All right, welcome to in addition of the horse racing
happy hour, Mike and Doppel here, just fresh off an
airplane. Had to go back, got to hang out,
got to, got the voice chat with our man TK.
Yesterday. It was awesome.
And I'm, I'm here. I left the beach to come back to
this. Whatever we're we got going on
here. It's decided we're going to have
summer and then three hours of rain and season change.
Like, just like immediately. That's it.
Hard, hard left. Turn to fall.
Keeneland starts tomorrow. They decided we were going to
have no sundresses at Keeneland this year.
So that's that's just how it is. This will be sundresses.
Just under jackets, yeah. There's artificial ways to make
sure people stay warm, so. If you remember the Abel Tasman
Oaks, yeah, it. Was 48 degrees was the high
something like that? It was like 5 years and there
were women just trying to wear their.
It was like little kids with the Halloween costumes under the
winter jacket. Yeah, that's exactly what it
was. I felt so bad because you could
tell people had spent months, just months and months, trying
to get ready for those days and it just didn't.
We found a good spot to watch that one from too.
So that was awesome. That was There you go.
Yeah. Actually, you might not.
Were you with me on that or did not?
No. No, that was probably a year and
a half. Two years ago, we hung out.
Yeah, Yep. That's one of the best.
That's one of the best OAK rallies in the history of that
race, though. Or that last A lot of our
listeners might not know who Kimberly is, but Kimberly's an
OG on the show like she was. She got a So Kimberly Greenwell,
who's doing big things with My Southern Home and all that
stuff. She's fantastic blowing up.
Got her start, got her start with us.
It was before we were horse racing.
Happy hour, though. Yeah, so.
By the way, I did tape an episode with Sherva before this
one. Nice.
About 4045 minutes, little preview, San Anita talk, little
breeders, Cup getting ready, what we should expect when we
get out there and then what should we expect together right
now? Oh, cool.
All right, so we're we're at John Lindo on the horse racing,
excuse me, on Isla Louie tomorrow after Kevin Kilroy.
We're going to put out a ton of content this month.
So if you were locked in, we got you covered here on the happy
hour. Yeah, make sure you know you,
the people who want to listen to Louie live from 11:50 Eastern
Time. There's an ESPN Louisville radio
app. You can just stream it on
iheart, but make sure you're doing the 680.
Speaker, just ask for ESPN Louisville.
Yeah, yeah, you can find it anywhere fantastic.
And then I will say this, Louie, I'm pretty happy that that we're
at least we're getting the nice fall weather for the pumpkin
patch this weekend because that's our big thing in our
office. And that pumpkin patch we're
getting like perfect pumpkin patch weather, right?
Like it's it's going to be sunny, it's going to be 60, It's
going to be fantastic. The sun's going to feel hot.
It'll be that right? Whatever that weather is, the
sun will feel warm, but you'll still be wanting to wear a
sweatshirt. Right, yeah.
Yeah. You'll be like, why did I wear a
dark sweatshirt instead of a lighter?
Yeah. Now that's.
Yeah, yeah, it'll be. He's going to be upset no more.
George there's tonight we'll get into a Keeneland with him.
Like I said, I will have an episode tomorrow with John
window chandelier, American Pharaoh stakes talk, Rodeo Dr.
with him as well. I think Kevin's going to get
into Keeneland with us as well tomorrow.
So what'd you get into this week since I've been gone and you
couldn't bug me all week long? What did I do?
Yeah. I've been sleeping.
Yeah, good. That's such a lie.
I don't sleep. It's terrible.
Excellent. I wonder about it lately.
So that's good. Yeah.
You what? I've been better about sleeping
lately, right? You know, I you get to a certain
age, Mike, and you just have to sleep.
It is what it is. I guess that's true.
I don't know. I'm still not there, although I
will tell you that. Like 6:30 at night when you're
not doing this show. Well, that's because I just fall
asleep in the chair like I just yeah.
Because you're going bad. Yeah, that.
But like, I will tell you that, you know, so the the trip I went
on was a bunch of business owners and we get to go away.
We do a little business playing retreat and it used to be where
we would drink hard and stay up late and all that stuff and how
it's like, oh, we get to catch up on sleep and that's exactly
how it's kind of transitioned. 100%, Yep.
All right. Well, let's look at the couple
that we played from last week. We're going to start at the act.
This is the British Coach Challenge race here for Zozos.
So Zozos is in. We'll get a look here at how
Zozos did, and then we'll get Louie's commentary.
Yeah, so I was out there for this one.
So I actually saw this in person and.
Made sure to get out there so that I could see in a weird,
geeky way. I was excited to see this race
because I knew whoever qualified here would be at the British Cup
when we got there in a month. Pesky cattle river 1-2 off the
turn. State trader needs to find a way
through free technique switches to the far outside as they race
for the mid stretch Marker. Zozos is still in front and he's
shaken up. Now the lead is to stage.
Raider fights on 3 technique putting in a final try.
Zozo still the leader. Stage Raiders coming on once
again. Free technique down the center,
but Zozo's finishes strong and wins it by a length on the fire.
Oh geez. Raider settles the massive.
Professionalism on the horse racing happy hour.
I also I'm trying to do it all. I'm trying to do it all right
now you know you're good. A question, so one of the one of
the main differences I would say between how and and Barry Spears
will join us. Urban handicapper like I said,
how he handicaps and how I handicap.
For example, I think the number of turns in a race really
matters. Barry doesn't.
He thinks distance is the only thing that matters.
So I'll be interested to hear him because.
Mike, question for you. If you are the first horse out
of the gate and the first horse to the line, is that a winning
style, running style in horse racing?
The answer is yes. Right.
Those of us could repeat that, man, he can win the Breeders Cup
dirt mile. That's That's all I can say
about that, except that he's probably going to run into
Cody's Wish. Who by the way, the last three
races is not broken. Well, if he gives himself too
much work to do, that's where It's the kind of race where if
you're trying to find value on that Breeders' Cup card, you
could find. Trying to be using gazozos
instead of a Cody's wish or catching him in that race in the
sequence. Yeah.
All right. Well, since you've been doing
Cody's wish we can go out to the Vossburg at the big A Yeah,
you'll look at. How cool.
After that, How about that? There you go.
All right, turn the sound on. Racing in 3rd, then cowing in
the red blinkers and in between horses is Sheriff Bianco, who's
making up some ground the half mile.
In 46 seconds they come off the turn and into the stretch, and
here is Cody's wish up the challenge.
A creative for the lead great navigator is down at the rail.
It's three of them across It's Cody's wish and a very tough
accretive who continues to battle on as they hit the 16th
pole. Cody's wish now edge is clear,
and Cody's wish back to sprinting, back to winning.
Today in the Vossburg. The grand question they're going
to have for this horse, which is to the breaking issues, actually
force him into the mile to give him more time to catch up?
Or does he go to the Sprint where we know that he can be an
absolute monster and and I think there's some just sense too of
like maybe at the horse maturity, maybe wanting to go a
little more distance, you know? And they tried to find it out in
at Monmouth, right this year and it didn't work out.
And you know, they tried to find out if he was going to be a
class, of course, or if he was going to be a dirt mile or a
dirt Sprint kind of horse. And it's pretty clear the
longest he's going to go with the Breeders Cup is a mile.
But I think you're right. I think that there's, you know,
tends to be as horses get older, they stretch out, but once in a
while you discover too they're just sprinters.
It is what they are. But I I worry for him that how
he's been breaking lately is going to cost him at a a race
like a Breeders' Cup race where you just can't, you can't make
mistakes. It's not an option.
Well and I, you know, we'll see if that's the case with this
field or not though I mean I think you know as far as
breeders Cubs go this is not it doesn't seem as star heavy as
what we've seen in the past. You know, races are definitely a
little more star heavy than some of the distance races but you
know he'll pick his spot and I I do kind of like him in the mile,
be interesting to kind of see there and then that Sprint kind
of opens up quite a bit so. Do you give Zozos much?
For sure it could. I mean, you know, right now
everybody's so inconsistent. I don't know if if you, you know
the betting that day knowing how we like to play those multiple
race sequences. I don't know.
You know, singles in the Breeders Cup alone are hard.
There was a flight line last year, There was a coat swish
last year, but that was, I mean that's unusual to have two in
the same day. We've had a couple of times when
we had you know we thought we had singles and they they
disappointed us. I mean the distance between 1:00
and 2:00 this year and almost these fields is not very big at
all. So I mean you're going to be
seeing some monster tickets put together on some of these
things, you know and and you're going to probably get a pretty
good payout because of it. You know, we're we're going to
get some shockers, we're going to get some payouts.
I agree with you. I agree with you this this feels
more like. What we expect those Breeders'
Cup payouts to be 100 grand on this pick six that kind of stuff
like that kind of number feels more right here than not.
I don't know that you and I have talked about it but John got and
I got into it on the previous episode that that are recorded
right before this one. John Sherva LA Times.
He's got a piece up right now about the races this weekend.
Essentially, the West Coast swing for the Derby starts this
weekend in that American Pharaoh baffer with a couple horses in
there, a couple of other really nice.
Colts as well. The chandelier is loaded outside
of tomorrow, not running. She's training up to Breeders'
Cup, but that that's a loaded version of their their early
oaks, if you will. I I think the Breeders Cup
Classic not being the last race of the day and leading into
football is generally a good thing because it puts horse
racing on TV alongside other sports.
John is 20 years older than me. I'm not trying to pick on him,
but I think that, you know, hey, horse racing needs to be the.
You know the blah, blah, blah. And even in that episode, he
said, look, I get it, the average person cares about the
Derby. They don't care about Breeders'
Cup and I and that's what I said.
I think the other part of this too, Mike, is what if you catch
the 25 year old guy who's ready to watch a Big 10 football game
flips on NBC. He's got. 5 minutes and he's got
an app that allows him to bet horse racing and he's got 50
bucks on the football game. He's like, wait, I can put 20
bucks on this race and I can get 12 to one?
Well, and honestly. That's really does even just the
person who doesn't even bet it. But just maybe that's a great
race and they like man, this is pretty cool, I just want to
watch more of it, you know? I mean, they don't.
Know if it's a good field or not.
It doesn't matter. They don't know.
It's a close race. They don't care if it's 203 and
change. They don't care, right?
I mean, they have nothing compared to.
I mean, and where I go with this is, if you go back to last year
and the previous stuff, Classic was the prime time showstopper
and we had a all time great horse and NBC didn't even pub it
because it didn't matter. That's.
Right. They could pub.
They could have a monster horse like flight line and pub it all
they want, but they didn't put anything behind it because
there's a waste of resources. So if it if it means that you're
right, like if it means that hey, we can be in the middle of
the football day right before that Big 10 game, it makes too
much sense not to have that classic run at 3:00.
Really good point else. I even said to John I expect the
the, the viewership for for this Breeders' Cup to be up from last
year and flight lines not in it just because it's going to be
before football. I I think people just flip over,
you know, maybe there's not another interesting game going
on, something like that, and people just flip over getting
ready for, you know, whatever Big 10 game there is that night.
So I know. I think there's a chance to.
To catch a crowd that they don't usually catch, I'm just
surprised that the Big 10 can play a 730 kickoff and not all
their players fall asleep because they're so used to just
kicking off at noon you. Know you don't know that.
They won't. You don't know that.
What's up, Barry how you Barry you now because and I brought
you on because I knew you'd have an opinion about.
Yeah. If you didn't pick up what we
were talking about. He's looking he's you're rocking
the Devil race hat, which I respect.
Yeah, they had that, you know, for the they gotta pour one out
for the dead homies, you know what I'm saying?
I mean, I was I I gotta admit, Barry, I put, I really feel like
the way that the baseball playoffs are going right now
like that, it's almost, it's a disservice to get it by.
It is. It seems like it because
whenever those teams come into the fold, they always get beat
early. And then I saw when I saw that
plus 2400 number on the on the Rays to win the World Series, I
took it. I would have.
Taken it too. I didn't see that workout.
Good for me, for you know whatever I, you know it's it's
only. Yeah, but I was.
I was here. I'm already like, sitting on
like, European soccer games. I have no idea what's going on.
It called in Croatia, Yeah, right, yeah.
I I was listening to what you were saying about you know
flight line and stuff like that and the and the timing of the of
the Breeders Cup Classic and you know, I I think you're spot on.
I'm on. Under the ilk that do whatever
you need to do to get the most eyes on.
That's right. So whether it's running early,
like, who cares? Run it, you know, start early
the race, I don't care. I mean, I don't think the horse
players would care a bit, you know, or you might get some
gripes because that's just what horse players in general do.
But in the end. Why not?
You know, it's no big deal to shift it around based on how
many eyes are going to see it. Right.
Yeah, I'm with you. It's not Derby day when
nothing's going on in the sports world.
This is, this is football season, man.
It's different. And so I'm with you.
In the middle of it. That's exactly right.
I'd rather this be on Saturday before another football game,
let somebody catch 1520 minutes of horse racing for the first
time and be the best race that we're going to have on that card
that day. And I mean, look, it's not going
to be the best race as far as. Horse players are concerned but
it's a full 2 minutes. People get the two turn
experience and all that stuff. I was just saying to Mike they
don't know if 203 and change is a good time or not.
Close race, they don't care. None of that you've got this is
the first three years ago we've had where Fanduel's got horse
racing, DraftKings has got their DK horse.
I mean, I mean there's there's other things that play these.
Are baseball, too? Yeah, all that stuff.
Yeah they could all they could all hit.
So I mean it's it's just going to to me I think it makes too
much sense. It's a it's a good thing for
horse racing. You know that about it.
So no Sherva's listening. I'm going to tell him to get off
his lawn or you know, the stuff the kids get off their lawn and
go back and order yourself some girl pub for your dog and then
there you. Go.
I mean, let's let's be real. Barry Spears lives about 45
minutes away from Sherva. How many times have you gotten
the invite to Sherva's house mean?
0I. Don't even think Sherber goes to
the Tampa Bay Derby. So let's be real about this.
Yeah, that's zero. There you go.
All right, so it is time for horse Racing 101.
Barry Spears is our Horse racing 101 guest for this week.
It is sponsored by our friends. At the Maryland million excuse
me marylandmillion.com that's next week we will have a
Maryland million preview show with all the usual guests for
that Jim McKay Maryland million. Make sure you check them out at
the website for Maryland State the races they updated other
contenders with Maryland million watch for.
You can get those club tables couple left and check out this
year's press and souvenir guides and much much more all of it at
marylandmillion.com. And so if you get out there for
our Laurel. Or what races next week?
They had some like north of 300 entries for that card.
Let's go, let's go. That's and 12% take out on those
pick fives. Let's go.
Should be a really good day racing.
I was. I was just in Baltimore like.
Oh, there you go. One of the best Nets in racing,
to be honest, is that 12% take. Oh, Maryland Jockey Club.
No question. That's right.
All right. So you want to tee up Barry
Spears for what we're talking about today?
He knows hey, we're a little key.
Little key. Well, wait.
Keelan Some what? All right, wait, what?
So we're going straight into the handcapping, huh?
Straight to it, I guess. Let's go before we do that, the
101 aspect. Of the one with him.
So the 101 aspect that we're going to go with is the
handicapping distance versus turns.
Boom. That's it so.
Man this is this is like a huge gripe that I have that I I know
I well yeah, I've I've gotten on some some TVG slash FanDuel
personalities for this and I'm under the ilk again.
That distance is distance. Turns don't matter.
Right. And what's what is the
supporting evidence? Very.
Serious, because a six furlong race around three turns is still
6 furlongs. Do you think those, those, for
example, who ran a really nice one mile at Churchill going one
turn, if he can replicate that, he could do it going two turns
of sanity? Most likely, yeah.
I mean, you don't really see too many horses that are just so
horrible taking turns that they can't win.
I mean, even even Cody's wish had some issues with turns.
I guess you could say that. I mean, he just lost.
He lost at Tampa last year by a nose.
Going two turns and people were like, oh, he can't go two turns,
so it's all relative, But you know the distance is the
distance. If they can get the trip, if the
jockey can get them in the right spot and save ground or whatever
it is that they need, distance is king there.
You go. Not the turns, Larry.
What's their you? I'm I'm a turns guy.
It matters to me. And so I just think that being
on that single lead going around to turn is a different motion
than the horse running. I know they don't run in a
straight line, they kind of run the triagonal, but I do think
there's something to it, especially I'll agree with Barry
on this. I think at A at a Churchill or
Santa Anita Keeneland, whatever, it matters more than say at.
The Charlestown or something where or you know in a Senate
boy where to go 7 for lunch, you got to go two turns, that kind
of thing. I think it matters less in those
places, but the more distance you add to the races, I think
the turns do matter. So I guess I'm saying both but I
do think I do think the turns matter just because of that lead
foot having to do the pulling in a direction kind of in that lean
to the left that the horses have to do.
It matters to me. But I.
I've also seen horses go from the one mile with one turn at
Churchill and be just fine going two turns in a mile as well.
I I'll say this, you know, whether the distance or the
turns matter really kind of doesn't matter because that
aspect of everything is is kind of relative.
Like you know, you have your opinion about it.
I have mine but in the end it kind of.
To me is is not high on the priority list of of things.
This is kind of nitpicking at the end of something or or
trying to find something to separate one horse from another
that are really close. Things like that.
But you know, the one turn, let's say one turn mile, can
play like a Sprint. So you might have to approach it
differently. So I can understand that.
Two set of furlongs, you might trust him to be good at a mile
over one turn, right? So you do have to make decisions
and and kind of understand what's going on.
So it's not an absolute, you know, like, Oh yeah, it's
definitely, you know, turns matter or you know, it's it's
relative, but. What about from a positioning
standpoint, especially like lots of times we're going to see San
Anita, Even those mile races, they still have a decent little
run up until they get into that first turn.
But like you could. You could really hurt your shot
if you can't get in position going to that first turn
especially. I mean, Sandy is not used to
having these fields that they're going to have for Breeders' Cup
with, you know, 910 horses. They're used to the five or six
at most so. On Saturday will be losing.
Losing ground is never a good proposition in any kind of race,
but you're right, especially in those ones with two turns, you
don't want to get hung out four or five wide.
It definitely makes a difference.
All right. Well, we'll head on to the
handicapping segment here. We're going to start like, oh,
we're going to stay in Keeley. We're going to actually do
Friday races today, which is kind of unusual.
And we're going to start with the Grade 2 Phoenix, which is on
Friday. It's race #7.
It is 6/6 furlongs on the dirt. Estimated post time about four
twelve, $350,000 on the line here for the three-year old and
up and up race race here. Louie, you want to start?
Bad brutal car to Caitlin tomorrow, 12 horses and
everything ton of two year old races.
Have fun. Y'all get some prices because
there's going to be some. The stakes offer some relief
from having to look too hard for for some of those those things,
but I'm on the wrong card. There's the Phoenix High
Phoenix. So I landed.
You know the Phoenix is race seven.
Sorry. I land on Nakatomi and I think
it's because it's the horse that's got the best record at
Kingman. There it is. 3 for four.
Lifetime has been OK this year. Did run in that sloppy optional
claimer last out under Tyler at Saratoga but like I said 3 for
four. Lifetime at Keeneland has hit
the board three times at four runs this year.
I think he's fast enough to win. Wesley Ward's got a serious base
layer. The horse has actually been
training at Keeneland. Leading up to this race, I
really like that aspect for him. Not a huge price.
And I think with IRAD you're probably going to get seven to
two, that kind of number on him. But frankly, if he wins the
race, I'm never mad about 7:00 to 2:00.
I don't know what to do here. Barry with Dr. Oscar, who's
coming in from Canterbury, I did run at Oakland Park.
Before you get Kenyonnes aboard here.
Well, I think it's a fine jockey, and especially in a
Sprint, I'm not. I'm less concerned about jockeys
when I'm in a Sprint, especially with a horse like this.
That is early speed. You know it's more about the,
it's more about the break from the gate and about like what you
know, not losing ground like you know Barry mentioned in the last
segment and so interested to see him here.
I think he's got a legit shot to both win and hit the board in
this one. Not on my ticket by the way is
going to be Bango Mike and I talked about this many years
that horse is an absolute rock star at Churchill Downs.
That does not translate to Keeneland, man.
They are different traffic and we do not see that translate
very often. So I'm gonna try to beat Bango
here, man. And I'm not being I'm not
reaching too far down the the the totem to get to Nakatomi.
I do think hoist the gold is interesting here as well.
The one get 8 to 1 on this horse didn't look great in that
paddle. Brian last out didn't look good
in the in the big Crosby before that but did win an optional
claimer at Ellis Park. We're getting back to Keenan
with a horses run second twice and two runs.
Has a high 90s buyer as well 8 to 1 price there like the
connections to between Del Stewart and Johnny V Interested
to see. Johnny B sort of day because he
could really disrupt a lot of this card because he's got a lot
of these one kind of right. I mean he's got a lot of these.
He could be really disruptive in a lot of tickets here.
So I would probably lean here on 8-9 and one in the in the
Phoenix. Very, yeah.
This is a really interesting race from a speed standpoint.
I I think there's going to be, you know, this pace should heat
up. And for that reason, I'm tossing
Dr. Oscar, OK, I I just think that, you know, anytime this
horse has gotten a little bit of contention early kind of folds
or he just doesn't win. I'll say that he he doesn't
really fold, but he doesn't win. I mean, the last race he had at
Canterbury, it was like a cakewalk.
There was no pressure. And the one before that, same
thing, those races were extremely soft and he got a huge
number and I think it's a little bit phony.
So I'm gonna toss Dr. Oscar completely, but the horse that I
would put on top, or I probably will is Manny.
Wah okay. I think this horse form is
probably a little bit better than what it looks like on
paper. Plus you add in the pay
scenario, which should be quick. I mean, Sibelius is fast.
Dr. Oscar is fast. They're definitely going to the
lead. They did it before at Tampa on
on Pelican Day back February 11th.
This year you add in a horse like top gunner who probably
will be forwardly placed, not so sure what Gulfstream way is
going to do because that horse is actually projected, at least
from what I can see to get kind of the same trip as the chalk as
Bango. So I don't, I don't know how how
that's going to work out because Bango I think is just going to
create problems just by being where that horse will be, you
know, kind of towards the outside but stalking or or
trying to get off the hip of any of these frontrunners.
And I think there there's going to be a log jam for that and
Manny Wah should be right behind that.
And I think that might be the ideal spot because those horses
that get first run may end up getting it too early and then
you know, hopefully Manny Walken can swallow them up.
But you know, I I I do like the idea of hoist the gold in this
race, although I don't think 6 Furlongs is quite his distance.
I think he could, you know, kind of make it into the number.
Same with Necro Island, who ran pretty good last time despite
kind of being up against it pace wise.
Do you know when Manny Walls last win was?
It was a while ago. It was this race a year ago,
yeah. Yep.
And of course, we haven't seen me any while since April, so I
mean. By the way, also Necker Island
if you get Flavia and Pratt at more than 20 to 1.
Yeah, I saw that too. And I was like, God, I think
he's going to be at least half that, if not.
Yeah, I agree further down and maybe 12:50.
Yeah Yeah winner. Past winner of this race
includes a horse named Wise Dan, by the way.
So, yeah, that's right. Yeah.
And run. But yeah, Manny Wah has two good
works on the 14th and the 23rd tightening up for this one.
I think he's going to be OK. Listen, I love Wayne as a
horseman. Nothing would make me happier
than see Wayne pulled at all. So you know it would be, it
would be great and you're and you're going to get a good
price, you know, so you're going to get I think 6 to one's
probably you might even get 7 to one, yeah, probably get a little
more than that, yeah. All right.
Nakatomi you know it was Louise Pick, which you know.
Begs the question, is die hard a Christmas movie?
I'd say no. Oh, we gotta know from Barry.
I thought Barry didn't know would have gone.
Yes, I I put up the meme every year.
You know, it was like, oh, join me at the Nakatomi Towers on on
Christmas. But I don't know.
That's a tough call because I, I, I try, I I tend to think
that, you know, Christmas movies are actually about Christmas,
not during Christmas time. So I guess that's the that's the
gamble right there. Well, is it set at Christmas
time or is it about Christmas? Yeah.
Louis, what says it's not on the Hallmark Channel for sure.
What's? It's not Christmas movie, it's.
OK, it's a Christmas movie. I mean, that's because you're
from Detroit, right? So.
Bruce Willis said it isn't so. That means that it is.
Yes. OK, you know, you know, I have a
funny Bruce Willis story. When I lived in Boston, I there
was this place called Whiskey Park, which is like right
downtown Boston. It's nice little spot, you know
bar and they were filming the movie The Surrogates in
Cambridge at the time and obviously he was the the main
guy. I saw him at the bar by himself
like kind of huddled in the corner.
I didn't even believe it was him.
Somebody's like, hey, there's Bruce Willis over there and I
was like, get outta here. He's not here.
And and it was funny because I was with Rodney Harrison, who,
you know at that time was with the Patriots.
Are you just like, name dropping like crazy here I am.
I am. It was, he's my friend's cousin.
So we were out. And in fact he was.
He was laid up. He had crutches.
He was, he was on crutches. We had gone to dinner and went
to this place because it was right there, you know, and he,
he just hobbled basically across the street and he's like, let me
go see if that's really him. And he hobbles over there and he
comes back like 2 minutes later, he's like that's really Bruce
Willis. And I went over and said hello.
And he's a nice guy, you know, he's kind of smaller than what I
expected. But.
You know, most actors are Louie Bigger deal, singing Bruce
Willis at a bar or actually hanging out with one of the
greatest Stevens players of all time on Harrison.
While on crutches. Yeah, and probably name dropping
Ben Wallace while you're there, so.
That's my man. Yeah.
I'll go with Ronnie here. I don't.
I don't. Disagree I.
Don't disagree. I hope he's a nice guy cuz he
has a good personality on TV. Yeah, he's.
I was around Bruce Willis. I think I just dropped too many
Pulp Fiction references, you know?
I don't know. I'm sure he's not exhausted with
those. I didn't even know what to say.
I was kind of starstruck, to be honest.
I was like. Yeah he's a list for sure.
I was looking down at him so I was like he's he's awfully short
I I, you know I'm I'm about 6-4 so he's I'd say it seemed like
he was about 5-9 alright. I don't.
I mean, I don't think most actors are pretty small.
Pretty sure like Tom Cruise is a shrimp.
So is Sylvester Stallone is little, Yeah.
Height wise, he's. You know, kind of a jacked,
stocky guy. Yeah.
And then I saw, you know, if we're, if we're gonna stay on
the the star thing. I saw Tyra Banks in the the
Miami airport and then I saw her at Universal Studios in
Hollywood. Like literally like 3 hours
later she was with her bodyguards and stuff, but she's
she's awfully tall. She's tall, but she.
Wasn't a model, right? So yeah, yeah, I was.
I was surprised how tall she was.
Was it? Was it good era Tyra Banks?
Yes. This was like I I would say
early 2000s. Good for you.
Yeah. Yeah, that's fantastic.
Yeah, power banks. Are the better square than the
Bruce Wells fund. Not gonna lie?
OK, yeah, there we go. Power.
Banks of Vanessa Williams. Tyra, I'm.
Going with Vanessa Williams, Vanessa's older.
So, well, I mean in their in their prime.
I'm still gonna say Tyra, OK? I'll go Tyra too.
All right. Jessamine Stakes is race 8.
This is a great two for Phillies. 2 year old Phillies.
Is there oaks points on this? No, it's on the turf.
It's on the turf. That's right.
Sorry. Who do you like in this one?
We'll start with Barry Ooh, this is a tough race, man.
This is a tough race. I mean, you know, all these
horses have like 2 and three starts, and it's always a
crapshoot because one of them usually jumps up out of nowhere
and runs a big race. So obviously I'm not gonna even
attempt to go anywhere near smooth waves or time to dazzle
the two inside horses. One long shot that really,
really caught my eye was 2P the Five.
Another flavor prat horse, that 20 to one on the morning line.
I don't know how that's going to happen, but I really like that
last race against No name Metz and I don't think that this
horse was really meant to Sprint.
I think this horse will stretch out just fine.
Yeah, Uncle Moe and a tap at mayor, right?
I mean that's she's made for it. Yeah, exactly.
And and you know if if she can settle off of the speed a little
bit, I think this one is going to have a a really good chance
to win. You know Pratt doesn't really
ride for grand motion much. He used to ride ride him a
little bit when he used to ship out West, right.
But even out east he doesn't really ride him much.
And I I think this is a good spot for somebody like this and
and A and a horse like that. The other one that really caught
my eye was a pellet, and there's no way that horse is going to be
12:50. If I read you have Ira and Todd
Fletcher on a combo at 12:50. You better hammer that hammer
that right. You gotta go for it because this
this morning line seemed a little bit wonky.
Fun Nick, Come on, man. But yeah, there, there seems to
be some speed in here, you know, it should be a fairly run race.
I think that's what I like to see in these kind of two euros
is because sometimes you get like lopsided or or you get a
trainer with like four horses in the same race and it kind of
gets a little weird. But this seems to be perfect.
As far as you know, a A2 year old turf race in October is
concerned. I got we got a we got we got all
kinds of like sires that make me feel we got 2 Pharaohs in here.
We got to justify. We got a classic empire.
We got constitution. I mean, this is even do ones you
got flame away. Flame away.
It's this is a young sire rape. Yeah.
All right. Let me go ahead.
I I the only so I I'm with Barry.
I'm going to try to beat those inside two horses, but I'm going
to do it with Buchu and this is a little bit of the.
I watched this horse grow up in front of me kind of thing.
This horse broker Maiden at Churchill Downs took 4 efforts
to do it but it was going to turns and going this going this
distance essentially to do it and just to put it all together
last time out 143 and change can absolutely win this race at
Keeneland. And so interested because it's
raining a lot here and it's been raining a lot lot that turf
course. They're not going to take this
race off. They're going to run this thing
on the turf. The good thing about Keeneland
is because and I this is. Gonna sound like a criticism,
but it's not because the race dates are shorter.
They can stay on the turf and not really hurt the turf course.
They don't need to worry about, you know, like up in in
Indianapolis when they're going to run 8 months of races.
They got to really watch the turf course and they like that
in Lexington, man. They don't have to worry about
that stuff. She put it all together last
time out. Keeps Martin Garcia in the in
the irons here. Love that move from Phil Bauer
and his barn. Last two times this horse or
excuse me this combo of jockey trainer ran it at Keeneland
horses hit the board and one of them one paid paid almost 6 to
1. And so I I'm looking for that
kind of a number here with Buchu just because I think like we're
talking about the Pratt horses getting bet down.
I can see a Buchu actually not getting bet down.
Maybe you get 5 to 1 on this horse maybe you know that kind
of number. And so interesting to see where
she ends up another horse that I don't know what to do with this
crown imperial before and this is Ricardo Santana and John
Ortiz. Two of them have been hooking up
quite a bit recently. This is one of those horses that
won at Kentucky Downs this year and this is when we find out if
the crop that was at Kentucky Downs is worth a damn.
And I I just don't know yet. And so I've got her on my list,
but I don't know what she's going to do.
I don't know if 2 year olds winning at Kentucky Downs is
good or not. And so we're going to find out.
But I don't hate the price on her.
At six to one, Ricardo has found his previous form.
He's back to riding really well. And so that's been a nice
development. Now is he getting I I I still
don't know why he's going to New York and winning at 14%.
He doesn't have to do that. He could stay in Kentucky and
win at 19 or 20. And so I I think some of those
numbers are more New York related than they are ability
related. And so I'm going to use Crown
Imperial as well. But I got boot you on top of the
tenth. Yeah.
There's only two, maybe two horses in this race that I think
would be a surprise if they won. Everybody else I agree with you
wouldn't surprise me. And you know, it's funny you
talk about the the rain and all that.
I honestly can't recall too many times Keenan taking races off
the turf. I mean, I guess that's because I
have Saratoga fresh in my mind, but I I I really can't recall
like. Keenan They don't do too many
races, not for greatest stakes. Yeah, yeah.
Because of where their seasons fall and Mike's talked about
this before, they have to front load their greatest stakes
because breeds. And then the spring, they got to
do it for Derby day, right? And so they front load those
things and they're the adjustments going to be run on
the. Terminal and I honestly, I
don't. I don't know how much the issue
of the rains going to be. I mean it's it's it's wet
outside, but it's we're stopping here pretty soon.
We're going to plenty of time for it now.
It's not. The difference is it's just not
going to get warm but it's going to be sunny.
So yeah. We'll see.
We got good drainage out there. They've been doing that.
Run. Yeah, I think that's that's
probably why I've never been to Keenland, man.
What's that Too cold? Oh no.
But hey, but my birthday is in October.
My birthday is in October. So one of these years I gotta do
the birthday trip. You know we're there, right?
Yeah. We gotta introduce you to like,
our Mexican restaurant and. Oh yeah, for it, man.
I know you are trying to get down there.
Just go crush cigars and then I gotta plan a trip.
Let's do it. Yeah, I gotta plan.
A trip. Don't be there in April.
OK, let's do it right. I'm serious.
We're serious too, as soon as I get in town.
I'll invite you to stay in Louise's basement.
So you. Could have your own.
Am I gonna be able to come out of the basement?
The John Service Suite. The John Service Suite.
You know the closest you're going to get to get invited John
Shervis House is going to Louie's house, so.
That's pretty we tried to, right.
I have to go to Lexington. Do it, OK.
That's right. Well, you know we're in
Louisville, but you know we'll we'll we'll drive.
It's easy though. And the and the and the the
Mexican restaurants are a nice, like 15 minutes West of
Keeneland on the way back to town.
So they're perfect. Yeah.
Yeah, OK. Race 9 is the grade one.
Also be I'll see. The old awesome thing I D is
let's go. I got it.
OK. Go ahead, it's $600,000 on the
dirt 2 year old Phillies. Now Louie, does this have oaks
points? It does.
Yeah. All right.
So I've been traveling all week, so I'm terribly unprepared for
this, Barry. Way more than normal, which is
not saying much. All right, Louie, where did you
land in this? Race Yeah, another two year old
race here and and I I've adjusted my 2 year old
handicapping this year to try to find the horses on the improve.
That's where in the last race. They moved.
You could be one of those. I think that that she's on the
improve and so it's hard though to watch the Pocahontas and not
think that a BB is dream with that short finish line at
Keeneland for these races. Even though she's going two
turns for the first time, Barry don't don't pay attention.
They got that short finish line. So I actually think a horse like
her that it has a pressing style, she's going to be second
or third, they can make that move on the last turn and I
think she's going to be right there.
I hate to use a horse. That's.
Five to two in a 2 year old race.
But I think, I do think she's the class here.
Obviously a lot of people are going to be betting bright work
because of connections and the fact that she's awesome.
So might be one of those where. And by the way, I got to tell
you, the Wednesday people are praying to God that she wins
here because she was bred for 10 G's, bought for less than 100K,
and this is the kind of horse that can blow up.
Yeah. Can blow up your breeding and
that kind of stuff. She's already won four.
She's 4 for four. This is the kind of horse that
you know if she, if she does it, man this is we're going to be
talking about her a lot come the spring.
And so one that's been away last time.
Obviously going seven at at Saratoga outwork is a son of of
Uncle Mo. Malibu moon on the mom's side so
she can stretch out. I'm not worried about that.
And again because of that short stretch of Kingland, they're not
doing a ton of extra work and so she could definitely be there at
the end as well. Candy is in this race, the three
horse six to one massive massive thing going on at Keeneland that
I don't think anyone's talking about is that Louis Sis is back
and this is his first races in a month and and I I think there's
a little bit of just getting back into it that he's going to
have to do. We might not see some great
results from him, but I also really trust Louis sis.
I really, really trust him as a jockey.
So I've got her in the third spot here and then finally I
landed on Emory the 8 four to one for Brad Cox.
Just because Brad Cox wins these races.
I wish it was more complicated than that, but he does.
We saw last year's winner was Wonder Wheel, and of course
Wonder Wheel came and won the the juvenile Phillies.
So yeah, was that it was that Keemlin?
So she just turned right around. And yeah, and so and then
another famous winner of this race is British Idiom, who also
did the same thing. So Barry, what did you see in
this race? Yeah, I I really couldn't make.
Too much of of any horses past the top three.
So but I I did land on Emery I I think this horse is just on the
verge of of being pretty nice and I I think a little bit the
hype on on bright work is going to be tough to take a short
price on a horse doing something for the first time is is kind of
the old adage that the horse players kind of adopt.
And I think that rings true here.
Not that bright work isn't worthy or isn't good enough to
win this race. She's more than good enough to
win this race and and and has probably better than average
chance. But I'm just gonna side against
her on on tomorrow. You know she she's had a a
couple of missteps early and if you know, against better horses
as the competition gets better, she can't really bobble at the
break like she used to. And and still win.
I I think that might catch up with her tomorrow so I'm going
to go with Emory. I think Vivi's dream could get a
perfect trip here so it it's hard to leave that one out.
One that did kind of peak my attention for kind of the wrong
reasons is crazy Cammy. I I thought this horse was like
a legit turf horse and I don't understand why this horse ends
up here of all the races. But it is interesting because
the horse hasn't really run bad on the dirt and kind of runs
like a turf horse on dirt at six furlongs in a race like this, If
this horse is ever going to win a dirt race, it would be this
one where everybody's not really too keen.
You know, they're they're still learning how to run and this one
could sneak by at a big price. I'm I'm probably going to use
this horse and underneath and tries and supers.
But it's just a little weird that that horse ends up here
with kind of no, no rhyme or reason.
And I and I like those sort of things in in horse races where
you get somebody that just doesn't fit like on any reason
from a good outfit and and this one kind of fits that mold.
Got it. Mike Maker special, right?
Yeah. Crazy thing happened.
We're going to move on a Saturday.
Before we do, make sure you check out the gold book.
Louie, where can we get the gold book?
Gold Book bets.com. Pretty simple.
We'll have all your kingly cards and some college football now
that it's legal in the bluegrass.
So we're I think we're the first to market with with football and
horse racing in the same sheets. So go check it out.
Gold book bets.com. We keep it real inexpensive.
It's just an experiment at this point, but I'll get all of our
capping for the weekend. As bad as my football bets have
been for the Gold book they've been, I've been killing it on my
app. So I just gotta maybe change up.
What games do I put in a gold book?
I don't tell you which games you have to do, I mean.
Like you just make any suggestions and so I feel like
obligated and I just need to like go the ones that were out
there, you start listening to me.
Great, isn't it? When money's on the line, great.
Sandbagging. That's all.
I had a great We have multiple horse guys, we have multiple
football guys. So you get a lot of different
opinions on on all those things. So yeah, check it out.
Gold Book bets.com. When I was watching baseball
last night at an Irish bar and betting on whether the next,
whether or not the next pitch was going to be a ball or a
strike, I was like, we've reached the bottom of the
that's. That's almost like betting
preseason basketball. That's rough.
That's the bottom of the battle right there.
He's gonna have a better season, the Knicks or the Pistons?
Knicks, For sure. I agree actually.
Hey, I'm I'm. I'm kind of partial to the
Pistons. So all I this.
Is gonna be 6-6 guards. They'll be interesting to watch
but not for not. They're gonna be a consistent
they're. Just all 65 dudes that.
She all 65 dudes. There it is.
All right. Uh, Kate.
Cunningham's for everybody. All right.
Race 6 on Saturday. Keelan is the great to Woodford.
The 5 1/2 turf Sprint for three-year olds and up $350,000
purse here. I think this is a super
interesting race. I'll let you guys tell me what
you think. But yeah, I just thought there
was a lot of horses here out of price that we could kind of see
coming in. So what, What did you think
here, Barry? Yeah, I I thought there was a
lot of speed. Obviously it's a 5 1/2 for all
race and you got these older. Wesley Ward, horses in here that
kind of kind of make things a little interesting.
I mean I witness what do you do with that horse.
You know, I don't, I don't, I don't really understand the 20
to 1 morning line because that horse does not look 20 to one
but whatever. And his other one coffee maker.
That horse has run pretty decent.
I'm against him here, but they they add to the pace scenario.
And I think the 8R shot kind of falls into a good trip with all
this speed. I would like Beer can man a lot
better if he wasn't on the far outside but that one I kind of
like equally as good that motorist race that he came out
of the general Flash at the at Delmar was a was a pretty good
race and and beer can man didn't get the best of trips so.
I could definitely see that one turning the table seems to like
Keenan. His one run he had earlier in
April wasn't that bad. Another one where he didn't
really get a great trip so he can turn it around.
Wesley Ward obviously win this race the last two times with
Golden, Powell both times. So, Louie, what did you think
here that there's no golden panel in this race?
That's what I. Thought.
I mean, that's why I was interesting.
Like, that's why I thought pretty much would it you be
shocked if Coppola at 12 to one, popped up here and won this
race? No, because that's my top
selection and so yeah, yeah, no, you're good.
Marty Garcia get Dale Romans. Look, I think Dale has had a a
renaissance in his life and in his training.
We've watched the numbers tick back up.
I've been very vocal about that. On this show he was down under
10%. He's back up to 16 this year.
I I I don't think that's an accident.
This horse by the way, ran twice really well at Saratoga.
They ship them to Churchill Downs immediately wins over a
Sprint distance is going to get back at it tomorrow.
I just think 12 to one for a horse that hasn't been worse
than a length and 1/2 from the winner in three straight races
is way too long at 12 to one. But I think because of the
connections you'll still get a double digit price on that
horse. So I love that kind of stuff.
That's a nice you know in a turf Sprint Barry I don't know how
you feel. I really do try to get, you know
either you know grab 5-6 horses try to really smack it exact or
something like that Or in the case of this kind of horse, I
don't mind to win place bet on this kind of horse because I I
might get 8 to one, nine to one on a place bet and so that's
really comfortable for me. So I do have Coppola on top.
I think live the dream, Live in the dream.
Excuse me. First start North America for
Adam West Batman interested to see him did win a Group One last
time at York going on five furlongs on good to firm going
and I think with some of the rain and some of the dampness
tomorrow that horse could actually really like the
conditions. European horses seem to enjoy
being a Kingland as well. So if I had to use a more chalky
horse in the top 2-3, that would be it.
Babby Bryan's in this race who's run two really good seconds
monster who are? Gabby's both times.
The bad both times. It's exactly right.
But another horse last three out has not been outside of two legs
and frankly if you go back five was in the shake of town of
Keeneland and lost by a neck frankly to Caravel man.
Caravel's a world leader. So I'll take that form all day.
Those I'll be looking at those three horses there.
That was 7, two and one. Alright, we're going to go 6 for
Long Dirt Race now the $350,000. Thoroughbred Club of America's
stakes. Where for Phillies and Mary, 3
year olds and up. Where'd you land on this one,
Barry? I I thought Wicked Halo is the
IT. It's just it.
That horse is gonna win there is that's it.
That's it. No, I mean there's there's a lot
of speed in this race. You Gary has a lot of speed.
Happy Soul has a lot of speed. Static fire has a lot of speed.
I'm not sure if Last Leaf is actually shipped up there, but
fire on time and that just leaves Wicked Halo with the
alternate trip inside, kind of up close to the pace.
Take over at the top of stretch, it's over.
I just replayed the whole race for you.
It's over. It's done.
Wicked Halo. Wicked Halo, I think it comes
down to you Gary and Wicked Halo.
I think that's what it's going to end up being.
If there is moisture in the track by the way those two very
good over wet go. I'm with Barry here.
I think that you can use the six, you can use the one and
move on with your tickets all. Right.
First, the one mile turf face the first lady steaks for
$750,000. Billy's and mayor's 3 year olds
and up. We're on the turf now.
Gina romantic in this race at 12:50 in Italian.
The favorite four to five, which of course will be my pick.
Who do we like here? Is anyone going to be in a tie?
I hope so. Because I was going to say for
price, yeah, you really do hope so.
I actually. I mean, it's hard not to have an
Italian in your top 2-3. Whatever.
I'm for sure she's going to be part of the equation at the end.
White beam hasn't done anything wrong lately, man.
And white beam is going to be a problem.
Really. Trust Flabby and Pratt in this
kind of situation for Chad Brown.
You know which Chad Brown wins the race.
Here you do have cheetah romantic on the One Spot.
Wonderful. We're all white beam, didn't we?
Chemical we didn't. Yeah.
Every Jets man is in this race. Won the the Spa.
Last time at at the Spa it agreed to 12:50.
I don't know how much of 12:50 we're going to get because of
Jose Ortiz, but because it's out of the Kenner Machi barn that we
might get a price. We might get an 8 to one, nine
to one kind of number on that horse from the outside is a more
balanced runner than some of the other horses in this race.
In other words, isn't going to have to make up a bunch of
ground at the end and make its own make her own trip I should
say going into that final stretch and may just have more
kick at the end under Jose Ortiz than not.
Has never on a Keeneland before but three for five this year.
I really value horses that win. If you wanted to knock against
that horse seems to be another every other type and this is not
the every other. But if she does show up I think
she's got a wheel shot I'm fascinated by by jumbly and and
part of it is, you know out of the younger O'Brien barn.
He's over 5 in North America this year, which is I think a
little misleading. This horse did run in the grade
one cool more at Leopardstown last out going left-handed, so
at least has that experience. Did run fifth before that
though. Was at Saratoga in that race,
right behind every Jets and and fluffy socks.
Interested to see if that horse gets play here, but I would play
every Jets at a longer price than I would jumply at six.
To one makes sense. Barry, would you think?
I guess this all comes down to. Who is going to try to run with
in Italian, right? And then I think that basically
is up to the either the six or the the 8:00.
So this name is OK. It's gotta go, right?
I agree. Yep, that's.
There you just need somebody to hint like to at least bother in
Italian a little bit and and if they do that.
That leaves it open for a horse like Gina Romantica, who who I
think is very underrated. I I I think this horse has some
physical issues and it and it kind of made no sense to me.
Once that horse won at at Tampa that broke her maiden, they
started running this horse on the dirt for whatever reason.
And I was like this horse doesn't even look like a dirt
horse. Probably didn't even look good
that day to be honest with you. That was on Tampa Bay Derby Day
in 2022. Didn't really look all that
great, just didn't beat anybody on the dirt and I don't
understand why they would think that that horse was capable of
anything on the dirt. When they finally get her onto
the turf she she runs really, really well and and it has
actually gotten better positioning wise.
So I don't think she's going to be as far back as she was like
last you know, August. And in that race and the risk
averse, she was way back. But I think she got a bad start
so that that you could kind of throw that one out.
But she's going to be close and and I think she has enough kick
at the end to to to win a race like this.
Same thing with Gam's mission. I I think that horse is a lot
better than what her past performances look like.
I mean, she's another one that may have some physical issues
because she laid off from the from the Mint Julep in 2022 all
the way to the Hillsborough in Tampa in 2023, and she seems
like she's kind of. Kind of gaining momentum, but
this is a good spot and I think this might have been the goal
race for them. So I'm going to try with those
2IN boot in the tie and out. I'm going to try to get her
beat. Well, the thing about Gina
Romantica too, that's a Chad Brown Tyler.
They won four of their last eleven races together at
Keeneland too. So you might get you might get
an opportunity there to actually pick one of these off.
At a good price on that, for sure.
Yeah. All right, we're going to go on
to like I'm not a big fan of two year old fall Derby preps.
But this one right here has Stead the test.
The test of time. Last year's winner being Forte
with Red route one coming in 3rd.
Rattle and Roll won the year before.
Essential quality one. Maxfield Knicks go free drop
Billy B Bravazzo Classic Empire. Be looking at Lee Brody's cause.
That is the last little bit rundown of this 2 year old race.
We were getting the Claiborne breeders for charity $600,000.
Modern 16th on the dirt. More than likely the favorite
and the breederscope. Juvenile is going to come out of
this race. No.
Louis is no Bamford will have the favorite in the Breederscope
Juvenile. We'll see.
Well, I guess it is in San Anita.
You know this person, Whoever wins this race is definitely a
major factor. If Locked wins this race by like
3-4 lengths, he might be the favor of the British.
You might. Be right.
No, you got this race has been a good indicator of older, maybe
not Derby, but older horse success.
All right. So let's at least go with that.
So who's our next superstar that's in this field right here?
Barry, We'll let you go first. Well, The thing is.
He got locked and you see those two big buyer numbers, the third
graph numbers. And my question is when I look
at these things is how better can this horse get than what
we've already seen? She ran a or he ran a 96 buyer
and I know people like to gripe about those things, but.
Honestly, how you really think that this horse can get better
than that? And not saying that that would
win this race. So 96 would definitely win this
race, no question. But the the question is do you
think locked can do it again And I'm going to side with no, not
from this post position. These these two year olds are
erratic. They they do a lot of things,
you know, in races for no reason.
I mean, look at Locke's first race was nowhere to be found for
80% of that race and loss to a horse who in this race is 12 to
one on the morning line. So I I mean, I I'd like horses
to be superstars, but at the same time I like to beat them.
And then I think this is a really good opportunity to beat
a horse like Locked. Because, you know, if you think
that this horse can regress and still win, have at it.
But I'm not going to do that with a short price myself
personally I I kind of thought Timberlake married a long look
off of that hopeful you know made the jump out of made and
special weight into grade one company pretty easily and and
and ran very, very well. And I I think there's just a lot
of upside there. Brad Cox does excellent with
these types. He's holding a great hand here
with the two and the three. It's it's hard to get around
those two. And then I I kind of like W
Saratoga a little bit, Yeah, that that race proves.
Something I need one on West Saratoga.
Right now I know you know you know since this horse has has
stretched out to a mile has been been pretty good and I don't
think that this is the horse's ceiling.
So there's there's potential to to kind of jump up with with the
speed figures and everything. So I I'll throw that one in,
especially if we get anywhere near 21 which I don't think will
happen but. In case it does, I'm definitely
gonna have that one on my radar. I think the case for West
Saratoga is pretty simple is that it's a 2 year old race.
Barry's right. Some of these sources just
they're like, oh, the gates open.
I'm gonna run as fast as I flip and can, right?
And they just try to figure it out if that happens.
W Saratoga is an exaggerator, man.
He runs like his dad. He's he's comfortable.
He finished second in this race. Exaggerated.
Yeah, he's there. Larry Demmer, It's a small
outfit, but the guy knows what he's doing.
I mean, so no, that Price Robert Corrales in Kentucky, man,
that's a that's something you can lean on.
He's really good here. And so I frankly, I expect W
Saratoga to hit the board in this race, cuz he's going to
pick up the pieces of whatever is left over.
So I don't think that's a crazy thing if you won the race here.
I'm with Barry there. I don't think it catches anybody
off guard. I do have locked on top.
I won't lie. I actually like that he got
better when they went to that mile at Saratoga.
When they gave him a little bit more distance, he actually
looked more comfortable running Gun runner.
Who knows, he might actually be better as a four year old, but
we'll see. But the breeding doesn't suck
for sure. And then, you know, I, you know,
I agree with Barry about about Timberlake and awesome Rd.
I think another one to look at is the one the Wine steward here
has only been running in shorter races.
But Mike Maker does a good job going sprints around does a good
job with two year olds as well And so interested to see you
know if that's a horse that can wait and be patient and and pick
off pieces like he has before. But that horse is willing to get
a little bit of dirt in his face.
Run 4th or 5th on a race and then pick up the pieces at the
end like I mentioned is the wine steward the horse that picks us
up at the end by the way son of Vino Rosso.
And so you know that's that's one that's interesting.
Again, the short stretch there, so I I do like awesome Rd. as
well with Lobby and Pratt because of that shorter, you
know, sort of a stretch that they have to run there as well.
All right. We mentioned the race that was
Dan one and this is a race that was Dan one twice the cool more
turf mile stakes, a mile on the turf $1 million purse here for
three-year olds and up. Louie, who did you have here?
So like Barry feels about Wicked Halo.
I feel about Master of the Seas and I just, I yeah, no.
Like he reminds me a lot, frankly, of Oh my God, why am I
forgetting who won the Woodbine Mile last year and then won the
Turf Mile in the Breedest Cup? Oh my God, why am I doing?
This Modern games. Thank you.
My God. I did a podcast right before
this and remembered modern games.
This name it didn't remember for this one because I'm an old man.
How about that? And so he reminds me a lot of
modern games, man. Just smooth as silk.
Navigates crowds. Doesn't seem to be bothered.
Look, Charlie Appleby, all the things make sense.
I would definitely have him on top up to the markers in this
race. The Five horse 5 to 2.
Todd Fletcher wins the Manhattan before that wins the turf
classic at Churchill. That form travels.
So that horse is going to have something to say as well.
He's 5:00 to 2:00, so you know I'm not telling you anything.
You don't know the horse, man. Mad at this horse.
Screwed me. Screwed me in the millions.
Set piece comes from last. We didn't know he could do that.
I assumed he couldn't even down at the corner because he never
ran it and then suddenly he's out there running a mile in a
corner and my voice went up for no reason.
All right. So I don't know what that piece
is going to do. So I think you got to throw them
in because the horse is capable of navigating traffic and be
really excellent. He and four Hours Drew have a
great thing going. I bothers me a lot 1 longer play
here I got one for you Greg Foley has the number 3 stitched
in here. Looked really good in that mid
million at Kentucky Downs if if that I think we'll know early in
the card if that Kentucky Downs form is translating to Keeneland
I do. I think we'll know early on if
it does, that number at 15 to one becomes very playable with
Brian. Renege Barry Any love for
Annapolis? Last year's winner?
Yes, I do. I I I like that horse here.
I don't think anybody in this Earth could beat Master the
Seas, but Annapolis could definitely finish second.
Master C's was just way too good up at Wood Body.
I mean, he hardly broke a sweat and beat Cheryl Spite who was
literally all out. I I know that one was coming off
a layoff, but still, I mean if you watch that replay, it was
just way too easy and and honestly this field might not be
as good as that one top to bottom.
So you know, I I think Master C's is is a is a mortal cinch
here, but I do like Annapolis to bounce back.
Off of that Kentucky Downs effort the the track at Kentucky
Downs the inside was the best part of the the the track to to
run on every day. They they raced at Kentucky
Downs this year and this one got caught way out wide and made a
run and and kind of flattened out you know.
So I I would definitely give Annapolis another shot.
Probably get a decent price on them too.
All right. He's Barry Spears, the Urban
handicapper. Barry, thank you for joining us
on another edition of the Horse Racing Happy Hour.
You become obviously one of our favorite guests and we look
forward to you stay in Louise Base in the spring.
Yeah, yeah, it's gonna be fun. And Dan ISIL says hi man.
That's my guy. I know.
Yeah, I was like, hey, we're gonna have, we're gonna have.
Was he? Shirtless the other day too.
Happy birthday. He didn't.
He didn't get on. Thank you very much.
Happy birthday by the way. Yeah, I know you guys are
nipples out, I just couldn't do it myself.
But. I'm gonna tell I'm gonna say
something that Louie's not gonna like.
I think. I think that was probably my
last one, doing it like that. OK, I think it's done.
I mean not for me, but whatever I think.
It's played out. I think it's played out at this
point. All right.
Well, it's all was a peak that we will never reach again. 100%
That's the problem. Maybe that's it, yeah.
I could have been. Went too good, Too good on the
first one. Let's just get, like, three
female handicappers for next year's show.
All right. Anything else from you Louie,
before we head out? No I don't think so Barry thanks
for jumping on man. And I'm just we're getting into
that stretch of horse racing that makes me very happy but
very sad because I know the end of the year is coming and then
we're going to be at Turquoise Aqueduct but like, but no just
the just the the month leading up the Breeders Cup.
I My energy is is my my cup runneth over Michael, so I'm
excited. He's making our travel plans.
He's all excited. So yeah, he's got, he's got
stretch limited, You got the road trip hats, man.
We're ready to go. Things are.
Yeah. So, all right, well, we're going
to pay the tab. We're going to get out of here,
make sure you go get your gold book and we'll talk to you
later.
