Batten Down goes wire-to-wire in Ohio Derby

Batten Down, the royally-bred son of Tapit and Close Hatches, went straight to the lead and never looked back in taking the Ohio Derby (G3) in wire-to-wire fashion over five rivals.  

Sent off at odds of 3-1, he went to the lead under Junior Alvarado in fractions of 22.86, 46.82, 1:11.20 and 1:37.22 before stopping the clock in 1:50.20 for the mile and an eighth.  Gould’s Gold checked in second, Copper Tax was third and 2-5 favorite Catching Freedom was off-the-board in fourth. He paid $8.60 to win.

Trained by Bill Mott, Batten Down is a full-brother to Grade 2 winner Tacitus and Shawnee Stakes winner Scylla, who will make her next start in the Fleur De Lis (G2) June 29 on closing weekend at Churchill Downs. 

The original field of ten was reduced to six with scratches of Frizzante, Deposition, Who’s the King and Mugatu.