Big John B, Big Macher target stakes after Breeders’ Cup disappointments

Big John B and Big Macher, stakes winners at Del Mar during the summer, might start later this month in stakes after losses in Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland last weekend.

Big John B, who finished 10th of 12 in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf under jockey Rafael Bejarano, is a candidate for the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, at Del Mar.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said he is throwing out Big John B’s loss in the Turf, which was the 6-year-old’s first start since a win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in August.

“He never picked his feet up,” said D’Amato. “Rafael said he hated the turf course.”

Owned by Michael House, Big John B has won 14 of 35 starts and earned $717,175. He was ninth in the 2014 BC Turf at Santa Anita.

Big Macher finished 10th of 14 in the BC Sprint, his first start since a win Sept. 7 in the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar. Trainer Richard Baltas hopes to run Big Macher in the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs Nov. 22 at Del Mar. Big Macher won the 2014 Cary Grant for his fourth and final stakes win of that year.

“He came out of the race in good order,” said Baltas. “I think he was too far back.”

Big Macher, a 5-year-old gelding, has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $684,084 for Brandan Bakir and Tom Mansor.