big 'cap | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baltas Savors Idol’s Big ‘Cap Triumph: ‘A Race You Dream About Winning’

Richard Baltas joined a long list of training luminaries who have won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap when Idol stormed from behind to win Saturday's Big 'Cap by a half-length under Joel Rosario at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Now the late-running son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin is eligible for the inaugural “Wild West Bonus” of $1 million which goes to a horse winning the Big 'Cap, the Hollywood Gold Cup (at Santa Anita on May 31) and the TVG Pacific Classic (at Del Mar on Aug. 31).

All three races are at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter.

“He came out of the race in good order,” the 59-year-old trainer said Sunday morning. “Of course, we're going to definitely look at it, although the Gold Cup is a long way off. I'm just happy he came out of the race very, very good.

“I knew he wanted all of a mile and a quarter, and the jockey made a bit of a difference, too. But a mile and a quarter is always what the horse wanted. He's just a big, long-striding horse.

“We needed all of Rosario's power in the stretch to get him home. It was a great win, a race you dream about winning. I've been coming to Santa Anita since I was 13 years old.

“Before I even became a trainer, I saw all the greats run in the Big 'Cap and you never think you're gonna be here, but you keep working hard and God blesses you.”

The post Baltas Savors Idol’s Big ‘Cap Triumph: ‘A Race You Dream About Winning’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Idol Takes Big ‘Cap As Favorite Maxfield Suffers First Career Defeat

Although a disappointing third as the heavy favorite in his final prep, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol seemed to relish clear sailing and a mile and a quarter, as he rallied wide turning for home to win the 84^th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Casino by a half length. Ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, Idol, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Curlin, got the distance in 2:02.46 and provided Rosario with his third consecutive win in the Big 'Cap.

Unhurried early as longshots King Guillermo and Tizamagician carved out a solid early pace, Idol was next to last, about five lengths off the lead heading into the far turn, Idol kicked into high gear around the turn and was five-deep turning for home as Express Train hit the front while full of run under Juan Hernandez.

With Rosario employing a powerful hand ride, Idol was able to get up on the money in a thrilling finish befitting the long storied history of the Big 'Cap, which was first run in 1935.

“I know he was running really hard around the turn, he was wide, he was far back, but Joel said he didn't want any of the kickback in his face, so we took the wide route,” said Baltas, 59. “He's a got a big, lovely long stride, so that's why we were thinking a mile and a quarter for sure. We needed all of Joel Rosario's power in the stretch to get him home. It was a great win, it's a race you dream about winning.

“It's unbelievable, I've been coming here since I was 13 years old,” Baltas continued. “Before I even got to be a horse trainer, I saw all the greats run here in the Big 'Cap and you never think that you're gonna be here but you keep working hard and God blessed you.”

Third as the even money favorite in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 30, Idol was off at 5-1 in a field of eight older horses and paid $12.80, $6.40 and $3.40.

“My horse loves this distance,” said Rosario. “I just wanted to keep him away from the rail and he handled it easily. He responded when it came time to run and he had some kick…I had never been on him. I watched all his races and I could see he tries hard every time. What a strong finish today! He ran really big.”

Owned by longtime Baltas client Calvin Nguyen, Idol, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, notched his first stakes win in what was his sixth career start. With the Big 'Cap winner's share of $240,000, he increased his earnings to $416,464 from three wins, two seconds and one third place finish.

In a tremendous effort, the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train just missed while finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of race favorite Maxfield. Off at 5-1, Express Train paid $5.40 and $2.80.

The Brendan Walsh-conditioned Maxfield, who shipped in from New Orleans unbeaten in five starts, entered the stretch four-deep while about two lengths off of Express Train, but couldn't finish with the top two with no apparent excuses. Ridden by Florent Geroux, Maxfield was off at even money and paid $2.40 to show while finishing a half length better than Independence Hall.

Fractions on the Big 'Cap were 22.82, 47.12, 1:12.26 and 1:37.13.

Saturday's all sources pari-mutuel handle reached $22,744,568 on 11 races, which compared very favorably to last year's Big 'Cap Day total of $17,486,155 on a 12-race card.

First post time on Sunday for a nine-race program is at 12:30 p.m.

The post Idol Takes Big ‘Cap As Favorite Maxfield Suffers First Career Defeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Santa Anita: Big ‘Cap Day Promises Huge Rainbow Pick 6 Pool With Mandatory Payout

With a mandatory payout in place, Santa Anita track officials project Saturday's total 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 Jackpot pool could exceed $6 million as the Arcadia, Calif., track will present a blockbuster 11-race card highlighted by the Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap. Special early first post on Saturday is at 12 noon PT.

Saturday's Rainbow 6 will start with race six, which has an approximate post time of 2:45 p.m. PT. In addition to the Santa Anita Handicap, three other graded stakes will be included in the Rainbow 6 sequence, with the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe, a key prep to the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, carded as race six.

The G2, $200,000 San Carlos, for older horses at seven furlongs, will go as Saturday's eighth race, the G1, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) has been carded as race nine and the 84^th running of the Big 'Cap, for older horses at a mile and a quarter, has an assigned post time of 5 p.m. PT.

Average field size for Saturday's Rainbow Six stands at nine horses per race. For complete morning line information and late changes for Santa Anita Handicap Day, please visit santaanita.com.

All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge via santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager via several ADW platforms, including 1^st.com/bet.

The post Santa Anita: Big ‘Cap Day Promises Huge Rainbow Pick 6 Pool With Mandatory Payout appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Maxfield ‘Ready To Take That Next Step’ In Santa Anita Handicap

Maxfield, an undefeated son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, carries top weight of 124 pounds in Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Casino, Santa Anita's marquee event for older horses which will be run for the 84th time at The Great Race Place.

Winner of all five of his career races by daylight margins, coming from out of the clouds in his first three, Maxfield arrived at Santa Anita Wednesday from the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he had his final work Saturday for the mile and a quarter classic, going a half mile in 49.20.

“We've just been galloping and jogging him in the mornings since he arrived,” said his 47-year-old trainer, Irishman Brendan Walsh, who will be on hand for the race. The four-year-old colt is bedded down with trainer Simon Callaghan.

Maxfield won his debut race at Churchill Downs Sept. 14, 2019, coming from 10th at odds of 10-1 to score by three-parts of a length at a flat mile, then came back in his next start to capture the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland at 6-1 by 5 ½ lengths, again in Silky Sullivan fashion.

He was successful yet again using those dramatic tactics in his three-year-old debut at Churchill Downs last May 23, closing from eighth, ridden in all three races by Jose Ortiz Jr.

In his last two races, Maxfield, owned and bred by global racing and breeding giant Godolphin, has been much closer to the pace. He won a restricted stakes at the Fair Grounds by 2 ½ lengths on Dec. 19, 2020, and the Grade 3 Mineshaft in his four-year-old debut by 3 ¾ lengths on Feb. 13, each time under Florent Geroux, who will be aboard again in the Big 'Cap. Maxfield's last four races have all been at 1 1/16 miles.

It may be worth noting that Maxfield faced smaller fields in his last two starts than he did in his first three, which could have accounted to his having been in closer attendance to the lead.

“He's just a stronger horse now,” Walsh said. “I think as a two-year-old he was a bit immature, maybe not that strong, and that's why he wasn't getting away from the gate super-fast, but that didn't seem to have a negative affect upon him. That said, his last three starts he's been a lot closer to the pace.”

Walsh, in his third year training for Godolphin, which owns and bred current undefeated Kentucky Derby favorite and Eclipse champion Essential Quality, concurred when asked if the mile and a quarter of the Big 'Cap seems ideal for Maxfield.

“Absolutely,” he said. “He's bred to get the mile and a quarter and his running style suits it, too. This will be a good test for him, having to travel out here and running on a different track, but we feel he's ready to take that next step.”

The Big 'Cap presented by San Manuel Casino, race 10 of 11 with a 12 noon first post time: Independence Hall, Flavien Prat, 4-1; Maxfield, Florent Geroux, 8-5; Kiss Today Goodbye, Mike Smith, 8-1; Coastal Defense, John Velazquez, 15-1; Express Train, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Idol, Joel Rosario, 6-1; Tizamagician, Drayden Van Dyke, 12-1; and King Guillermo, Abel Cedillo, 12-1.

The post Maxfield ‘Ready To Take That Next Step’ In Santa Anita Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post