Battle of Midway will wear blinkers for second time in G3 Oklahoma Derby

Remington Park Oklahoma Derby September 24,2017

Wearing blinkers for the first time in his last start, Battle of Midway was able to run off and hide from five other opponents in the $100K Shared Belief at Del Mar going 1 mile.

Two back he was a distant sixth in the Haskell at Monmouth finishing nine lengths behind eventual winner Girvin who rallied to take the 1 1/8 mile G1 featured event of the season on the Jersey shores.

The two will face off on Sunday in the G3 $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, each looking for the fifth lifetime win.

Wizcapper’s analysis of the field for the 2017 Oklahoma Derby

Altito – What a contrast between this four time winner of only $76K and the two other four time winners, Battle of Midway and Girvin. Stranger things have happened, but this guy was claimed for $10K as a maiden winner in June at Churchill. 30 to 1 and would shock the racing world.
B Squared – Gets blinkers for the first time. They must think something of this Cal bred son of Square Eddie as he’s faced Battle of Midway and West Coast this past summer in So Cal. Toss the WV Derby last time and expect this guy to show more speed then he did when he pressed Battle of Midway in the G3 Affirmed and finished second.
Battle of Midway – Winner of four races with biggest margin last time out when blinkers were added by HOF trainer Hollendorfer. Really showed promise when he ran second to Gormley in the SA Derby on his way to Louisville. Proved he belongs, at least in the discussion of tops in his class, when he completed the trifecta in the Derby at 40 to 1. He’ll go as favorite in here off his 101 Beyer win with blinkers last time. But he’ll have company stretching out, and there are distance concerns as his races beyond 1 1/16 miles have proved to be too much for this guy.
McCormick – Eligible for NW3, son of Hard Spun was runner up to Hence two back in G3 Iowa Derby but failed to build on his momentum last time out in the G3 WV Derby. Leparoux still believes but this guy is really taking a step up while others are stepping back to an easier spot.
Untrapped – Only win was maiden breaker at Churchill going 6 1/2 last November. Yet he’s only 5 to 1 on the ML, having run in all graded stakes since first victory. And only time he was ever double-digits was in the Derby when 58 to 1 and ran like it. This guy’s a head-scratcher who looks on paper like he wants to make one run going shorter.
Gato Del Oro – Beaten favorite last time out in the Shared Belief off back-to-back wins. But who knew that Battle of Midway would steal the show when equipped with blinkers in that one. Gets distance test in this one and expect he’ll be part of the pace with Bejarano. Lightly raced with only four starts and NW3 eligible with room for improvement.
Colonelsdarktemper – Expect this guy to be the early leader off his last two including a victory two back in the G3 WV Derby. Stopped after making the lead cutting back in last but can go the distance at 4 to 1.
Girvin – Toss two of his three G1 tries when beaten in the Derby and Travers and this guy has been nearly perfect. Winner twice at the distance including the two back G1 Haskell. We’ll know if West Coast wins the Pennsylvania Derby before this guy hits the track on Sunday. And if he has, then this guy might go as favorite in here.