Big Macher to Palos Verdes next

ARCADIA, Calif. – Big Macher will be pointed for the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs on Jan. 31 at Santa Anita after he was scratched from Saturday’s $150,000 California Cup Sprint by trainer Richard Baltas.

Baltas said on Friday that he is considering a start for Big Macher in the $2 million Golden Shaheen Stakes at about six furlongs at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 28. He said that Big Macher’s rail draw in the Cal Cup Sprint “was part of” the decision to scratch.

“We’re thinking about taking him to Dubai, and we need to beat the top horses,” Baltas said.

Owned by Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables, Big Macher has won 6 of 14 starts and earned $553,678. Big Macher won the Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar in November after finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1.