Idol up on the marquee after Santa Anita Handicap win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Idol made his first start at Churchill Downs last September, finishing second in a maiden special weight race on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby program.

On Dec. 26, Idol was second in his stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita, one of five stakes on the traditional opening day of the winter-spring meeting.

Saturday, Idol won the first stakes of his career in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, the track’s top race for older horses on dirt.

If Idol continues to improve, he could play a leading role in other stakes for older males as the season unfolds. The Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6 is a long-range goal.

Trained by Richard Baltas for Calvin Ngyuen, Idol closed from seventh in a field of eight under jockey Joel Rosario to win the Santa Anita Handicap over stretch leader Express Train. Maxfield, the 124-pound topweight finished third, carrying five pounds more than Idol, who earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

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The $401,500 Big Cap was Idol’s first start at 1 1/4 miles, one of several factors that worked to the colt’s advantage, Baltas said on Sunday.

“We had a few things going in our favor,” Baltas said. “We were getting weight from Maxfield. I knew he was a mile and a quarter horse and we got Joel.

“I think all that made a difference.”

Idol has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $416,464, slightly more than his $375,000 purchase price.

Idol was acquired as a 2-year-old in 2019 by Nguyen after the original transaction for that price at the 2018 Keeneland yearling sale fell through, Baltas said on Sunday. At the time of Nguyen’s acquisition, Idol was in training at San Luis Rey Downs, but needed a break because of sore shins.

“He was available and I said, ‘I think he’s a good horse,’ ” Baltas said on Sunday.

Baltas, 59, has won six Grade 1 races in his career, including the $1 million Shadwell Mile at Keeneland with Next Shares in 2018. The Big Cap was not as valuable, but was more meaningful for Baltas, who has attended races at Santa Anita since the 1970s.

“It’s a race I never thought we would win, but I did it,” he said. “It’s because of hard work and perseverance and support from the owners.

“I won the Shadwell Mile. That’s a Grade 1. This felt different.”

Through Sunday, Baltas was fourth in the standings at Santa Anita with 19 wins.

Idol will be considered for races such as the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on April 30, or the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 31.

“We’ll definitely look around,” Baltas said. “He ran really well at Churchill. I think he likes the track at Churchill.”

With the win in the Big Cap, Idol is eligible for a $1 million bonus if he sweeps the Gold Cup and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 21. The bonus was offered for two years in the 1990s and reintroduced earlier this year.

The Pacific Classic winner will receive a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic.

Express Train, who carried 123 pounds, was beaten a half-length by Idol. Trainer John Shirreffs thought Express Train was a winner in the stretch.

“We got pretty excited,” Shirreffs said.

Maxfield was beaten for the first time in his sixth start. He will be based in Florida later this month before being sent to Kentucky, trainer Brendan Walsh said on Sunday. The Big Cap was Maxfield’s first start in California.

“We have a few races in mind – Kentucky and New York,” Walsh said. “He ran well. He gave weight all around. It would have been a good experience for the horse. It will move him forward.”

Independence Hall, third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in fourth as the 3-1 second choice. Independence Hall raced on the rail for the first mile.

“That run is better than looked, down inside,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.