Big Macher's nose hits wire first in Potrero Grande

ARCADIA, Calif. - Big Macher fought off a stubborn longshot in Cyclometer and a late surge from 7-5 favorite Wild Dude to win his second sprint stakes of 2014 in Saturday’s $200,750 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita.

Big Macher ($6.20) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.97 in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande.

A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Beau Genius, Big Macher won the California Cup Sprint in January in his stakes debut. Last July at Del Mar, Big Macher was claimed for $20,000 from a maiden race by current owners Tachycardia Stables and Tom Mansor and trainer Richard Baltas.

Big Macher won his first graded stakes in the Potrero Grande, having finished second to Sahara Sky in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on March 8.

In the Potrero Grande, Big Macher was third early under jockey Tyler Baze, stalking Mongolian Saturday, who set an early pace of 21.83 and 44.25 seconds. Big Macher was never far from the front, racing within a length and then a half-length of the lead through the first half-mile.

Cyclometer and Big Macher moved into contention as a team entering the stretch, with Cyclometer holding a brief lead. Big Macher was within a head of Cyclometer with a furlong to go, and took the lead in the final sixteenth. Wild Dude, sixth early, closed well in the final furlong, but could not catch Big Macher, losing by a nose.

Baze said he thought Cyclometer would be part of the pace early, and said Big Macher had a clean trip throughout.

“We didn’t get too much pressure from the outside,” Baze said. “I got to do what I wanted to keep him happy.”

Cyclometer finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Wild Dude. Midnight Transfer finished fourth, followed by Wine Police, Zeewat, Crimson Giant, and Mongolian Saturday.

Big Macher has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $316,428.

“He ran a hell of a race,” Baltas said. “I was hoping he’d run his race.”

Big Macher’s win on Saturday earned the praise of Baze, who rode the 4-year-old gelding for the first time in a race. Baze had been aboard Big Macher for a half-mile workout in 48.60 seconds on April 5, coming away with a flattering impression.

“The way he worked was awesome,” Baze said. “It wasn’t fast, but it was phenomenal the way he showed a turn of foot in the last eighth of a mile.”