Tiz the Bomb back to winning in John Battaglia S.

Hit It a Bomb’s graded stakes-winning colt Tiz the Bomb earned a hard-fought victory in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memoria S. on Saturday evening at Turfway Park, besting Stolen Base by a neck in a driving finish.

Tiz the Bomb collected his first win of the year after taking three straight races during his 2-year-old campaign, including the Bourbon S. (G2) and $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S., along with a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Saturday’s win improved his record to 4-1-0 in seven starts and earnings to $693,001.

Away well from post 10 in the 12-horse field, Tiz the Bomb was unhurried early, sitting mid-pack four the first half-mile. He began to inch closer to the lead going into the final turn, then made a big push to vie for the top spot turning for home. He took command in midstretch and dug in gamely to hold of Stolen Base, finishing the 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.12 on the synthetic surface.

Tiz the Bomb, owned by Magdalena Racing, sold for $330,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale.

Bred by Spendthrift Farm, Tiz the Bomb’s dam Tiz the Key is also the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Free Drop Billy named Bel Rosso and a yearling colt by Mor Spirit. She was bred back to Gormley.