Barn Tour: Baltas updates Idol, Venetian Harbor and more
As Richard Baltas enters his fourth decade as a Thoroughbred trainer in 2021, things are looking better than ever.
The longtime Southern California-based conditioner won his first Santa Anita Handicap (G1) last month with Idol and has his now customary spot near the top of the Santa Anita trainer standings entering this weekend’s action. Additionally, ranking No. 15 in the nation with more than $1.6 million in earnings through the first three-plus months of the year, the Baltas barn is tracking to have its most lucrative season yet.
All the early-season success has come as the stable’s other major star, Venetian Harbor, has yet to kick off her 4-year-old campaign. With the outlook bright, Baltas this week provided Horse Racing Nation with the latest on his notable runners, including insight into the promising 3-year-old Noble Reflection, who will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Lexington Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Idol. The lightly raced 4-year-old became the sixth Grade 1 winner of Baltas’ career when rallying to win the March 6 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park. After giving consideration to next weekend’s $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park, Baltas said Idol would remain at Santa Anita and await the $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) on May 31.
If Idol were to win the Gold Cup and score in the $750,000 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar this summer, the connections would take home a $1 million bonus for sweeping California's three premier races for older dirt horses.
“We’re going to probably wait to make the Gold Cup,” said Baltas, who began his first stint as a trainer in 1991. “We thought about Oaklawn, but I just don’t want to push it. He technically could have done it. But we’re hopefully pointing to a run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Owned by Calvin Nguyen, Idol did not debut until last September at Churchill Downs. After winning maiden and allowance races there, the long-winded son of Curin out of the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood returned to Santa Anita for the winter. He would run second in the San Antonio (G2) and third in the San Pasqual (G2) before breaking through in the 1 1 1/4-miles Big ‘Cap.
“He was a late-developing 3-year-old and that was very rewarding to win that race,” said Baltas, who was born in Gary, Ind., but raised in nearby Huntington Beach. “I’ve been in ‘SoCal’ for a long time. So I was really happy. Hopefully, we’re now pointed to a run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Venetian Harbor. It was a banner 2020 for the daughter of Munnings. After winning the Las Virgenes (G2) and running second in both the Fantasy (G3) and Ashland (G1) while on the Kentucky Oaks trail, Venetian Harbor was cut back to sprints for the balance of the season. She would go on to win the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland and be second to eventual champion Gamine in the Test (G1) at Saratoga before a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
After an extended winter break, she returned to the work tab March 24 and has drilled three times for her 4-year-old bow. On Wednesday, Venetian Harbor sizzled five furlongs in 58 seconds flat at Santa Anita.
“She had her first five-eighths work and she went fast - she’s just a fast horse,” Baltas said. He added she’s about a month away from a race, “so we’ll be looking around to see what’s out there.”
One race she will not contest is the Derby City Distaff (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 1, Baltas said. That seven-furlong event is expected to attract Gamine among others.
“With Gamine... not really looking to take her on yet,” Baltas said. “But Venetian Harbor has come back a little stronger and faster and she’s still got that speed. I just want her to relax a little more (as an older horse.)”
Noble Reflection. The son of Liam’s Map will head straight to the deep waters of the Lexington following a smashing maiden win going six furlongs at Oaklawn Park in his second start March 7. Sent off the odds-on favorite, Noble Reflection opened a 2 1/4-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in 21.83 and drew off in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths in a sharp final time of 1:09.40.
Out of the Tiznow mare Deal of the Decade, Noble Reflection made one previous start at Del Mar last summer and ran third. Baltas said he suffered “a little injury” that required 90 days off. His return at Oaklawn was what Baltas had envisioned.
“Yeah, he’s a big colt who showed a lot of talent as a young horse and you could see it when he was back breezing (at Santa Anita),” Baltas said. “He grew up into his frame. So we sent him to Oaklawn, where the purses are pretty good and it’s a little lighter than the maiden division here.”
Noble Reflection now goes straight to the stakes ranks in the Lexington for 3-year-olds, where he drew the No. 1 hole for his two-turn debut.
“I didn’t really want the rail,” Baltas said. “Hopefully he feels good down in there and breaks well. Obviously, he has to go two turns, but he’s out of a Tiznow mare, so seems like he’ll handle it. We’ll see what happens.”
Noble Reflection was a $60,000 auction purchase as a yearling by Calvin Nguyen, who campaigns the colt in partnership with Joey Tran. Baltas said a good effort in the Lexington and it could be on to the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby day.
Masteroffoxhounds. If Noble Reflection is sent to the Pat Day Mile, he is likely to be joined at Churchill Downs by Masteroffoxhounds. Baltas said the 4-year-old War Front colt, who won the San Marcos (G2) at Santa Anita in February and came back to be a close-up third to United in the March 20 San Luis Rey (G3), is pointed to the $1 million Turf Classic (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
“He’s doing great,” Baltas said. “He worked the other day and I couldn’t be happier.”
Whisper Not. An import from England the second half of last year, this 4-year-old daughter of Poet’s Voice could be poised to make some noise this season. She closed out last season with a third in the Mathis Brother Mile (G2) at Santa Anita and has since come back with an authoritative gate-to-wire win in a Santa Anita allowance March 6.
Baltas said a trip north for the $250,000 San Francisco Mile (G3) going a mile on grass at Golden Gate on April 24 would be next.
“This horse has a lot a speed and a lot of talent - just a very good horse,” Baltas said.
North County Guy. The 6-year-old California-bred gelding is in the best form of his career having tallied two wins from as many starts this season, including the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for Cal-breds at Santa Anita. Next up will be the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes on April 24 at Santa Anita.
“He’s gotten really good,” Baltas said.
Gidgetta. This 4-year-old filly broke her maiden early last year at Santa Anita on dirt and after a fifth in the Santa Ysabel (G3), headed to the sidelines. She tried the turf in her second start off the comeback March 7 and was impressive winning a 6 1/2-furlong allowance at Santa Anita.
The daughter of Fast Anna is a homebred for Jim Rome's Jungle Racing.
"She won so nicely the other day, I think I'm going to keep her on turf," Baltas said. "I'll run her in a non-winner of two [allowance] and if things go well, hopefully it's on to stakes company."
Next Shares. The future is uncertain for the veteran Grade 1 winner, now an 8-year-old. The Archarcharch gelding kicked off the campaign with a solid third in the San Gabriel (G2) at Santa Anita, but was never a factor when shipped east and splitting the field in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Next Shares returned in a March 7 allowance at Santa Anita and again was never a factor when checking in fifth.
“I have kind of backed up on him,” said Baltas, who is one of several part-owners in Next Shares. “He did breeze the other day, but I don’t know what I’m going to do. He’s happy and healthy. But he’s getting older and maybe he’s gotten too smart. We’re not sure what we’re going to do.”
Owned in part by Baltas, wife Debbie and at least six other partners listed on Equibase, Next Shares has compiled a record of 39: 7-5-5 with earnings of $1,873,341.