From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 11, 2017)–Idle since November, 2015, Grade I winning Big Macher called upon all of his class to take Sunday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles by one length under Rafael Bejarano. Conditioned by Richard Baltas, the 7-year-old gelded son of Beau Genius was all-out to overhaul K Thirty Eight in the final sixteenth while getting six furlongs in a rapid 1:08.98.
“He’s a very good horse,” said Baltas. “I only had one three quarter work in him, but he had a lot of long gallops. I didn’t really have him cranked, and for him to run eight and four (1:08 4/5)…Karen’s horse (trainer of K Thirty Eight, Karen Headley) ran great. There’s no easy races in California. We’ll see how he comes out of this and hopefully nominate him to the Bing Crosby at Del Mar (Grade I, six furlongs on July 29).”
A winner of the Grade I Crosby in July, 2014, Big Macher was off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of five 3-year-olds and up bred or sired in California and paid $3.60, $2.80 and $2.10.
Claimed out of a maiden $20,000 race in his debut on July 17, 2003, Big Macher is owned by Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables. Bred by Ballena Vista Farm, he’s out of the Kris S. mare Insight. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $744,288. With the Thor’s Echo representing his sixth stakes victory, he’s now 20-8-2-2 overall.
“I’ve been working him a lot in the mornings,” said Bejarano. “The thing with him is the break. He gets nervous in the gate. Today, I just left him alone and let him do what he wanted.”
Ridden by Tiago Pereira, K Thirty Eight sat second to pacesetter Got Even early, put a head in front turning for home and dueled inside the winner the final furlong, finishing some 6 ¼ lengths in front of Got Even.
Dispatched at 7-1, K Thirty Eight paid $3.60 and $3.00.
“I thought he’d run well,” said Karen Headley. “He always runs hard. We’ll see how he comes out of this. We know he likes running five furlongs on the grass at Del Mar.”
Sent from his outside post by Martin Pedroza, Got Even ran third, one length in front of He Will. Off at 4-1, Got Even paid $2.80 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.87, 44.87 and 56.88.
Live racing resumes at Santa Anita with a 10-race card on Friday. First post time is at 1 p.m., admission gates open at 11 a.m. Simulcast wagering will be available on Thursday, with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.