Baltas Readies Multiple Shots for Weekend Stakes

Trainer Richard Baltas, who struck Keeneland graded-stakes gold in 2018 with Next Shares in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and Gas Station Sushi in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, will try to build on those numbers with five runners in stakes the next three days.

However, unlike Gas Station Sushi, none of these five began their racing careers with Baltas.

Lady Prancealot (IRE), who began her career in Europe last year, is entered in Friday’s Pin Oak Valley View (G3) for 3-year-old fillies after declining an invitation to run in last Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).

“We took a look at it (the QE II) but this (the Pin Oak Valley View) was the plan all along,” said Aimee Dollase, Baltas’ assistant who is overseeing the Keeneland string. “She’s been doing well here.”

Sixth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park on Sept. 7 in her most recent start, Lady Prancealot has had three grass works here since, including a best-of-16 drill at 5 furlongs on Sept. 29.

Horologist just came to the barn following a third-place finish in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx on Sept. 21. Owned by There’s A Chance Stable and new partners Parkland Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing and Abbondanza Racing, Horologist had been trained by John Mazza.

In Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs, Horologist will be sprinting for the first time since this past winter at Gulfstream Park.

“The plan with her was to run in the Raven Run and give her a chance to shorten up against 3-year-olds,” Dollase said. “Maybe she wants two turns, but they wanted to try this race.”

Horologist took an instant liking to the Keeneland surface last Friday by working 5 furlongs in :59.40, the fastest move of 30 at the distance that morning. “That didn’t hurt (in the decision),” Dollase said.

On Sunday, Elysea’s World figures to be one of the horses to beat in the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) for fillies and mares going a mile and a half on the turf.

Purchased at Keeneland’s 2018 November Breeding Stock Sale for $500,000, the 6-year-old Elysea’s World has compiled a 6-1-0-1 record for the Baltas barn this year for earnings of $130,702.

“She has run some good races against some pretty tough mares,” Dollase said of Elysea’s World, who was third in the Rodeo Drive (G1) at Santa Anita going 1¼ miles on Sept. 28 in her most recent start. “She probably wants more ground and races in California are pretty limited.”

In her career spent mainly on the East Coast with trainer Chad Brown before being sold, Elysea’s World is a four-time Grade 3 winner with nine other graded stakes placing.

In addition to Elysea’s World, Baltas has two other runners in the Rood & Riddle Dowager: Zayat Stables’ Lemoona, who began her career on the East Coast with Bill Mott and joined the Baltas barn in the summer of 2018, and Next Wave Racing’sPantsonfire (IRE), who began her career in Europe and joined the Baltas barn in the summer of 2017.