Coach Richard Baltas is effectively conscious of the competitors that awaits his two runners entered in Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 6, however with Going to Vegas and Ginobili each entering off of multiple wins—including victories at Del Mar—the Southern California-based conditioner has a lot cause for optimism.
Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse’s Going to Vegas rolls into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) off three straight wins—together with two scores on the Del Mar course. Claimed by Baltas for the present homeowners for $50,000 in June 2020, Going to Vegas has ascended to the highest of Southern California-based feminine turf runners.
On the time of the declare, Baltas mentioned he was seeking to purchase horses and, with a situation remaining, Going to Vegas, a 3-year-old daughter of Goldencents , looked like a good candidate. He also likes claiming 3-year-olds, as they still may be developing.
Going to Vegas wasted little time in doing just that. She closed out 2020 with three straight runner-up finishes in graded stakes, including the grade 1 American Oaks. This season Going to Vegas has taken things to another level.
In March Going to Vegas secured her first stakes win with a front-running score in the Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. After a fifth-place end within the Gamely Stakes (G1), Going to Vegas then gained a second stage allowance-optional claiming race going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar and adopted with a victory there within the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T).
Baltas mentioned Going to Vegas was all the time very eager and a key together with her was getting her to calm down. Just a few begins after the declare, Baltas eliminated her blinkers and that additionally helped her calm down.
On Oct. 2 she delivered her greatest win thus far, a front-end rating within the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita. Because the Rodeo Drive is a Breeders’ Cup Problem race, that victory landed the previous claimer a spot within the Filly & Mare Turf.
She completed off critical preparations for Saturday’s 1 3/8-mile take a look at with a half-mile transfer in :49 1/5 on Oct. 31 on the Del Mar turf. The transfer on the agency floor was the quickest of 5 on the distance.
“Going to Vegas is doing fabulous,” Baltas mentioned Nov. 2. “I imply, she simply labored a half-mile right here on Sunday—in typical vogue robust the entire approach. She got here out of it nice and is doing pretty much as good as she may do. She’s pleased; she’s obtained nice power to jog at the moment.”
Bing Bush, founder and supervisor of Abbondanza Racing, favored what he noticed visually with the Halloween work—no tips on this morning.
“Typically on the finish of a piece she tends to lug in somewhat bit, however at the moment she did not,” Bush instructed Del Mar publicity. “She did it very simply and galloped out very properly, so we could not be happier.”
Since being claimed for $50,000, Going to Vegas has earned $561,140. Going to Vegas is entered in Fasig-Tipton Kentucky’s The November Sale, though Baltas continues to be hoping for the prospect that she comes again for an additional racing season.
That’s fairly the instance of a plan coming collectively as Medallion is an proprietor that likes to choose up fillies and mares with an intention towards gross sales, if they are often improved.
In the meantime Ginobili, who’s campaigned by Slam Dunk Racing, Baltas, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig, will enter the $1 million Huge Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile (G1) off back-to-back wins—together with a victory on the monitor on the race distance.
Ginobili completed fourth as a juvenile within the 2019 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and earned a grade 2-placing final yr however he entered that mile take a look at at Del Mar—an allowance stage race—off 9 straight losses. In his first attempt on the mile distance, Ginobili would run the very best race of his life to attain by 9 3/4 lengths and earn a career-best Equibase Velocity Determine of 113.
With the stoop over, Baltas discovered himself in search of a stakes race for Ginobili’s subsequent begin. Because the 4-year-old son of Munnings had run so well at Del Mar, he opted for the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2). In that race Ginobili rated off Brickyard Ride before taking command in the stretch for a clear victory–earning his first stakes win.
The Pat O’Brien is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race and awarded Ginobili a spot in the Dirt Mile. Knowing how well he ran in the allowance race at that distance at Del Mar, accepting that bid—as opposed to maybe shortening up for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)—was an easy decision.
The season turned with that July 17 win at Del Mar.
“Once he won the mile race—that was such big race,” Baltas noted.
The outcome of that race could get even bigger Saturday.
