SoCal Saturday 5/10/25 | Santa Anita

All right, you know what time it is.

It's Friday. It's time to preview Saturday.

That's So Cal Saturday with us here presented by AM wager.

His name is Barry. I'm Louis hanging out with you

for 9 race card today. We'll go through the entire

thing here If you're new to the program.

Hey, thanks for jumping in with us out of Friday.

We are previewing tomorrow's card out at Santa Anita.

So if you are in need of some handicapping advice or just want

to have a conversation with us, you are certainly welcome to

join us here. Barry.

Good Friday to you my friend. How are you?

Hanging in there, you know, long week, ready to enjoy the weekend

in this Socal. Saturday, Little Socal Saturday

here, of course, will be on the sporting tribunes socials and

other YouTube. Of course you can find us at

horse happy hour on the socials Berry's at the urban handicapper

and I'm at radio Louie as well. So we'll go through the card now

out there at San Anita. Always want to remind you,

though, about our presenting sponsor in AM wager get the am

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just in time for tomorrow's card in Santa Anita.

Maybe just in time as well for the Preakness Stakes itself.

Sitting in my backyard in Louisville, KY, I am Lou your

beau hanging out with the Florida bound Barry Spears.

All right, man, let's get after it here straight away into it.

It is race one out there at Santa Anita Park tomorrow And

and Barry, frankly, let's let's kind of set up what this card

is. The siren lures going to be in

the middle here. Turf spakes frankly feels like a

high level allowance. This is essentially if you

wanted to try to hit some long shots and hit some horses in a

nickel climber or something like that, this might be the card for

you. Yeah, absolutely.

You know, they're really competitive races.

They're just not the the best horses on the grounds.

That's you know what, that's the best way to put it.

As far as wagering, though, for those of us who just care about

prices, this is a solid card. Third $3000 climber for non 3

lifers opens the card. We're going a mile on the turf

course there, $32,000 in the prize pool here, Barry, and

interested to see where you landed because I know you landed

on a horse that I did not land on at all.

Yeah, I landed on #4 Port Ellen. This horse's body of work is

very competitive in this spot. And I think this horse is a

little bit versatile because if the pace ends up being slow,

this horse can be on the lead or really close to it or sit right

off it. I think that versatility will go

a long way against this group. You know, I'm, I'm a little

afraid of what the one Monjica can do, especially on the front

end. But I'm going to gamble against

that horse, you know, just kind of running off here.

And I think Port Ellen's probably going to get the right

trip. I asked Mon Chica to go to a

date with me, but she said no. It was a whole hell of a thing

back in the day. High school was a tough time for

me, Barry. I landed on the 6th.

Your second pick here in this, but in Adesia, the probable

favorite going to the gate here. Giovanni Franco had the ride

last time. We're switching Gonzales here.

We get off the hill. This is one that's going to be a

little bit off the pace here, Barry.

If this one could break even a little better than how it's been

breaking, I think it'll be just fine.

Does have a win at the distance. Two wins intend lifetime starts

on the turf course there as well.

Three times hitting the board and six runs at Santa Anita.

If we can get that form that we've seen before, maybe it's

October of 23, what have you. This is a horse that only ran

twice last year. Barry needed time off

essentially an entire year from November to November between 23

and 24. Second time up in this form

cycle. That's a major, major great

angle for Phil D'amato here. So I hate to eat chalk early,

but I do think the 6th Adessia has a serious shot here.

I know that's second in your handicapping.

Yeah, definitely looks formidable in this spot.

I, I just thought the price was going to be too low for me and

I, I looked elsewhere and I thought, you know, Port Ellen

might be a little bit better at least.

Maybe after the 6th, though, yeah, if we're trying to fill

out, say, a trifecta or a super effect to play, whatever it

might be. I know you have the three in the

third spot here. Nice price at 9:00 to 2:00.

Armando Ayuso gets the gets them out here.

Did most of the work last out? Did Annie's joy just got caught

at the end? You think she'll be a little bit

more fit here? Should be, but you know, this

horse's MO is kind of that speed and fade.

The third does it a lot. So I I, I wouldn't discount that

in in a race like this. Only one I think we haven't

talked about that I like it here is actually outside.

Look at me giving out the first long shot of the day. 12:50

here. Corporal Violet on the outside

coming out of 50, you know, starter allowance kind of

company gets back into a claimer here.

Last time this horse was in a claimer was at a 25 claimer.

So one level below this horse is in for 30 here under Aguilar

keeps them out here. I really like this horse in this

spot. I think this is a spot where

this horse can get a good trip is gonna sit just off of it or

frankly in this field, Barry might inherit the lead just by

default. And so, yeah, give me this one

here. Corporate Violet, The seven on

the outside. You like that pick?

Yeah, why not? I mean, stranger things have

happened and you know, again, these are lower level horses.

A lot of chaos can can really ensue.

The the the old Reinford Aguilar combination.

They're hitting the 25% recently at church, at church.

I'll let's say to Duda Park as as all of us.

That's the obvious jockey trainer combination we're all

looking for here on SoCal Saturdays.

Presented by Amwager. He's Berry.

I'm Louis. Thanks for hanging out with us

today on a Friday. It's a $5000 claimer for those

Northern California-based horses.

And frankly, Barry, I think when they announced this program at

the beginning, I was very skeptical.

But we have three races on this card that are filled because of

this program. It's actually turned out to be

pretty good for this, for frankly, for our cards and for

for betting purposes as well. Yeah, blessing in disguise.

These races have been really, really interesting and and good

to bet on. A lot of prices, a lot of lot of

crazy things happen. So as a better, you know, the

more chaos the better, at least for me.

Yeah, we're probably not seeing any Derby hopefuls in these

races, but the second race is a $5000 climber going 5 1/2 on the

dirt course there. 14,000 in the Kitty here.

I landed on a very boring pick here, Barry, in Bronco Nagurski.

And this isn't a based on past performances on the dirt kind of

pick. I just think this happens to be

the best horse in the field. Has been running on turf the

last three times out wasn't wasn't good, wasn't great.

Last time this horse was going a mile on the dirt course.

I think shortening up the distance here, going from turf

to dirt with Steviati, the trainer does at 18% in recent

sample size, pretty decent one at 19 or 39 total runs.

I just think at at some point Tyler Bay's etcetera, the

connections here. This is just the best horse in

this field. Where did you land on top in

Race 2 at Sanity? Yeah I ended up on the One fast

service. I kind of believe that this

horse is probably has the least knocks of anybody in this field

you know from where this horse won.

So this horse won in February, March 9th at Santa Anita in a in

a similar main event for 8000 stepped up into this kind of

condition going long and and didn't run all that badly.

I think this distance suits this horse a lot better and and I I

expect a way better performance for the three.

I I kind of took the skeptical angle of why is this horse in

this race kind of thing. And I, I wasn't really too sure.

I mean, I, I I'm honestly not too sure what the price is going

to be on that horse either. Yeah, right.

You and I landed on three completely different horses in

our handicapping. Are we right, Barry?

Is this a spread kind of race if you're playing an early part of

the sequence? Yeah, I would think so.

I mean, you could get horses that could fire others that

won't, you know, these are really inconsistent horses.

So I I would tend to think staying away from from chalk

would probably be the best thing, and then maybe even

throwing a couple down field. Yeah, I've got Uplift in my

second spot here, Barry, and it's based on a Maiden 8 2 back

and that was the horse's 14th lifetime start.

I mean, like, whatever, right? I mean, we got Bautista, who's

going to be a bug boy here. I mean, I just, I don't know.

I I think that horse has as much a shot as, say, big bet in the

five here coming out of an optional claimer.

That horse has been up the track one win and 12 lifetime starts.

I mean, we're just dealing with such a difficult level of horse

to really get our hands around here.

I have the two in the third spot in Doris Ave., and not because

my grandmother's name was Doris, but rather because I see that

form from that maiden win up at Fresno, going 5 1/2 in the

maiden 25 ranks. Can that horse run back that

kind of effort in here? Maybe, I don't know.

It hasn't done it at LaSalle. Maybe it'll be Santa Anita.

That's better for this horse. But yeah, just a tough, tough

spot to be in here. Barry, I know in your third spot

you have the seven horse on the outside.

I think that's actually one of the more logical ones here.

Yeah, probably will get a a decent trip from the outside.

But you know, again, this horse was in and out of form and

appears to be sort of out of form but could bounce back.

And and that I think that's what the hope of everyone in this

race is, to see their horses kind of bounce back and and win

one or, or really run well. So they know what they have.

But this is this is quite a tough race.

I, you know our guy JD Fox, who we appreciate much more than

Andrew Champagne. Let's be very clear about that.

You had to program today's show to go a head to head against the

Assiniboia Downs 2025 meet press conference and make me

multitask. Listen, I do nothing except make

inconveniences for people. That's what I do with my life.

We'll move on to race.threepresentedbyamwager@amwager.com.

This is moving on along a $50,000 starter allowance here.

6 furlongs on the dirt there, 22,000 in the prize pool here.

And again, this this for those Northern California runners.

And we see some in this spot, Barry, that have actual running

lines that we could sort of follow a little bit easier to

handicap, I think, in this spot. Where did you land in in race

three? I still think some really

legitimate prices here. Yeah, I landed on #2 Jaguar

John. Really the only thing is this

horse doesn't have any knocks on him.

That first out effort at this level was very good.

Speed wise is very competitive. It was a fast enough race to

compete in this race. And you know, I'm not really

enthused about anybody else lead Pipe Joe is OK, but we haven't

seen that one in a little bit, so I don't, I don't know.

I, I it's worth a shot, you know, go with the horse that

really hasn't done anything wrong.

Right, yeah, I got the two and the five on top.

I'm a flip from you 5/2. I do think lead Pipe Joe,

probably the best horse in here, does have a win by a bunch at

the maiden 8. Excuse me at the maiden 32

level. This one for me too.

Andy Mathis off the claim here, you tends to be very good.

He's excellent. A couple of months off here.

So this horse raced last at the beginning of March, obviously a

2 month layoff here and he hits at 31% in those.

Kyle Frey gets them out here as well.

And so the two of them solid, solid three of their last 15 at

Santa Anita as well at 20%. And so I'm I'm hopeful Barry

that will get that kind of performance from him.

But I agree, Jaguar John, I love a second time starter sort of in

general, whether they win on debut or it's their second time

running in a maiden race. This one did nothing wrong at

all at Santa Anita. I know it was in that restricted

company. It was at that $8000 kind of

level. And I also know they I want to

quote this is a $50,000 starter allowance, but let's be very

clear about this. Very few horses in this race

have really been in for that kind of tag and one at that sort

of level. I think the one in Mr. Machu

Picchu with that state bred maiden special win, probably the

best win in this field. You give him much of a shot, the

one from the rail. Not really I I mean this horse

has had a bunch of opportunities to win races and just couldn't

close the door. But drawing the rail isn't the

best thing in the world either. With a lot of speed in here, I I

think that horse is up against it personally.

I have him third in my handicapping after the two of

the five. You have the seven for a minor

placing here in Clements Ride. What do you like about Clements

Ride? The last race in particular,

even though it was at a lower level than this, technically it

was a pretty decent race. Stacks up well against this

competition and you know, not not really a bad race.

It's interesting too, this one. And you and you saw it, John

Sadler move that horse straight to a nickel claimer, not in a

maiden field at all, right? So that horse actually won

against winners to break its maiden, which is a very, very

interesting sort of scenario for that.

But yeah, this is to me, you know, one for one at Santa Anita

seemed to like the track last time.

I think those 2246 kind of splits finishing up at 1:12.

I think that's a winning kind of time.

So I don't I don't hate the seven in this spot as 1/3 option

for sure. Barry Spears Luger bow hanging

out with you Horse racing happy hour AM wager presenting our

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get in with them right now. Race 4 is a $16,000 claimer.

This is for three-year old Phillies and Phillies and mares

4 and up, which have never won two races.

Pretty straightforward 1 here going a mile on the dirt course

here. Barry, I'll let you go first

here. I went very, very short in this

spot. We both like a longer shot in

here. Yeah, I went with the one

memosis. Jeff Bondi likes to do this

maneuver, you know, almost like the two or three sprints and

then stretch out. And I think this horse will

appreciate the stretch out. Getting Kimura is also a plus.

He he's riding very, very well at Santa Anita in general.

And there's really not much in here.

I mean, San and C has has had a lot of shot, you know, a lot of

chances to to get out of this condition and hasn't Queen

Gervin really, you know, has probably bred the part but

hasn't really run the part. So a lot of underachievers in

this race and, and this one isn't a complete underachiever

yet. We both left Santa C out of our

handicapping the two in this spot and I'm interested as to

why you did that. But rather for me, I've just

seen this horse try this distance and it hasn't worked in

a very, very long time and over a year frankly, for this one to

get in there. I'm also turned off by horses

that, you know, 14 lifetime runs has finished in second or third

seven times. To me that's just a horse that

doesn't want to win, doesn't want to be on the lead.

I'm like you. I think Mimosas here, the one

horse offers a a fair amount of value in that spot.

I went with Nala in my second spot here.

The five, I think if I were playing a longer sequence, this

is all I would use. And this is a horse that did win

at the $5000 allowance or $50,000 allowance level at Santa

Anita, going 5 1/2 before under Aceo Espinosa.

We go to Edwin Maldonado here. I think that's a good move.

The horse was pretty good last time out, actually at the 16

level, finishing fourth, but only by two lengths under Billy

Anti Georgie. And so I do think there's a

chance here for the Five to pick up some pieces as well.

You have the Three in your handicapping second.

What do you like about Princess Daddy?

That last race was really good on the drop and I think this

seems. To be her level.

Yeah, and I think they mistimed it.

I, I think the, the job just didn't get her involved early

enough. And, and I would expect that to

happen this time. Second time at the level is a

really, really good angle. And the trainer, Hector Palmer's

almost 30%, you know, second off a a layoff like this.

So I think this horse is probably going to run big.

The only reason I didn't put her on top was running style.

OK, fair enough. The star of the show will be

Race 5. It is the Siren Lure Stakes.

We are sprinting on the turf and we are on the flat.

So of course for this one going 6 prolongs, it's for four and up

here, $100,000 in the pool for this one, Barry.

Shorter field of 6 here. So let's go kind of horse by

horse through this one. You and I landed largely on

different horses in here. We agree on the four being in

our top 2 spots. That's Bran.

So let's start with Bran. 9 to five Favorite here Umberto

Rispoli picks up the mount. This horse was last seen in July

of 2024 going a mile at Del Mar. Before that in the NDD, down the

hill in a grade 2 at Santa Anita.

Before that in the Green Fish Handicap, up the track a little

bit at Del Mar. Why is this one nine to five and

why is this one so high up in our collective rankings?

I have this horse on top. Bran has all the speed.

I I mean, can be where wherever they want to be and that that's

always a a dangerous weapon in any kind of race.

I personally don't really think that this horse likes the

regular, you know, 6 on the flat.

I I mean, even the turf Sprint that this horse won at Kentucky

Downs, it was at Kentucky Downs, which is an undulating course.

You know, it's probably the opposite of the downhill course,

but it's still not the flat. And the horse ran A5 furlong

flat race in the general flash. It was a tough race in general

and was kind of hung out wide. But you know, it just feels like

this horse really doesn't want this trip, and it may be that

bigger and better things are on the horizon for that one.

One that is not getting to come down the hill, but probably

would like to is Lovesick Blues on the outside.

The six horse here. Barry, your top pick.

Why did you make this one your top selection?

I think this was going to get a great trip has the speed to to

win a race like this. I, I, you know, just by the way

the horses should come out of the gate.

Lovesick Blues should should get a great stalking trip right

behind the speed and and you know, it's just a matter of that

horse being good enough to finish everybody off.

But these horses are really kind of similar other than Brand.

Brand has been running in better races for sure, but just hasn't

been out since July. But everybody else is kind of

the same as far as speed figures, so it might turn into

sort of a rider's race. The three horse Air Force Red

comes in probable favorite here. Did win the San Simeon under

Armando Ayusa last out but hasn't won on the flat ground in

a turf race. It's going a mile and a 16th at

Del Mar in August of last year. Worthy favorite here, Air Force

Red. Obviously, you and I, in our

handicapping, disagree. Yeah, I guess so.

I, you know, I always felt that this horse liked it going

longer, which begs the question, why is this horse in this race?

I would have thought they would look for a spot down the hill

before they would do this, but I guess a steak and in between

times. So this kind of makes sense, but

I'm not buying it. I just don't think this really

wants a trip. Yeah, it's interesting to that

they took the time off after the Sansomi to run back in this one.

Now that's a good angle for Leonard Powell.

And I think this horse, you know, if if the speed figures

are right, this horse is amongst the fastest in the race.

And we've also seen this horse while going a mile, do all of

the work up front under Juan Hernandez.

The switch to Armando, though, is a different sort of animal.

And I do think that this one's just gonna want to go in this

spot. So Air Force Red if it can get

the lead and keep the lead. The seven-year old Ridgeling son

of Air Force Blue, why not could pick off this race.

I have noble reflection in my second spot, the one horse in

here for Antonio Freisu and Lubrado Barracio.

And this one comes out of hear me out, a $40,000 claim for a

red second over the six furlongs at Santa Anita.

But at before that man has always just kind of been right

there, Barry. And if this is one of those

spots where Antonio happens to get this horse through the wire,

through the line 1st, I'm going to feel really, really dumb.

This horse has run in some pretty big spots as well.

I know the win loss record is not great, but five wins in a

career is amongst the best in this field.

So I put noble reflection in that second spot in this field.

You also have, I think we've gone through all of yours.

What do you think, for example, of the two horse final boss?

Do you give that one much of a chance?

That's Sadler and Hernandez, obviously a really good

combination out of San Anita. I mean, the only way I I think

that horse could win is if the one just doesn't break and and

final boss kind of shakes loose on the lead.

And I don't really think that that's too likely because Air

Force red is super fast as well. So there there should be plenty

of pace up front. Final boss, a daughter or excuse

me, a son of American Pharaoh, 4 year old, a $450,000 purchase at

the Keenless September sale in 2022.

Ion Ride, the only horse we haven't talked about in this

spot, is also entered to run on Sunday, has been running it a

mile and has been doing the closing in most of those races.

Do you think we could get back to the October performance under

Victor Espinosa where this one yes, went a mile in an eighth,

but did it in a stalking kind of way?

These horses are always tricky for me when they're running

steady mile, mile a mile, mile races and then they, you know,

go to a six furlong race, especially on the grass, because

the pace is, is just a different sort of thing than on the dirt.

And horses can kind of change running styles a lot easier on

the turf than they can on the dirt and, and take to it.

So a horse like Iron Rye, if that horse gets too far up in

the odds, you have to take a second look.

We need to come up with a name for this, Barry.

But in Race 6, you and I have the same horse on top.

And I don't know the best thing for us to call this on this

show, but a couple weeks ago, oh gosh, was it Siever?

Was it Tom Siever that we both had on top at 5:00 to 1:00 and

that horse went ahead and won for whatever?

He just felt like it. We need to come up with whatever

that horse is, and I don't know if we need to be very creative

about it, frankly. Louis and Barry agree.

Something like that. I don't know, but you and I

landed on the same horse in Race 6.

It is a maiden special. It's on the dirt.

We're going to 6 1/2 at San Anita on that dirt course.

This is for maidens 3-4 and five years old.

A pair of Bafferts in here. We get a Mandela on the outside

that I think is very interesting.

Where did you end up landing? Because you and I landed on the

same horse. I was, I was really looking

forward to this race because I was so embarrassed by my non

hockey knowledge. I'm going to come back with it

this week. So we got penalty box #2 and if

the for the hockey heads, Jerry Cheevers, Rockingham's finest #4

yeah. So yeah, I know a little bit of

hockey, but would that be? The time in the Northeast.

But no. And you're in Florida.

Everybody loves hockey in Florida.

I don't like Florida anymore. Florida can go to hell.

How? About that I I landed on Sierra

Silver, the three out of the Baffert barn, four horses out of

that race. The goal oriented race came back

to win, including goal oriented really, really live race.

I can't foresee anybody being, you know, with the experience or

anything that can beat this horse in this race.

I saw Bob Baffert this morning, what a hell of a thing to say.

And he's really high on goal oriented.

Guess who was in that race with him was Sierra Silver.

So yes, I'm with you. I also have him on top three

horse here. I think the other Baffert is

interesting. The first timer in Southern

Gentleman, Holy Bob Effort would have this stat.

He's better with first timers than he is with second timers,

and so he gets the 1st timer in there.

Utter Drayton Van Dyke. This is one that's been working

really, really well. Barry out at Santa Anita, 59 and

Change 48 flat a minute flat, those kinds of works.

I think in this spot he makes a ton of sense.

Does Southern Gentleman a son of Mottoli?

It's unusual to see what I consider to be a mile or less A1

turn kind of siren Mottoli land with a horse in the Bob Baffert

barn, but I think at a 6 1/2 furlong kind of distance he

makes a ton of sense in here. Your second pick is the seven on

the outside. I mentioned Legal Air earlier

for Richard Mandela, who's also pretty good with first time

starters. You know, there's a chance that

this horse might be the best horse in this race eventually.

You know, there there's a lot of lot of pedigree there and I

noticed looking over the pedigree that there was a lot of

precociousness horses that one first second time out.

And then you look at this horse's workouts, a nice one on

April 24th. Mandela really doesn't work his

horses too, too quickly. So that seems to indicate that

this horse has some natural speed.

You know, honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if this horse won,

but just at on paper the three looks a lot better, but this

looks like a seriously cold 37 exacta.

It's a really interesting thing about Legal Air too, the workout

pattern that Mandela has set up. If you go back to April 10th,

we're going 3 furlongs. You go to April 17th, we go 4,

then April 24th, 5, May 1st, they go 6th and then May 8th.

Something you don't see in the form very often.

A 2 furlong time to work at 24 and two.

How about that? So obviously getting this one

ready to break as quickly as possible from the gate.

Make this one at least part of the early lead there.

This son of Nyquist, as you point out, a bunch of wriggly

bred horses in this one for sure.

And look, I I would win here for the 7 be surprising to be

absolutely not. I'm with you, Barry.

I think that's one that does stand out as the non baffert to

play in here, if you will, and so it should be interesting to

see him. Mandela's got something here and

you know that's a three-year old.

The Baffert, you know the Baffert number 3S silver is a

three-year old as well. So the gentleman a three-year

old. You never quite know what the

Baffert's what we might be seeing in in May that could turn

out to be a traverse horse or something like that by the time

we get to the. That's how Arrogate, Arrogate

did that, didn't he? He just came out of nowhere and

won the track. That's exciting.

I guess I'll go off at 12 to one and win by 12 lakes as well.

That's exactly right. That's a gate for you hanging

out Barry Spears. I am Lou Rabo again, am Wager

and am wager.com. Check them out right now.

That platform designed by horse players, 4 horse players speed

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We move on to race 7. Gosh, we're already in the late

pick 3 here. A great, great bet out there.

15% take out, three dollar minimum on the late pick 3.

Barry, I got to tell you though this, this $32,000 claimer, 6

furlongs on the turf for Philly's three.

And you know, Philly's the mayor's 3 and up essentially.

Buddy, I don't know how you could make this a skinny pick

three ticket. This would be a pretty expensive

ticket at the end of the card. Where'd you landed a race,

Simon? Yeah, this this race in

particular is a doozy. I ended up on the four petite

treat and you know, it seems like this horse has a little bit

of affinity for the San Anita course, which probably helps and

and seems to be improving. This horse did get laid off but

shows up in a in a realistic spot and Mike Pipee does good

with these kind of layoffs, about 30% or so.

And it's a real mystery this race, I mean, it could go a lot

of different ways. I know.

I just didn't want any part of the chalk on top.

Yeah, you and I landed on the same horse again here, so this

might be a cold 334. Race 6, Race 7.

Petite treat comes in five to one.

Daughter of Lord Nelson here, Candy ride on the damn side.

So the turf makes sense. This horse has run twice on dirt

to no avail. Has 1 twice on the turf though.

So we're 2 for three on the turf, 2 for three at the

distance. That's really what stood out to

me, a little bit of time off. Good news, Mike, piping, as you

mentioned, 26% on this kind of layoff as well.

So I think this one sets up really, really well.

At 5:00 to 1:00 I landed on the seven horse in second spot here

in Mucho Magical daughter, daughter, excuse me, of Mucho

Macho Man, of course, Mucho Macho Man top what horse name of

all time. It's way up there, right?

It's a good. Yeah, definitely.

Yeah, that's. Good, OK, just checking.

So that was our price play in this play was the five horse.

I will take that off the screen now at some point.

There we go and then put it back up 'cause I'm an idiot and then

we'll go up to the 7th. Mucho magical did break his

maiden last out at the maiden 20 level steps up a little bit

here, but I thought the time of that race.

Barry 2240 five 58112 is the kind of speed we should expect

in this spot as well. Kyle Frey keeps them out for

Alfredo Marquez and I think I think this is the kind of horse

that can win again. Marquez.

Not a great angle for him going back-to-back, but I I saw enough

last time, enough confidence from this horse passing 5 other

horses in that race to win. I saw enough from Bujo Magical

to throw that one of my tickets. Where did you land second?

I landed on the 1 Misty Muppet just on the the fact that this

horse back in September last year ran a pretty decent race 6

furlongs on the turf and and didn't get back on it.

There's a chance that this horse could have improved over that

time span getting back to the turf.

I like the workout on April 24th and you know, honestly, this is

this is almost a dart throw this race.

There's there's a bunch of horses that could win just this

is really tough. So I I threw that one in for a

second. Yeah you have the 9 on the

outside will be 9 to five favorite going to the game for

Carla Gaines. I just bury that one.

It is so it seems so comfortable just being mid pack with so many

other horses and I get it 3232 clamber here dropping into this

spot from the optional claiming ranks.

I, I just, we haven't seen much since that spreading win at Del

Mar back in September. And I, I don't know if this

horse needs time off or if it needs whatever, but I mean,

we're not seeing anything within about 3 1/2 four lengths of the

leaders by the time we get to the finish.

So I'm gonna try to beat the 9 here, but I, I, I Also, the dart

throw analogy is not a terrible way to talk about this race.

Yeah, I thought lovin on the run, you know, was kind of best

of the rest and and would pass horses late kind of runs the

same race every time and and doesn't win.

That's about right. Another Northern California

$5000 claimer, 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt for Race 8 here on the

cards Saturday at Santa Anita. Again, Louis Rabeau, Barry

Spears hanging out with you is presented by Amwager and

amwager.com. Go over and check our friends

out. Live in California, go check

them out right now. Beautiful website, easy to use.

You will really, really enjoy it.

My bucket list comes in here out of a good second place finish.

Antonio Garcia picks that one up off the claim here in the three

spot. You and I both have that horse

3rd and Barry, you have the six in Momo's kiddo coming in as

your top play here. Brand new jock to the circuit

here, but Jose Valdez keeps the trading job here.

Why do you like the six in the spot?

Well, if you look at this horse's past performances, the

March 21st race, this horse just got beat by my bucket list going

the same trip blinkers off that day.

This horse is getting blinkers off again.

So they're they're recreating that same sort of race and I

think this horse is going to be competitive in that spot.

If you look back, this horse is run, you know, races that would

win a race like this. So I wouldn't you know, being

outside is also a bonus to a little bit.

I I wouldn't want to be out too, too wide in a race like this and

should get a what I call the run of the race.

Nice stalking trip 8 to 1. You and I both even better.

Yeah. Yeah, the price is awesome.

I'm with you. You and I both have the five,

then the three second and third in our handicapping.

I'll talk about golf drama. The five.

Barry, you ever had golf drama in your life?

I don't think I've ever had golf.

Drama. No, never.

Golf drama. Golf lessons.

You golf do you like golfing? You know what I am I'm not a

golf guy. I'm a I'm a driving range guy.

I'm not gonna lie like I'm a driving range guy.

Just let me hit the ball. I don't need to be out there

undulating hills trying to putt the ball bleep that I don't need

any of that. I just let me let me hit the

range a little 12 pack whatever we're hanging out.

But golf drama comes in off a good second, a good 4th place

finish. Excuse me by two legs under

Biliante Giorgi last out Hernandez picks up them out here

for Troy dial. I just I watched this horse 2

back at at 4 1/2 at at LaSalle win under those conditions

similar to this. Can the horse get the distance

is the question of 5 1/2, which is a ridiculous thing to say,

but this is a son of Smiling Tiger.

And look, Smiley Tiger was a plotter for sure, right?

And so this is one that I think only has 1 speed but happens to

be a little bit faster. Has been within 2 1/2 lengths

his last three runs, all of them at six furlongs or less.

We get to 5 1/2. I'm just essentially hoping this

one gets the lead and holds on. Why don't you go ahead and talk

about the three My Bucket List, who I think ran a really good

race, last out at six furlongs after winning in the previous

race at 5:00. Yeah, he's just the the most

consistent runner out of them all.

He his late kick usually kicks in and it's a matter of whether

he's in range and everybody's backing up or not.

There's a chance that could happen.

So he's always sort of dangerous, which shows in in how

he's bet. Typically.

He's not usually the, you know, the favorite, but he's not the

longest price on the board either.

I just thought that this horse could probably pass some late

and get in the action there. We'll close the card.

By the way, race 8 does start the late double $5 minimum,

another 15% take out. Very playable, very, very fun

race fund wager. I should say between races 8 and

99 does close the card. Made an optional claimer here.

This is on the dirt course again, 6 furlongs 6256 sixty

2500 in the if you want to put your horse up for claim.

No one up for claim in this one. So using that optional part of

the tag there $35,000 purse here.

Barry, I'll go first. I laid it on the 9:00 here in

this spot on the outside and Nicolina should be a surprise to

absolutely no one ran at this level last time at 6 1/2 under

Thiago Pereira was right there losing the maximum gold at the

very last moment. Just couldn't quite overtake

that horse. Probably going to have to do a

little bit more work in this spot, but a little bit of a

layoff here for Phil d'amato. Another good angle for him and

he and Antonio Fraser hitting at 20% right now at Santa Anita.

You landed on the seven though, an 8 to 1 opportunity with

Moonlight Courage. Moonlitz Courage, excuse me, for

Richard Mandela and Kazuki Kazushi Camaro, excuse me,

second time starter here. Was a little bit up the track

last time but did break well. Yeah, the horse broke.

Well, I I think they just wanted to get a race into this horse.

It was, it was sort of a non effort.

And if you look at this horse's pedigree, there's a couple of

horses in there. One of them did exactly this,

ran on the turf first time and then scored second time out on

the on the dirt. And I think that's, you know

what we have here a situation where they really want to win

this race, especially the my racehorse people.

And I think this one merits a good shot.

The pedigree's there just got to run show it on the track.

Well, hopefully the my racehorse people don't bet Barry's

favorite in the last two badly in the second spot.

I'm trying. I'm going to go you you talk

about throwing downfield. Your boys going to throw

downfield here. Guitar girl is 20 to one in here

and O for nine career but has hit the board five times.

I thought was going to get it done last time.

Keeps Carmona in the the the the irons here moves into an

optional claimer out of A50 claimer.

And so I think that that level isn't so terribly different.

I think the splits of that race were really good.

What I like about this horse, especially Barry's, we've seen

her much closer to the lead the last two out.

Hoping we get a breakthrough here.

I would love to get the six in as a winner here.

You laid it on the three in your second spot.

You and I totally all over the place in this race for sure.

But a first time starter, Mike Smith fits them out here.

What do you like about Lead the Way K?

Yeah, I like that last workout. May 3rd, 47 and 2.

Hanley from the gate. This horse has a sibling that

was also trained by Mike Pipey, who Mike Smith rode and he was

fast. And this horse seems to indicate

that he's fast as well. You know, these vacoma babies

are, are pretty quick early, but I, I gather this horse might

want to go longer than this. So that's why I put this horse

second. Otherwise I would have put this

horse on top if I, if I thought, you know, this is more of a

sprinter type. Something tells me this horse

wants to go long. We've seen stranger things than

a than a Mike Smith win on a first time starter for sure.

Your third spot here. You landed on the five as well.

Don't tell our wives, which is not what this show is called.

Ladies, I I don't worry, don't worry.

Barry and I very we talk to our wives.

It's fine. Where?

Why do you like don't tell our wives in this spot?

Seems to be improving every race and I don't think that trend is

is going to stop. I I'm just worried that this

horse is piling up. Starts without winning, but

seems to be a little maybe best of the rest because of the

experience. All right, Preakness in a week,

young Barry Spears. Yeah.

Is there a a favorite Preakness winner or moment or any of those

things? By the way, you can bet the

Preakness right here on Amwager, all the races in Maryland as we

go back to Piblico today, They are underway at Old Hilltop.

You got a favorite Preakness winner.

I do it's, it's actually American Pharaoh.

I, I that day was the day that that was actually proved, you

know, greatness to me. I I thought that race was

exceptional, and I know a lot of people wouldn't say that, but at

least for me, that was the one that stamped it.

I was like, yeah, this is, this is real good.

So I was I was there and that huge downpour happened right

before the race, right? They they weighed the jock after

the race. He was carrying 20 lbs of water

weight. Horse turns around, wires him in

the Belmont. That's that's GOAT stuff.

That's GOAT stuff. It is, it's just GOAT stuff.

So you're that's a good, that is a good Preakness winter choice,

I think for sure. Am I allowed to like one just

because the bet was really good for me in cloud computing?

I mean, like, I think that's kind of the, you know, I just

the Clairvich colors and all that Chad Brown.

It's it's what started me not leaving Javier Castellano out of

any big spots because that guy just picks off those races so

damned often. And so he has the key to the

City of Hallandale Beach, by the way.

You think? Yeah, no kidding, he does.

No, they gave him a big one. He has a big one.

Good. Good.

I like it. That one.

I got to say the Swiss diver, I didn't get to be there.

I'm so spoiled. I get to go to these

Preaknesses. Dave Rodman's Call of the Swiss

Skydiver. Preakness is as good a horse

racing call as you'll ever hear for in your life.

And the Philly shows the way they're set down for a battle in

Baltimore. Heard Authentic.

I think that stretch run, one of the great ones, but I wasn't

there. So I'm a snob and I'm not going

to name that one. My favorite Preakness.

Even though it's one of my favorite calls ever, I love that

call for sure. Hater no.

Dave Rodman at any time. Is is is excellent.

Yeah, at any time. Not just underrated, I think,

and it's see the best race caller.

He's up there. He's one of them.

I don't know. All right, we'll leave it alone

there. He's Barry Spears.

I'm Lou. Your vote again.

We're presented by Amwager and amwager.com.

A 100% deposit match for new, new customers today up to

$150.00 Preakness 150 next week. You can bet the Preakness, you

can bet Santa Anita tomorrow. We've got you all covered for

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It's over at amwager@amwager.com.

Well, Barry, this time next week you and I'll be doing this show.

I'll be sitting at Pimlico doing this show, which is exciting.

And then we will get you set for all things Southern California

when we do just that. But of course, a little bit of a

Preakness preview, I think probably even here on SoCal

Saturdays for Barry. I'm Louis, Thanks so much for

making us part of your Friday and hopefully part of your

Saturday as well for Amwager and all the good folks here at the

Horse Racing Happy Hour. Thanks for hanging up.

Have a great weekend.