Trainer Baltas can't enter horses at Santa Anita

Trainer Richard Baltas, who operates one of the largest stables on the Southern California circuit, was temporarily barred from entering horses at Santa Anita pending an investigation. 

Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of Santa Anita parent company 1/ST Racing, provided the following statement on Thursday:

“We are conducting an investigation into matters concerning trainer Richard Baltas,” Butler said in a text message. “Pending completion of that investigation and any final decision based on the results, horses trained by Mr. Baltas are not permitted to enter races at 1/ST Racing venues nor engage in timed works.”

Paulick Report's Ray Paulick first reported the action taken by 1/ST Racing. 

The move comes four days after the 4-year-old gelding Noble Reflection was a late scratch in the 10th race at Santa Anita by order of the steward's. The previous day, Baltas-trained Speedcuber suffered a fatal injury near the eighth pole in a one-mile maiden special weight on turf at Santa Anita.

The California Horse Racing Board also confirmed to Horse Racing Nation it was conducting its own inquiry into the Baltas' barn.

"The CHRB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the late scratch and does not comment on pending investigations," the board said in a statement.

Baltas did not immediately return phone and text messages from Horse Racing Nation. 

Baltas has one horse entered Friday at Santa Anita, who will presumably be scratched. He also has horses entered at Churchill Downs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, since this is an in-house action only covering tracks owned by 1/ST Racing, those entries will not be affected. 

Baltas typically has more than 100 horses stabled in Southern California split between Santa Anita and San Luis Rey Downs training center. He currently ranks fifth in the Santa Anita trainer's standings with a record of 24-34-19 from 164 starters. He ranks fourth in purse earnings with more than $1.9 million.