Big Macher defeats Goldencents in Bing Crosby Stakes

Del Mar, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Big Macher, ridden by Tyler Baze, held off Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champ Goldencents down the stretch to win Sunday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

The six-furlong sprint is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race putting Big Macher into this November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Baze had the 4-year-old gelding racing third in the seven-horse field to the outside of pacesetter Pablo Del Monte with 7-10 favorite Goldencents stalking the leaders from fifth.

On the final turn, Big Macher moved along side Indexical on the lead as Goldencents swung five wide around the turn. Big Macher, trained by Richard Baltas, gained the lead at the furlong pole as Goldencents mounted his charge through the middle of the track.

Big Macher, sent off at 9-1, prevailed at the wire by a half-length over the favorite with Seeking the Sherif third and Indexical getting fourth.

“Tyler’s plan was to sit just off the speed,” said Baltas.

Rounding out the finish were Kobe’s Back, Pablo Del Monte and Declassify. Wine Police was a scratch.

The time for the Bing Crosby was 1:08.82 on Del Mar’s synthetic main track.

Owned by Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables, Big Macher won his second straight graded stakes and collected $180,000. The gelding, who broke his maiden last year in his fourth career start, has banked $496,428 with five wins in 11 starts.

Big Macher began 2014 by winning the Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes followed by a half-length loss to Sahara Sky in the San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita and a nose victory on April 12 in the Potrero Grande Stakes.

“He won the Potrero Grande then had a quarter crack in a workout and we had to stop on him,” Baltas noted.

Big Macher paid $21.20, $6.20 and $4.40. Goldencents returned $2.40 and $2.20, and Seeking the Sherif paid $4.20 to show.

Categorized in: Horses