ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2015) – Grade I winner Big Macher is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita.
Big Macher is by Beau Genius, out of the Kris S. mare Insight, was bred by Ballena Vista Farm, is owned by Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables and trained by Richard Baltas.
He has six wins in 14 starts, earnings of $553,678 and is coming off a win in the Nov. 23 Cary Grant.
Big Macher was claimed by Richard Baltas from his first start, a $20,000 maiden claiming race on July 17, 2013, has paid his way and then some.
Baltas had ticketed Big Macher for the $150,000 California Cup Sprint on Sunshine Millions California Cup Day last Saturday, but after drawing the one post position, opted to wait for the Palos Verdes, one reason being he hoped to get a more advantageous post position.
“I didn’t expect him to achieve what he has so far, hell no,” Baltas said of the 5-year-old gelding. “When you claim a horse and it improves, I don’t think it’s a matter of luck. It’s up to the trainer to make the decisions. Look at Ron Ellis. He took Seeking the Sherif for $12,500 and did everything he had to do to improve the horse.
“That’s what happens in this business with guys who know how to train a horse. It doesn’t happen to Joe Schmo. Guys just don’t get lucky. You’ve got to take care of horses every day, day in, day out . . . You’ve got to make the right decisions.
“It’s like coaching a football team. You’ve got to know what you did wrong and try to improve on it. You look at a horse every day to see what you can do to make it better next time. The horse has to earn its way through the ranks.
“Sometimes you claim a horse and it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
As to the Palos Verdes, Baltas said the break is important and he hopes to see Big Macher “right behind Bonde’s horse,” referring to trainer Jeff Bonde’s speedball Distinctiv Passion, who breaks just inside Big Macher in the No. 1 post position.