Batten Down wins the Gr.3 Ohio Derby

The homebred colt, a full brother to multiple Graded-winner Tacitus, went from gate to wire to earn his first Graded win at Thistledown on Saturday (22nd June).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 23rd June 2024:

You could say Batten Down has a little bit of family legacy to live up to. The son of champion Close Hatches took a step towards doing just that Saturday at Thistledown with a gate-to-wire win in the Gr.3 Ohio Derby. The full brother to both Tacitus and to Graded winner Scylla took four tries to break his maiden, finally winning by eight and three-quarter emphatic lengths last out at Churchill Downs going 10 furlongs on 30th April. Saturday's Ohio Derby was his first step up from the maiden ranks and the colt went off the 3-1 second choice behind the 2-5 favorite in Gr.2 Louisiana Derby winner and Gr.1 Preakness Stakes third Catching Freedom.

The last to load from the outside, Batten Down broke a step out but was quickly corrected and sent to the lead under Junior Alvarado. Already clear as the scratched-down field went under the wire the first time by, the Bill Mott trainee raced well in-hand and just off the rail with Gould's Gold and the pair of Charleston and Catching Freedom all in chase mode. Taking the shortest way around, Batten Down was allowed to run completely alone up front and cruised through opening fractions of :22.86 and :46.82. It was only into the far turn that the field began to make some headway, reeling the leader back to a more manageable gap with both Catching Freedom and Gould's Gold poised to strike past the quarter pole. And with a furlong to run, it seemed to be anyone's race with the leader tiring on his wrong lead against the rail and the closers coming on. But Batten Down would not be denied and, as his rivals faltered in their final efforts, he stayed away to earn the win.

Batten Down is one of nine foals born from champion older mare Close Hatches (First Defence). Of four to the track, all four have won topped by his aforementioned full-siblings: multiple Graded winner and Grade 1-placed Tacitus and Graded winner Scylla.