Big Macher coming into Sprint fresh

Big Macher may be one of the best-kept secrets in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Idle since an uncharacteristically poor sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar on Aug. 24, Big Macher will come into the Sprint a fresh horse off a series of swift works that includes six furlongs in 1:11.40 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Big Macher is a California-bred son of Beau Genius trained by Richard Baltas for the partnership of Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables. The O’Brien marked the first time the former claimer had finished off the board in his last eight starts.

Big Macher became a Grade 2 winner this winter at Santa Anita, after which he was forced to the sidelines due to a quarter crack sustained during a routine workout. He returned 3 1/2 months later to register the most important victory of his career, a game half-length decision over defending Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champ Goldencents in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar on July 27.

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“The quarter crack might have been a blessing in disguise since he proved he runs well fresh when he came back to win the Bing Crosby,” said Baltas. “I wheeled him back four weeks later in the O’Brien, and he kind of bounced. His blood work wasn’t perfect coming out of that race, so I just decided to pass the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and come to the Sprint with a fresh horse.”

Monday’s work was the sixth at Santa Anita for Big Macher since Sept. 10, a series that included a bullet half-mile Sept. 24 and a black-letter five furlongs six days later.

“He’s doing really well,” said Baltas. “He went six furlongs in 1:11 and 2 this morning, galloped out seven-eighths in 1:23 and 4, and pulled up a mile in 1:38. He’s already proven he loves Santa Anita, so it’s good to be back home. Obviously, there are other horses from here also doing well, but I wouldn’t trade places with anyone right now.”

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Big Macher was joined on Monday’s work tab at Santa Anita by three other Sprint contenders, defending champion Secret Circle, Mico Margaritam and Seeking the Sherif. Secret Circle went five furlongs in 58.80 in his first work since finishing second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 4. Mico Margarita, winner of the Remington Park Sprint Cup on Sept. 28, breezed an easy half mile in 50.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Seeking the Sheriff, beaten two lengths by Big Macher while finishing third in the Bing Crosby, completed six furlongs in 1:14.60.

In other Sprint news, Doug O’Neill said Goldencents is definitely not under consideration for the race, saying he was “100 percent” being pointed for a defense of his title in the Dirt Mile, while trainer Guadalupe Preciado said Gallant Bob winner Favorite Tale would not be supplemented to this year’s Breeders’ Cup.