Kentucky Derby 151 Week | Kenny Rice

We have our first guest on the show already, and he's ready to

go, so we don't want to make him wait at all.

He is the son of Kentucky. His name is Kenny Rice.

He joins us here. Otterbeau, go on ESPN 680 at

1057. Kenny, good morning.

Thanks so much for jumping on. Hey look good to be with you

man. Hope it's all good.

Happy Oaks Day. Oaks Day indeed, Kenny.

Man, you've been up here before you had to chase down big IS to

do that, man. When was the first time you

really got to hang out with Dan IS?

I'd say the first time I met, well, I met Dan probably when I

started working local TV and Lexington back about 81 or two.

I was a big fan. I watched him play all through

his collegiate career at Kentucky, and then I used to

come to Louisville and watch him play for the Cardinals.

I love the A/B AI, still do. I miss it in many ways.

But anyway, I one of my favorite Dan moments working for ESPN at

that time in 1980, in 1984, we were doing like a day at the

Derby. It was an all day show.

The late, wonderful Greg Gumbel was hosting it.

And anyway, you know, it was like a grab.

His grab can do. Can you get somebody?

So I asked Dan if he would come on this and do an interview and

then being Dan's did come down, he walked down like 3 flights of

stairs to. Come to the little.

Paddocks in that little 14 horse paddock they used to have and

and do an interview for me and, you know, I don't know of

anybody else that would have done that.

So I love Dan Issel. Big fan?

In many ways, yeah. Kenny Rice with us from NBC.

Hey, the Triple Crown season every year.

You know, I get to run into you in Baltimore every year it seems

like, you know, the Derby itself though, and just the hoopla

around it. Kelly Francoise with me

alongside. By the way, this is her first

time at the Derby. She was kind of caught off guard

about the serious nature of the backside when we were back

there. It's so, so different from

Piblico. What's your experience sort of

been like this we talking with people?

Do you set some more serious nature on this Derby or do you

think people it's kind of the normal, the normal way of going?

Well, you know, I think it's what's a little different this

year is like there's. There's not that.

Buzz, you know, there's always that wise guy horse.

I really haven't heard a whole lot about that.

Hey, you know, keep an eye on this guy.

He's 25 to 1. I haven't heard that that much.

And I think it's been, you know, fairly routine, obviously,

except for the for the late scratches of Rodriguez yesterday

and Grande this morning. You know, things have gone

fairly normal over there, which I guess is kind of a good thing.

But yeah, it's not the, it's not the wonderful party atmosphere

that you would expect. Maybe Kelly, if you've never

been there before. Well, Kenny, I think the thing

too is, is that I came in first on Saturday and Sunday and that

was, it was a bit more quiet than, you know, once things

started. And then I came back on Tuesday

and it was very, it was a bit different.

It was a little bit more lively. There was a little bit more

going on. So I got, I feel like I got my

proper normal Derby, not as you say, buzz, but a little bit.

What what's under, what's under, what's just a tick under buzz.

You were whelmed. There we go.

There we have it. But yeah, Kenny Rice with us

from NBC. We'll have his colleague Steve

Kardaki today at 12:30. If you're hanging around with

us, our odd till 1:00 here at ESP at 680 at 1057.

Couple cool storylines today, Kenny.

I'm sure you're looking forward to as well.

And something really great that's happened for our sport

this year is the return of so many 4 year old two turn dirt

males. We'll see fierceness back today.

He'll go up against stablemate locked in the alley.

Sheba. What a great thing for our sport

that these guys are back. And who do you expect to do?

You think fierceness will be his old self today?

I think he will, but I kind of leaned a little bit to Lock.

I think I'll give Lock a slight edge.

I kind of feel for Todd Fletcher in this.

Imagine it's like you coach, you coach 2 outstanding teams.

Now they have to play each other and you're running from sideline

to sideline. So, you know, that's what he's

got to do with. I'm sure it's a situation he

would prefer not to be in at this moment.

But yeah, I think, I think locked is, is it's done a little

bit more. Well, I'm just, I'm just

curious. I think everybody's curious

how's, how's Pierce is going to do?

And so until then, I've got to go with the lock for just giving

him a little nudge on that. Yeah, we saw locked show up real

big after the ship out for the big cap there at Santa Anita.

Of course, comes back in looks great coming into this one on

the on paper at least and certainly on the on the track in

the mornings in the next race in the LA Troy and Kenny we get we

get Thorpedo Anna's return here to Churchill Downs, obviously a

dominant win in the Oaks last year before just an incredible

year throughout. Almost picks off the traverse as

part of it. You know, with her coming back,

she's already run twice. Let's talk about another

Kentucky guy though, Kenny Mcpeak making this horse

available. You know, I got to watch her

just parade a little on Clark Day here in November.

You know, he made her available up at Saratoga as well.

What a great year for Kenny though.

Yeah, you know, and, and, and a guy that's very deserving, you

know, I mean, I've known Kenny alone.

I knew Kenny before he was a trainer and you know, he's done

so much and, and you know a guy that it's one of already won a

Preakness and A and a Belmont. But as you know, when you win

the Kentucky Derby, you know, I don't think Charlie Whittingham

was the originator of it, but he used to tell me the story, you

know, being on an airplane and and the guy besides there, what

do you do? He said, I'm a I'm a horse

trainer. He said, you ever won the

Kentucky Derby? He said no.

He said, then you're no horse trainer.

So, you know, that was that was the old Charlie Whittingham

joke. I'm sure he told thousands of

people, but that was before he he won with Ferdinand.

But that gets back to Kenny. I think he really got the

national attention he deserved. He's certainly recognized by his

peers. I can't believe he wasn't voted

into the Hall of Fame this year at his first ballot.

But you know, that's the way it goes.

He will get there, certainly. And what you said, he's a great

horseman. You know, look at that.

No hesitation. He said he was going to bring

her back last year right after the Breeders Cup.

There was no hesitation. I was out for the I was out for

the Derby, for the Arkansas Derby.

And here they parade her out at Oaklawn in front of the crowd.

You know, just to let him just to let him get a, you know, some

pictures and video and, you know, it's that kind of thing

that racing needs is to kind of pump up the interest.

Because as you know, it's, you know, there's there's spots

where it's kind of interesting. I don't know.

Kelly, are you very interested in horse racing?

I'm I'm so enthusiastic and interested about the fact that

Kenny they, the connection said, have had all the opportunity to

take her to the breeding shed and you know, and that because

that's the normality of what happens with champions like her,

especially in the two and three-year old seasons.

So when we're talking about not only the four year old, but as

you mentioned, when she's offseason and just bringing her

in for a little photo shoot with her fans, that to me says

everything about Kenny and we talk.

We also talk about the fact that his work on the Netflix show, it

was fantastic, and that just essentially quantifies who Kenny

Mcpeak is. He's great for our sport.

Yeah, he, he really is. He's one of the great

ambassadors. And, you know, I mean, I think

he's one of the look, there really aren't too many bad guys.

I got to be honest. And you know I.

Mean like another good guys, Michael McCarthy always

accommodating and you know, he's got journalism.

I think the best horse in the Derby and you know, guys like

that, it's hard. You know you want to be unbiased

as you're covering it, but then again, you're kind of happy for

it when the result ends the way it does.

Chad bronze got two in the lot Troy and and randomized and

raging C raging CA Grade 1 winner last year in the personal

ends and we saw random randomized when that Ogden

fifths. You think any of those two can

push torpedo and today? Well, you know, when Chad shows

up, I think you always have to pay attention and and certainly

you've got to watch the watch his duo.

I think they'll make it interesting for her.

But I do think that right now she's, she's just the best out

there, regardless of gender and age.

I think she's the best out there.

Yeah, I, I wouldn't, you know, I couldn't bet against her, but I

certainly would put Browns in the in the mix with her in, in,

in, in wagering. Kenny Mcpeak with us from NBC.

What's your, you know, Oaks? We'll get into that in just a

second. What are you doing today?

Where? Where can people find you today?

On the USA Network from 1:00 to 6:00 today, it'd be Oaks

coverage all day. But of course we're also going

to be, I'm going to interview Todd Fletcher, of course, about

the locks and, and, and fierceness.

And but then we're also going to talk a lot about the Derby.

We got a nice little story about Martine Garcia coming back,

getting back into the mix in a big way and now being back in

the Derby, first time in 10 years.

You know, some stories like that and, you know, and stories that

we think have a mass appeal. You know, that's the NBC way

because, you know, if I start, if we start saying, yeah, it

worked in 58 and two the other day.

For the vast majority of people out there, they're going, well,

why do I care? I don't know what that means.

Is that good or bad? And so, yeah, we.

And let's see, I'm interviewing Wayne Lucas, which just is

always a treat. I've actually paid to interview

Wayne Lucas, who's just a joy to talk to.

And you know what wisdom this guy has?

I mean, people shall just gather, just sit at his feet and

listen to him all day long, OK? And yeah.

You know, you're right. I think the thing that's

underrated in horse racing is, you know, in other sports we

talk in basketball, football, we talk about coaching trees.

No one talks about trainer trees in in horse racing.

And we should. A guy like Lucas, I mean his,

his stamp on the sport is undeniable.

It's incredible. And actually I'm talking to

Michael McCarthy tomorrow on the Derby show on NBC about that.

You know, we're going to have a little picture of Lucas Pletcher

and McCarthy and how, you know, it all branches off.

And I remember the year that Rumbauer won the Preakness.

I don't know if you remember this Louie, but I, I'm doing an

interview with those 3 and you know, we're kind of they're kind

of having some fun about who's going to win and all that.

And Michael said, I'm going to beat you both.

And everybody kind of had a chuckle.

And then he did, of course. And you know, that was just a

great TV moment. And like you said, Lucas, you

start Mike Maker, you'll go down the list.

I mean, I will miss somebody down.

I'll miss somebody if I keep talking about all the Lucas

trainees out there. Yeah.

In the excuse me in the Oaks today race 11, of course on our

card here is the 11 horse in good cheer.

Kenny. I got to say, I'm a little

surprised at at how how overlooked I feel Like

everyone's trying to beat this horse in this race and I can't

tell if it's just for a betting angle trying to get value, which

would be fine. I obviously can't argue with

that kind of angle. But are we underrating what

she's done so far in her career? A little bit.

You know, I think so. I think she's incredible.

And, you know, look at the hand she's in Brad Cox.

I mean, he's won this twice. You know, he's he just does, he

does well with so many, but you know, seems to bring the

Phillies along at the right time.

And, you know, I just think that she's the one to beat.

And I do think that after this race you'll give some more

attention and and be one of the top three-year olds out there,

not just one of the top three-year old Phillies after

this race. That's my prediction.

In that race as well, Cali is a horse in La Cara that we've been

watching work over and over. And I know this has been kind of

a theme for us the last couple of days, but she looks super

comfortable. You know, if we're talking about

right behind good cheer or maybe even able to just sneak out

ahead of her and get ahead. Is La Cara one of those

candidates? When we're talking about it from

a pay standpoint and you take a look, I wouldn't say that she's

just she's almost a touch aggressive in the mornings and

not she's she's aggressive and not in a way that scares me in

the sense where people could easily worry whether she's kind

of been too much in the mornings leading up into the big day.

And there's a touch of that that I saw in the mornings.

But she's going to be coming in sharp.

She's going to have to step it up with her gate speed.

Because I also think simply joking on the inside is going,

especially with the two posts is going to be making a pace

presence as well. So that's I have Lakara

underneath. It's just because she's so

aggressive and enthusiastic and she's going to be in that first

section of the race. The distance for me is where I

have just a little bit of a question, but that's OK.

Two weeks ago we heard Bill Mott say something very similar about

sovereignty. Oh, he, he was a little too keen

today, right. So they took it back a little

bit in the last work about 6 days ago.

But Kenny, as we get to Saturday and obviously the big one on

Saturday will be the Kentucky Derby.

My top pick scratched yesterday at Rodriguez.

So I'm, I'm kind of, I'm flustered, Kenny, that's what's

happening with me. I'm flustered.

You mentioned Citizen Bowl and Martin Garcia breaking from the

one with the new gate. Do you think the one is still

kind of just an impossibility for a horse like Citizen Bowl?

I don't think it is, but certainly it's, it's daunting.

I think it still is, you know, with the number of horses, but

I, I think with the, you know, the way Baffert trains his

horses and the way, you know, with Garcia being comfortable,

I, I don't think he's going to get pinched back.

I think he's going to be in a decent position.

And I do think the new gate will help some.

I don't think it's as bad as it was.

So I, I think there's some hope, but it's outside hope.

And by the way, Kelly, I think you nailed the exacta in the

Elks, by the way. That's not here's a that's not

that's not even my full exacta. Just since.

We're on this let give me give me 10 seconds on the subject of

conversation of the Oaks. We have so good cheer obvious

obvious choice right as as you So what beautifully discussed

Kenny Lakara, who I think is going to be well underneath.

I actually have her in 3rd or 4th simply joking.

It's going to be 11. The two simply joking.

I give you a price of a 30 to 1 morning line on Drexel Hill.

The other Whit Beckman runner, this one, if you to put it as

short as I can, this Philly operates in the mind as an older

horse. She stumbled out of the gate.

She was well on the backside in New York.

That was her taking care of herself and the way she went in

between horses and that finished near the wire, ears pricked.

This is a true professional. We're going to see a wonderful

performance out of her if she's not going to be able to get up

to that speed. But keep an eye on this one,

even beyond the oak she's going to have.

If they if the connections keep her running, this one is

certainly one to watch. I'm right.

I've written everything down. I love that.

I really do, Kenny. Rice So that's from NBC.

Let's get into your Derby selections and those kinds of

things. Potential for a lot of wet

weather tomorrow and those kinds of things.

Does that change how Kenny Rice looks at Derby?

Well, you know, if you look at Luxor Cafe should have an edge.

I think he's been on the wet surface more.

But going back to the the late to the logic of Wayne Lucas, I

think 30 some years ago or so at a Derby, he was telling me

because the rain was coming, he said, you know, a horse has

never run on this wet surface or, OK, he's never won the but

you don't know that he can't. You know, that's the key.

I mean, he may take right to it. I've had horses that just hated

it and I've had horses that never ran on it that loved it.

So you never know on that. So with that, I think I kind of

always have a little caveat. Yeah, he's never run on a wet

surface. But I keep coming back to

journalism. I think he's such a pro and he's

done nothing wrong and I think Michael McCarthy is a terrific

trainer and has made every right move with him so far.

To me, it's hard to go against him.

Plus, you know, he's not going to be like a giant favorite.

I don't know what you probably going to go off, maybe what, 5

to 2 return? Most people like that on their.

Money. He's live 7 to 2 right now, so 7

to 2 is a is a nice number frankly, if you like him that

much. Yeah, so he's, you know, he's

taking a little bit of a step up.

You know, I, I like him. You know, I think a closer, the

speed's going to be out there enough.

You make your citizen bulls got to get out and push it.

E Avenue is going to push it out there early.

I think it it sets up for a decent closer.

I think Sandman is going to be the closer.

I believe he's going to get second.

And then my, I guess a long shot of it because there's there's

several horses out there in double figures is his tastic.

You know, he's not getting a lot of interest for a horse that won

a major prep in the Louisiana Derby and has a has a great

trainer, Steve Asmussen, arguably the greatest trainer to

never win the Derby yet he and Chad Brown.

So, you know, I think that's, you know, his tastic is is kind

of an overlooked horse in the mix out here.

But I can't get around the chalk.

I I keep coming back to it. And if I'd done the chalk in my

NCAA tournament pool, I would have won.

I think it's too many upset, you know?

Well, Kenny, you, you mentioned Steve Asmussen and you and I

both know Steve. We know him as a very stoic

sort. Correct.

This week he's had a he's had a boy has had a pep in his steps.

He's had he's had a little bit of a giggle in his smile.

He is very enthusiastic about both of his runners.

You have to pay attention to that when you're talking about

to, you know, Steve Asmussen, Kentucky Derby, how his demeanor

is. It's very enlightening as well.

And if you wanted to touch on Luxor Cafe, I have a tip for you

that you can use later on in your shows if this horse is

coming at a nice price. Marrera was the last, he wrote

him last so, but prior to that, Rachel King was supposed to ride

him in the Derby and she was afraid of Marrera getting on him

because she said if he got on him, he would cancel all of his

because he told, he told, he told the owners and the

connections that he's booked all of Monday in or May in Japan and

he wouldn't be able to do the Derby.

He'd be able to ride the horse, but he wouldn't be able to do

the Derby. He got on this horse.

He canceled everything that he had over in Japan, making all of

that money to come over and ride this horse in the Kentucky

Derby. Oh, that's a good story.

All for you, Kenny. Hey, I'm I'm, I'm going to, I, I

try not to ever plagiarize, but you have publicly given me

permission. That's the thing, I trust me, I

I understand the game, which is exactly why I did it on public

air. That's right.

There you go, Kelly Pritzl alongside me, Lou, your bow

here, tracks three of us have. Been, I guarantee the three of

us have said something in the past where somebody else has

used it and they said, hey, that was really clever.

How'd you come up with Oh, this is something I thought about?

Yeah, just something I thought about his life.

At least get your eyes. Hey, Kenny, really appreciate

you jumping on. We'll talk to ISIL tomorrow.

I'll give him a hard time, don't worry, but have a great

broadcast today buddy, and happy Derby.

Thank you. And Dan Issel, the greatest

player to ever play for the Baltimore Claws.

And. And I'll tell you what he he

really is one of he's one of the all time great players and

nobody had a better head fake and could shoot like a big man

than than big Dan. So thank you, Louis.

Thank you, Kelly. It's been a pleasure.

All right there. You go.

Eddie Rice, NBC. Go catch him on USA TODAY 1:00

start for them. That's by the way, why we're off

the air at 1:00. How about that?

We'll come back right after this break.

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certainly from around the barns this past week as well.

We'll start talking races when we come back.