“He’s giving weight to every other horse in there, so we will see if he is good enough,” trainer Richard Baltas said Wednesday morning about British Isles, who figures to be one of the leading players in Saturday’s 95th running of the $350,000 Ben Ali (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the main track.

Owned by Nick Cosato’s Slam Dunk Racing, Debby Baltas and Cynthia McClanahan, British Isles started his career in the barn of Bob Baffert for Coolmore, having three starts on dirt and then two on grass before joining the Baltas barn after a private purchase in early 2024.

British Isles stayed on the grass for his next 16 races and became stakes placed, but consistent success was elusive. Things changed last fall at Del Mar.

“The owners wanted to run on the dirt,” Baltas said. “He has trained well on it, so he ran in the Native Diver (G3) and just got caught by Nevada Beach, who had run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

“That got us excited and we went to Gulfstream (for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational-G1) and got fifth (at odds of 83-1) in a race that was better than it looks on paper.”

Baltas returned British Isles to his home base at Santa Anita and was rewarded with a victory in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) Presented by Yaamava’ Resorts & Casino at San Manuel on March 7.

“He ran away from horses that day and he had never done that before,” Baltas said of the 4¼-length victory. “He is a 5-year-old gelding and a nice horse to have. He’s a blessing.”

John Velazquez will have the mount Saturday from post 4.

An earner of more than $550,000, British Isles could find his way back to the grass.

“We always have that option.” Baltas said.