Big Macher Nearing Return to Racing at Santa Anita

Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables' Big Macher has a special place in trainer Richard Baltas' heart.

Baltas was just getting back to training on his own after some stints assisting other trainers when Mansor and Emanuel Emenike put down $20,000 to claim the California-bred son of Beau Genius in 2013.

A year later the gelding gave Baltas his first grade 1 win in the 2014 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

"He does have a special place. I love the horse," Baltas said. "He's my first grade 1 winner, he took us to Dubai (for the 2015 group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News), he took us to the Breeders' Cup—he's brought a lot of joy to our lives and really kicked things off for me."

SHINAR: Big Macher Collects Grade I Bing Crosby Win

Now, after a year and a half off from racing, the 7-year-old gelding could be eyeing the Bing Crosby again. But first Baltas wants to see how he performs in the $100,000 Thor's Echo Handicap for California-breds June 11. The Bing Crosby is scheduled for July 29.

Big Macher put in his last work for the six-furlong sprint June 4 at Santa Anita Park, where he worked four furlongs from the gate (Baltas said the gelding's work was in :46 and change, but track clockers credited him with five furlongs in 1:00 flat).

"He's older now, so we'll see," Baltas said. "He's been ready for two or three weeks, but I wanted to bring him back in a spot that might not be the toughest spot, and the Cal-bred race is perfect."

Big Macher last raced in November of 2015, when he placed seventh in the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar, but was training for a return in 2016 before a ligament injury forced Baltas to turn him out for seven months.

"Luckily we caught it early," Baltas said. "The main thing is that I really liked the way he came back. Physically he looks great and he's been training great."