Tiz the Bomb produced his capable firepower in his second start of 2022 and on Turfway Park’s synthetic surface, taking command with a wide rally March 5 in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and outlasting Stolen Base by a neck.
The two 3-year-olds were second and seventh, respectively, last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and ran 1-2 in the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland.
The Battaglia, the final local stakes prep for the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks April 2 at Turfway Park, provided points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1 scale. Grael ran third and Rich Strike fourth.
Tiz the Bomb completed 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta surface under Alex Achard in 1:44.12, paying $5.20 as the favorite.
Kenny McPeek trains the Spendthrift Farm-bred son of Hit it a Bomb. He ran for Magdalena Racing Saturday, which is leasing him from Phoenix Thoroughbred.
McPeek, acting as agent, purchased Tiz the Bomb for $330,000 out of the Eaton Sales’ consignment to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected Yearlings Showcase.
A race after the Battaglia, Shortleaf Stable’s Bubble Rock ran down the previously unbeaten Marissa’s Lady to win the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, a minor qualifier for the Longines Kentucky Oaks. The 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready raced a mile in 1:37.19 under Marcelina Pedroza Jr. for trainer Brad Cox. She returned $12.40 to win.