midway was considered a standout among the foals at the farm where he was raised although he was “a bit ornery” according to Chesapeake Farm’s Drew Nardiello. He enjoyed racing and appeared to understand when he had won a race. He was game and determined when set down for a drive and was generally at his best when stalking the pace rather than setting it. He handled both fast and sloppy going. His form outside California was well below par compared to the form he showed on his favorite circuit.
As a stallion
Battle of Midway sired only five foals. Four have started and all four have won.
Connections
Foaled at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky, Battle of Midway was bred by Erik and Pavla Nygaard’s Thor-Bred Stables. After being sold for US$410,000 through the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, he raced at first for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm and later for Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm, which purchased the colt privately after his runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby. He was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and scored his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile win under the handling of Flavien Prat. He shattered a hind pastern during a timed workout on February 23, 2019, and was euthanized following veterinary consultation.
Pedigree notes
Battle of Midway is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Moretti (by Medaglia d’Oro), who placed in two Grade 2 races.
Rigoletta, the dam of Battle of Midway, won the 2010 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1). She is a half sister to Almost a Valentine (by High Cotton), dam of 2018 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Patternrecognition (by Adios Charlie) and stakes winners Florida Fuego (by Kantharos) and Lovesick (by Adios Charlie).
Rigoletta and Almost a Valentine are out of the winner Almost Aprom Queen (by four-time champion Florida sire Montbrook, by Buckaroo), who is a half sister to multiple listed stakes winner Sea of Green (by Seacliff) and to listed stakes winner Lady Gin (by Saint Ballado), dam of stakes winner Queen Amira (by Forestry) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Dolce Zel. Produced from the winner Romantic Dinner (by 1984 Arlington Handicap, USA-G1, winner Who’s for Dinner), Almost Aprom Queen is also a half sister to Candlelightdinner (by Slew Gin Fizz), dam of 2011 American champion female sprinter Musical Romance (by Concorde’s Tune), three-time Puerto Rican champion Vuelve Ruben M. (by Concerto), and multiple listed stakes winner Forevamo (by Uncle Mo). In addition, Almost Aprom Queen is a half sister to Potluck Dinner (by Pentelicus), dam of 2010 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (USA-G3) winner Gourmet Dinner (by Trippi) and stakes winner Gaston A. (by Concorde’s Tune).
Books and media
Footage of Battle of Midway’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Rts_oDavg.
Fun facts
- Battle of Midway’s dam, Rigoletta, developed a foot abscess that progressed into an infected coffin bone when she was four months pregnant with the future Breeders’ Cup winner. Fortunately, she came through surgery and recovery well, and her foal seemed unaffected by his dam’s ordeal when he arrived.
- Easily bored before he went into training, Battle of Midway had a habit of pulling fan cords out of sockets if he could get to them, which had barn staff fearful that he would manage to electrocute himself.
- Battle of Midway was named after a naval battle of World War II that proved to be a turning point in the conflict between the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theater. He was named by Rick Porter, an ardent supporter of veterans’ causes.
- Battle of Midway was one of 21 horses who died due to injuries incurred while training or racing at the 2019 Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. As a result, racing at Santa Anita was temporarily shut down while the causes of the deaths were evaluated, and new safety protocols were put into place when the track reopened.
Last updated: May 22, 2024