Best of ESPN680 | Barry Spears, Belmont Preview

All right, welcome into the best of Rabo and Co on ESPN 680 and

105.7. I'm Louis Rabo.

We're going to be replaying my interview today with handicapper

Barry Spears. Ahead.

Of tomorrow's Belmont Stakes, we get into the final three races.

On the graded stakes. Part of the card at least there.

Tomorrow at Saratoga give you an idea of who we like in the Woody

Stevens, the Manhattan and of course.

In the big race itself in the Belmont.

And hey, if you are thinking about betting on the Belmont

this year, look, your eyes in the eyes of the horse racing

world are on New York this weekend.

The race is on, but who will rise above the rest and be

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and bet 5 or more dollars on a horse to win the Belmont Stakes.

If your pick crosses the finish line first, you'll win a share

of $200,000 per. You'll win a share of a

$200,000. Prize pool.

Look, we. Get this rematch between the

Derby winner in Sovereignty, the Preakness winner in journalism.

We get the return of. Baeza New.

Shooter and Rodriguez, lots of different ways to go.

But man, what a crowded quality field at the top so.

Who will reign supreme? Download the DK Horse Racing App

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days and 6-7. See terms at dkhorse.com slash

bet slash offers slash details. Without further ado, here is my

interview with Barry Spears today at ESPN 680 and One O 5

Seven Want. To invite in, my friend Barry

Spears joins us on the show again here.

Find a man urban handicapper on all of the socials.

He was on with me with the little handicapping round table

last night there as part of the horse racing happy hour.

Barry, do you have power again? Yes, yes I do.

And go karts because I was scolded last night for wearing a

Tammy hat. My man Steve went after you.

Yeah, it's a whole thing. Yeah.

No, I can't. Only so much I can do.

I can't control Steve. I can't control you.

There's only so much I can do here, Barry.

Go card get to get to Omaha. Get to Omaha already, but Barry

joins us, of course, from his perch in Florida.

We lost you for about 5 minutes on the show last night because

of a lightning strike. So glad to hear that you're

doing OK this morning as we get into Belmont Day.

And you're a guy that spent, you know, a fair amount of time at

Saratoga, both growing up and certainly as an adult as well

when you. See these races.

At at Saratoga. Are you like me where it's like,

OK, cool. Second year of this boy.

I'm ready to be back in the city with this.

Yeah, I'm actually kind of worn out with the Belmont at

Saratoga. I like Saratoga as Saratoga, you

know, during August and all those traditional races that

we're used to seeing like Alabama, Travers and so on.

Getting back to the city probably is is needed at this

point. Yeah, no, I think being back in

Queens will be really great. Of course, the new Belmont Open

for next year will host the Breeders Cup the year after as

well. Barry Spears with us here this

morning on ESPN 680 and 105.7. Look, man, great card on

Saturday. Excuse.

Me and I'll. Ask the sacrilegious thing right

here, sitting less than a mile from Churchill Downs.

But is the Belmont card perhaps better year to year than the

Derby card is? It might be, and I say might

because a lot of context as to who's coming into the races and

who's going out, who ran in Churchill does make a

difference. But I can say since the

inception of the the huge racing day on Belmont Day, it might be

just slightly a little bit better.

Yeah, it's been as good as frankly, it lines up in my mind.

I think of, of course, you know, Breeders' Cup Classic Day as

being one of the great race days of the year.

Certainly Derby days on that list.

But boy, Belmont certainly in that trio for me.

And so this is an exciting, exciting day.

But of course, Ogden Phipps in the Acorn today.

But we're going to concentrate on the later part of the

sequence tomorrow. And Barry and I are going to

lead you into the late pick 4 here, the late, late, late pick

4. But the pick three leading into

the Belmont starts with the Woody Stevens, the saltiest of

salty Stevens talk here, race 11/7 furlongs on the dirt there.

A half million bucks in the Kitty here.

What are you looking for in this race here, Barry?

Because we see so many horses that have tried other things,

right? Whether it be a Citizen Bowl in

the Derby, a Neo Equos in the Derby, maybe a Chancellor

Mcpatrick in a race like the Bluegrass getting back to A7

furlong kind of distance. I think this race, it has the

ability to be kind of like a chaos race where anything can

happen, There's really no stand out and whoever ends up favored

might be the wrong horse. You know, it's a really tough

force to actually see on paper before you see any other betting

because I think it's going to change quite a bit.

Like a horse like Neil Echoes for example, could easily win

this race, but if the price is a lot lower than 12:50, might not

be a good bet. With that being said, I think

the Baffert runners cutting back in distance and getting to

sprinting are going to be really tough.

He has done this before where he's been sending a horse in the

Derby trail and had them go to the lead every time and then

that horse goes back into sprinting and they're tough as

nails and I think Madikit Rd. kind of fits that bill.

That's the horse that I'm looking for.

The price probably will be right because of the fact he hasn't

been sprinting, but I think he'll have a lot of bottom and a

lot of finish. I'm going to I'm going to this

is where I think you can get as nuts as you want.

And I agree with you, Barry, that there isn't really a horse

in here. I'd be stunned if they ended up

winning. I think gate to wire on the

outside, the 11 horse here, 12 to one in the morning line for

Todd Pletcher. Dylan Davis gets them out.

Tried the Pat Day Mile last out, just didn't have it in the slop.

I think if it's any drier than that and we can get back to that

form. We saw in the Swale going 7

furlongs earlier in the year at the goal in at Gulfstream Park

where he beat Macho Music. Who comes out of a Pat Day Mile

win by 5 lengths? I really wonder if we can't get

back to that form by getting up to Saratoga.

This horse actually broke its maiden going 5 1/2 on the turf.

And so one that they've really tried to figure out.

But this son of Bunnings, I think that 12 to one price,

really, really tough to pass up. That Neo Equus, I agree with

you, is going to be really interesting in here.

But what about macho music coming out of that Pat Day Mile,

right? It wins.

The grade two last year, we saw that turn.

Into a Preakness win and a Pennsylvania Derby win.

So I don't want to sleep on the Pat Day Mile winner either.

No, I mean, honestly, on paper he looks like he'll get out

there and start winging it. But the problem is with a horse

like that, he's very one-dimensional.

And you know, if there's really no Plan B, but he's awfully good

at Plan A. We we've also seen Javier

Castellano pick off plenty of these kinds of stakes races at

Saratoga over the years, so would not be so stunning to see

him do precisely that. We do see some other runners in

here, one that we most we saw most recently when at Churchill

Downs, say in a patch. Adams, do you give him much of a

shot here? Yeah, I mean, he's kind of a

mystery horse. I mean, I, I wish he was with

other connections because he probably his price would be

higher. But I mean, his Sprint races

have been as good as anybody in this race.

And I think he might get kind of slept on a little bit and and

his price might end up being higher than 5 to 1 if that's the

case. Got to take a second look.

Yeah, the lead in to the Belmont will be Race 12.

The Manhattan, it's a grade one. It's on the Melon turf course

going a mile and 316th used to see in this race at a mile and a

quarter. Barry of course, get back to

that at Belmont next year as well.

This is a great one for four year olds and up and it's

$1,000,000 race. This is a bit like the, excuse

me, like the the Commonwealth turf here right before the Derby

as well. I think we've been calling it

the the Woodford for the last couple of years.

Barry, where did you land in this one?

An interesting field including Kentucky Derby alumni alumni

excuse me in endlessly. I'm going to throw 1 downfield

here a little bit and go with the Four Carson's run.

I think this horse was running really, really well last year,

especially towards the end of the year, right before they laid

him off. He was running.

He was really in good form, came back off that layoff, ran a nice

race in the Fort Marcy lost to his stablemate, the Five

Deterministic in that race, who was kind of a loose leader and

Carson's run really didn't have a shot.

Not to mention they probably weren't trying to win that race

either. So that is a good prep for this

race. Deterministic in my opinion, was

never better than Carson's run and is not better.

And I think that possibly deterministic is going to set

the table for Carson's run here. You know, this is a really

tricky race because there's question marks with the the

favorite spirit of Saint Louis. You know, he floating around in

state bred races in New York, then all of a sudden when's the

the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf and the Turf Classic within

four months. And it's like, I don't know if

this is a new horse or did he get really soft fields to to

kind of pick off in in those events.

And I'm going to side with the ladder, at least, At least for

Saturday. Yeah, I'm interested here in in

a potential front runner and deterministic Kedra Carmouche

keeping the the MOUT here for the clamal stable there.

And this is 1 Barry, that you know, when we get in these

races, we're always obsessed with closers.

We're always obsessed with those horses that are going to be able

to pick up the pieces at the end.

But once in a while we just have somebody walk the dog and nobody

better than Kendrick up there at Saratoga.

This one inherited the lead in the Fort Marcy last out of a

mile and 8th will get a similar trip, I think this time out as

well. I think breaking from that 5 is

perfect. And frankly, even with the

passing of Christoph Clamal, the unfortunate passing of course

recently it Miguel already has a winner this week on the turf

there at Saratoga. And so it seems like I don't

want call business as usual because it's not.

But for those horses, it seems to be at least.

And so I think deterministic a chance to get out front and stay

out front. I disagree a little bit about

spirit of Saint Louis. I think he's shown enough to me

Barry to think that he is in fact the class of this race and

a worthy a favorite in this spot.

I I might go pretty short here, go 5-6 in this in this race.

Oh, wow. Yeah, I, I, you know, this, this

one, I would go a little bit deeper.

I would use the three. Also highway robber.

OK. He seems to really like this

distance. We'll probably get a good trip.

And then, you know, the other horse that I was thinking about

was Farbridge. But you know, that horse got two

really soft trips this year and it's hard to to know how to

handle this field in comparison. So I'm kind of Luke warm on

that. One be interesting as well.

Nice price if you want somebody for your exact to trifecta

corruption in the 8 hole. I think is going to run a big

race once they get him up to Saratoga did start his career

there in July last year. The bell model be race 13

tomorrow, the big show mile and a quarter there at Saratoga. 4

three-year olds 2,000,000 bucks here.

Barry the grade one. We'll go quickly through the

field here. Just get your thoughts on these

different runners. Hill Rd. breaks from the one won

the Peter Pan, which is the New York prep for this race last out

there at Aqueduct did go the two turns go the mile and an eighth

showed some ability to to close into what was a pretty tepid

pace. Certainly we'll have a faster

one with the likes of Crudo and Rodriguez on the front this

weekend. Hill Rd.

Is he growing on you? Yes, actually, but not for this

race. I think considerations, I I

think this horse is really good, just needs some more seasoning,

more time, more more races. At this level.

It wouldn't surprise me if he ran good though.

Yeah, All right. Sovereignty, of course, comes in

off the Kentucky Derby win. A bit of time off as he decided

not the the connections, at least decided not to head to

Baltimore. He's my top selection in here,

Barry, mostly because I in my head the the outcome people want

the least is sovereignty to get his flowers again.

And so I I talked to Junior Alvarado on blood horse Monday

this week, ever confident as he was.

I think the time off. I think the distance, just the

the build of this son of into mischief.

I I think he ends up winning the Belmont tomorrow.

Do you give him? Where do you have him?

At least in your rankings, I guess the most likely winners.

He definitely can win the race. I, you know, and was a little

surprised at his, his Derby. You know, he, he showed the

potential. I, I, I don't know whether it

was the wet track that kind of pushed him over the top or it

was just aggression. I guess we'll see on Saturday,

But I'm tending to fade a horse like this because of the fact

that the pace and arrow doesn't really set up all that favorably

in his in his wheelhouse. So I think he's going to be

coming late, but on the win end I I would definitely downgrade

his chances, but I think he's going to be in the number.

Rodriguez comes in, You and I went to the wood together this

year and I, I'm trying to not overplay that because I did see

it in person, but it is, by the numbers, the best Wood memorial

finish since Frosted in 2015. If he doesn't run in American

Pharaoh, I think we're talking about Frosted in a very, very

different way. I think Rodriguez is absolutely

a contender here. I think if he can run that mile

and an eighth in $1.48 like he did at Aqueduct and still have a

plenty of the tank because you, you and I watched him gallop out

just fine after that race. If he still has some of that in

him, even with the days off, he can absolutely win here.

Do you agree? Absolutely.

He's actually my top pick. That 148 comparison to the Peter

Pan, Oh my gosh, was 149 and one on a similar track.

So you know, it just goes to show you how fast Rodriguez was.

Now there is another speed horse in Crudo, but I think Rodriguez

can, when they want to kind of pull him back a little bit and

use that horse as sort of a little target, he's going to be

tough because this, the pay scenario definitely fits him.

There's not really much speed here other than him and Crudo

and it's going to be hard for these horses to to come from the

back and and overtake them. Not that they could never do

that, but it it just makes their job a little bit harder.

Crudo, you mentioned is going to break from the 5A Bobby Flay

owned. Crudo will break from the five.

Baeza will break from the 6th. He finished third in the Derby.

Berry and I think he's the you either love him or you just do

not at all. I don't think there's anybody

that's Luke warm on this horse at all.

Where do you fall with him? I just think he hasn't passed

journalism yet and he hasn't passed Rodriguez.

He's definitely got the potential to to win a race like

this. He's run the the speed figures

to do it. He just has to do it and and

I'm, you know, I haven't seen it yet.

So when he does, I'll give him his flowers.

Until then, he's going to have to beat me.

Written by Flavian Pratt to a third place finish out of the 19

hole in the Kentucky Derby this year.

Of course, journalism, the incredible run in the stretch

there in Baltimore in the Preakness comes back here is

going to run in all three. I think people are rooting for

him to win this weekend. Barry, are you?

Yeah, always. I I think this is the best

course of this crop. He he's asserted dominance in in

a lot of his races that he's run.

The only one he didn't was when he got the lead a little bit too

early in the Derby. I think if if things were kind

of reversed, we would see a a different result.

There came back in the Preakness regressed B figure wise, but ran

a hell of a race as everybody in the world saw.

He's tough as nails and and I would never count a horse like

this out under any circumstances.

I know you love a good cold exact to.

What's your cold exact to play in the Belmont?

All day three seven Rodriguez Journalism.

You see that, Zach? That's called knowing your

guest. I knew there was a waiting cold

exacta all I had to do. Was say.

The words, it was like winding up Barry Spears and just let him

go. You understand?

That's how you do radio. That's how you do all of this.

You understand me? You just get those cold exacta

3-7 at the Belmont. Well, good luck tomorrow buddy.

I will see you in a couple of hours for our SoCal Saturday

show. Fun card.

I would say Anita tomorrow too, man.

There's good cards all over the country tomorrow, man.

And thanks to Barry Spears. For joining us.

As part of. 680 and one O 5. 7's coverage.

Of Belmont Stakes 2025 appreciate him jumping on with

us and of course thanks to our friends at DK horse Again, if

you are interested in a. Little bit more.

Action this weekend, the eyes of the horse racing world, man.

They're on New York, they're on Saratoga for this weekend, the

race is on, but who will rise above the rest and be crowned

king of the track? Find out here on DK Horse, the

number one downloaded horse betting app DraftKings is

turning up the thrill with the King of the Track.

The King of the Track promotion and here's how to get in.

Head to the DK Horse app, opt in and bet $5 or more on a horse to

win the Belmont Stakes. If your pick crosses the line

first, you'll want to share of $200,000 prize pool.

Look journalism by ASA Rodriguez.

Maybe you heard Barry talking about him there.

Or my top. Pick in sovereignty, man.

There is a chance that any of those four could certainly come

home as crudo fast enough to get the lead and keep it.

We'll have to find out tomorrow, but who will reign supreme?

Download the DK horse racing app and use code 680.

That's code 680 on DK Horse. That $5 or more on a horse to

win a stakes for your shot at a piece of $200,000.

Only on DraftKings with a crown is yours.

Gambling problem. Call 1800 Gambler 18 + 21 Plus

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Wagering account. Resident of state where DK Horse

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Void were prohibited. Opt in and place a straight $5

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Must win to share $200,000 cash reward by a Click to claim.

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I'm Louis Rubio, and thanks for listening to this Best of ESPN

680.