Baltas hopeful Take It Easyplease proves a smart claim
CYPRESS, Calif. – The pedigree and potential of Take It Easyplease caught the attention of trainer Richard Baltas earlier this year.
Take It Easyplease is by Ministers Wild Cat, and Baltas has a history with the California-based stallion. He claimed Melanistic, who is by Ministers Wild Cat, for $16,000 in 2013. Last year, Melanistic was second in the Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
“There are a lot of similarities,” Baltas said of Take It Easyplease and Melanistic.
Take It Easyplease was claimed for $16,000. A 4-year-old filly, Take It Easyplease can earn back that sum with a win in a first-level optional $20,000 claimer at Los Alamitos on Friday. Take It Easyplease, who races for Abbondanza Racing, is part of a field of 10 in the one-mile race for California-bred fillies and mares.
Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Take It Easyplease, by Ministers Wild Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 73-67-66
◗ Baltas said he must see improvement for Take It Easyplease to win the optional claimer. She was second in a similar race at a mile as the 3-2 favorite at Santa Anita on March 17 in her first start for his stable and fourth as the 8-5 favorite in a starter allowance on April 3. Desert Madam and Abets Abet, the first two finishers in the race April 3, are part of Friday’s field.
“She’s running against the same horses,” Baltas said. “I think those horses are pretty evenly matched. I think it’s anyone’s race.”
◗ Take It Easyplease will race without blinkers. She is likely to be near the front under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
“We’ll take the blinkers off and try something different,” Baltas said.
Desert Madam, by Desert Code
Last 3 Beyers: 77-70-67
◗ Desert Madam was claimed in three consecutive races from mid-January to mid-March at Santa Anita. On March 12, she was claimed by current trainer Mark Glatt for $10,000 out of a win at a mile. Desert Madam’s win in the starter allowance April 3 is her only start for Glatt and owner Rick Sussmeier.
◗ Desert Madam won claiming races for sprinters here in 2014 and 2015. She is likely to race near the front.
Miss Star Maker, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 72-55-72
◗ Miss Star Maker won a starter allowance on turf at Santa Anita in late January but was later seventh and sixth in optional-claiming races on turf for California-bred fillies and mares. Friday’s race will be the first start on dirt for Miss Star Maker since she finished second in a starter allowance at Santa Anita in early January.
◗ Trained by Jack Carava, Miss Star Maker drew the outside post and is likely to race from a stalking position.