Baltas looking to take down more Grade 1s

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Southern California-based trainer Richard Baltas won last month’s Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga with Ag Bullet and is back here this weekend with Lady Claypoole in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana.

Baltas could have two more horses aiming for Grade 1 stakes later at this meet. He mentioned the Grade 1 Ballerina is possible for Sweet Azteca, who upset Kopion in the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos.

“It’s up to the owner,” Baltas said.

Baltas said he also is looking at the Grade 1 Test for Artisma, a filly who finished to second to Look Forward in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes in January. Look Forward won the Grade 2 Eight Belles and was second in the Grade 1 Acorn.

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Artisma came off a four-month layoff to run second in a Churchill Downs first-level allowance to Me and Molly McGee, a filly trained by Peter Eurton who is pointing to the Test.

“We’re going to give it a shot,” Baltas said. “She ran big off the layoff. She can really run.”

Baltas said Artisma was being pointed to the Eight Belles but didn’t make it to the race due to a foot injury.

Meanwhile, Baltas said Ag Bullet, who beat the boys in the Jaipur, will wait for the $2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint, a race she won last year, on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.

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