KD Preview Wknd @ Ellis Park | J.D. Fox

I guess why are things blurry and we this is the Horse Racing

Happy Hour. It's an end of July 2025 edition

of the program alongside JD Fox. My name is Louie Rubio of

course, hanging out with you as we do every Thursday on here.

Coming up on 6 year on the Horse Racing Happy Hour.

Pretty incredible to say out loud.

JD, how are you my friend? Get that back on the show.

I'm doing well and and it's only 4:00 PM Eastern Time so

hopefully no one has had enough bourbon to where I'm just

naturally this blurry. Just too blurry because of the

drinking. That's exactly right.

And you know what folks? This is a non judgmental show.

JD can judge you as much as he wants.

We won't judge you if we're blurry because you've been doing

something else on the day. Many people will talk.

Many, many people will talk Saratoga this week.

JD, you and I are going to be different.

We're going to play, we're going to talk Ellis Park.

We're going to talk a little 7 stakes races on the grass this

weekend. None of them for less than 1/4

million dollars. Are you enjoying the the come up

of Ellis Park from afar? Are you enjoying it?

Yeah, I I think obviously what we're seeing throughout Kentucky

and you're seeing what the Ellis Park need and then especially

you'll see it once we actually get into Kentucky Down's proper

is, I mean, these purses are just bringing horses from all

over the place. And we'll talk about it as we

handicap this card that we've got horses coming in from all

over the place and there's not a gimmick that's leading to it.

Like I'm not calling like ship and win a gimmick.

I think it's a great program in California for Del Mar.

But Kentucky has a structure right now where they don't need

that. And people are going to be

willingly coming in from the Mid-Atlantic.

They're willingly going to be coming in from Florida and

tracks throughout the Midwest. We'll just put it that way.

Yeah, from a little bit of everywhere to this point in the

year though, Barry. Good Lord.

I'm so used to talking to Barry around this time of the

afternoon. JD, you know, is there a you

know, I just wanted to catch up. Have you had a favorite moment

this year? Have you fallen in love with

this 3 year old class? I even on the Philly side, a

horse like nitrogen, something like that.

What stood out to you so far this year?

Yeah, I think the crazy thing is in another year we would be

sitting here talking about how dominant and awesome Gosskar is.

That's. Exactly right, totally would be.

And Gosskar is everybody's like hard luck, favorite horse.

Like even talking to Matt Dennerman right after the race

the other week, he's like, man, I feel bad for Gosskar.

And I'm like, when I mean, how many winning races can you run

without actually winning? It's crazy.

Yeah, I remember seeing Brendan Walsh right after the Haskell,

and he just had one of these like shrug shoulder.

Like, what else can we do here? Like I had a feelings like we're

not gonna run any better in a grade one than we just did twice

in the Preakness and in the Haskell, and it just doesn't

matter. You're exactly right.

Yeah, I mean that that race probably wins, what, 7 out of 10

Haskells? Something like that.

He probably wins half the Preakness as he runs in with

that effort as well. So I mean, it's just what else

are you going to do with these great ones?

They do exactly what Gosger is doing with JD Fox with this.

You can find him at horse tickets, by the way, on the

socials. Cannot recommend him enough as a

follows. We'll give him one there.

We're going to be previewing the seven stakes races as part of

Kentucky Downs Preview weekend at Ellis Park.

Do you have a favorite horse that's jumped up this year or do

you have a favorite a Woodbine moment?

I always go to you for Woodbine moments.

Yeah, unfortunately, you know, we had, we had a champion go out

with a win, but patches a whole hand.

Obviously we we lost with soft tissue injury post race, took a

bad step after a race, but patches was a great Canadian

champion and and we're going to talk about no balls later.

I mean, one of my favorite races in recent years was the the one

throw down we got between patches and no balls.

And I was hoping we were going to be able to see it at some

point again this year. But unfortunately our Canadian

champion is is no longer with us.

But I think the other cool thing is like Moira, who we've been

talking about forever. I mean, right, I mean she's in

Australia now. She she ran a barrier trial

yesterday. She's going to give a second

shot. Obviously she was disappointing

in her first stakes effort in Australia, but just kind of a

global thing when when Woodbine and Australian horse racing

comes together, Louis like that's that's happened to me so.

It's all JD all the time. That's right, exactly.

JD Fox with us here on the Horse Racing Happy Hour.

Did you think we'd get to six years with this ridiculous show

kind of a thing too? Because you've been around for a

lot of them, my friend. Yeah, No, I, I think we've,

we've seen as many shapes and forms of this show as possible.

I mean, we're going to see, and we're probably going to see six

or seven more as time goes on. We'll see.

I mean, we could be seeing like in 50 years your disembodied

head on a robot or something. I mean, anything's possible at

this point, Louis. I'm with you.

I we're working on the robot. Which one would be best to to

fit my body shape? Don't worry about that man.

We're fine. You know, this is this is

literally 90%. I still have the old school

audience. 90% still listens rather than watching.

So we got the. But I want to look good when

this. Eventually shows up on.

Spotify, Louis. I mean, come on.

It's a vain effort on my part. Many kinds of pain.

His name is JD Fox. Let's get into it, man.

Let's do some handicapping. These kinds of weekends.

I've, I love that we're doing these preview weekends because I

think we've gotten used to the, you know, the, the, the, the

road to the, the Derby and, and so many of these qualifiers for

the British Cup. Do you like these kinds of

weekends? Cause I've come to really love

them. Yeah.

I think what you get is an opportunity for horses to ship

in early around where they're going to be racing and you're

giving them stakes opportunities and you're giving, you know,

depending on the type of race you're giving black type

opportunities. I mean, these are these are, I

think going to be big building opportunities when we start

looking at mares, brood mares, stallions, I think some of these

black types in Kentucky for these Kentucky conditions that

keep improving for the Kentucky breads at tracks like Ellis

Park. I mean, it's not just Churchill

anymore. I mean, you're getting a lot of

incentive to breed in Kentucky and stick around and run year

round, including a turfway. So really it's it's an

opportunity to improve all sorts of things and and hopefully also

improve on track handle, although a questionable decision

in relation to on track handle that we'll we'll talk about with

the Saturday sequence. OK, all right, so Saturday race

8 starts a a couple of sequences as he mentioned a a pair of pick

threes will start in the late sequence here, a $0.50 pick

three in an all turf $3 pick three.

Where do you fall on this? What if you ran Ellis Park?

What would you only allow, the $0.50 or the $3 pick three in

this case? Well, I think you would have to

go with the $0.50 pick three, I think in in this case.

And the other thing too is they're making a, they're making

a, a choice to just have 'cause there's a, there's a turf race

in Turf 6. They could have made this 689,

they could have made this 6910. They could have done a number of

things to have a separate pool. So that's where I say it's a

questionable decision because I think what you're doing is

you're diluting what could be two really nice pick three pools

and combining them into people are going to be looking at the

pool like sharp players are going to be looking at the pool

sizes. And they have to figure out on

the fly, is it more conducive for me to play a three dollar

base into the $0.50 pool or to play a $3 ticket?

Because in some cases, if it if there's a lot of strong action

on a $0.50 pool and you have strong opinions, it might be

better to play $3 into the $0.50 minimum pool than it is to play

the minimum amount in the the turf all turf pool.

So I'm going to be studying and staring at that.

And I really like my ticket. So I have to figure out where

I'd want to go with it. But it might be a bridge too

far. It might be me playing a daily

double at the end of the day, like we'll see.

Yep. OK, there you go.

We'll start with that late pick 3 on Saturday, it's race 8.

It's the Kentucky Dolls Preview Nashville Derby mile and an

eighth here. Quarter $1,000,000 on the line.

And of course, if it's a Derby, that means it is open to

three-year olds only. An interesting one here.

You and I very much disagree on who's on top in this one, JD,

but let's go ahead. I do like that you put it in the

old rants about the the pick three side by side here.

But who did you land on on top here at Race 8?

The one Macero, I think there's enough speed in this field for

this horse to really close and obviously you have to throw out

the the last effort when you got bumped clipped heels at the

start and then east, you know, you can obviously throw that one

out. The race at Keeneland, I think

beats this field here 2 back in April, So obviously one of the

things you like to see is off of trouble like that.

You like to see the jockey stay aboard, so Corey Landry still

stays on the mount. Landry's been up for all six of

the previous performances for this horse for CJ Thoroughbreds.

And the other thing you like to see is the steady work tab

appers. So there's no injury.

There was nothing to be concerned about, just unlucky

start in a in a horse race where, you know, the horse was

was heavily favored and and could go could be, you know,

winning it's world beater. And that would have been an

interesting race to see. But in this spot, I just think

there's enough speed for this this horse to close into.

So I have this not only on top, but I think this is a single for

me off the 6:00 to 1:00 morning line.

Oh wow, love it. OK, I like a six to one horse as

well, but I like Esmark breaking from the five here.

La Machado riding for Vicki Oliver here.

This is one that won last out at Churchill and before that broke

its maiden at Churchill. Both of those from the from the

clouds. I think this one's going to have

to decide to be a little bit closer here early on JD to make

a good run in this one. But I do like the Milan and 8th.

I think it'll I think this is 1 that'll stretch out no problem

into the 9 furlong distance here.

And so I I do think as Mark sets up really well.

I don't love Vicki Oliver's record at stakes races, but I'm

hoping the three-year old, you know, the three-year old

condition here to allow this one that I think this son of

Constitution getting better and better as we roll along.

If you throw out and you don't, I don't think you have to.

That effort at Kentucky Downs last year, I think they see this

very much as a setup for that race.

But I got to believe in this one.

If you're trying to win allowance races before this one,

you're certainly going to be keyed up in this one as well.

So third, third win in a row is where I'm shooting for with

Esmark here. Do you like Esmark in this fun?

Well, I think what we have here is we see the race exactly the

same and we see two horses that could get the same trip.

And we're just, you know, we, we could talk about it several

times in this sequence because it will come up several times.

And you and you made mention of it.

You know, Vicki being 2 for her last 41 in stakes races and Luan

and Vicki combined one for 27 on the year doesn't exactly scream

confidence, but they have mounts together that we're going to be

talking about throughout this, you know, Saturday and Sunday

cards. So, you know, I, I think really

it's a case of if you're going to like a closer in this race,

you like one or the other. I don't think both of them are

going to get the exact same trip and just sit there and be 1-2

closing in and and winning by nose.

I think it's whoever can get the better trip of those two horses

wins the race and whoever doesn't, you know, obviously is,

is just going to pick up minor pieces.

So if I was going deeper, I I would include the five.

But I think for me it was either the one or the five winning this

race, and I like the one more than the five.

You have the eight second in your handicapping here for this

one in Tomasello. Touch of a layoff here.

Just the end of March for this one.

That last ran in the Listed Audubon Stakes up here at

Churchill Downs at a mile and an eighth.

I thought ran really well under under Jose Ortiz in that one.

Just got run by King of Ashes and eventually the World, the

winner in World Meter. What did you what do you make of

Thomasello? Why do you have that one second

in your handicap? Yeah, I, I, I really think that

this is going to be the horse that will be this the end up

being the speed of the speed and where I look at things.

You know, Cassie, when 16% barn in any of the situations where

Cassie improves, you always have to keep an eye out.

And 2nd off of this two-month layoff going up to 19, close to

20%. That's that's big for me in the

spot. I like both of the Cox's in

here, the the Siesta Key Cox and the Emergence Cox.

You don't like either of them? What's going on with your

dislike of the Brads in this spot?

Well, I, I first of all want to start with, if you're going to

name a horse Siesta Key in that spot out of Cocoa Beach, why is

it Siesta Key KEY and why is it not Siesta Key Cay?

That's the majority of what I spent on my notes on this horse.

But you know, finished by a native runner last up.

Even trip around with Pratt, 5th jockey and 5th race.

We've seen a lot of different running styles.

I just don't know where Siesta Key fits in this race, but I

hope everybody likes my my word play there because yes, this

horse should be named Siesta Key but spelled CAYI.

Think everybody enjoyed that? Don't worry about it, JD JD Fox

with us here. Horse racing happy hour.

We'll move on to the start of that late daily Double there on

Saturday at at Ellis Park. It's the Kentucky Down Kentucky

Downs Preview Lady Turf Sprint 5 1/2 furlongs on their turf

course there at Ellis for Phillies and Mares 3.

And I'm going for a quarter million bucks in this one.

JD I thought an interesting race.

I like a long shot in here in Race 9, excuse me, in out too

late. Came back and won last time out

at Churchill Downs, but it's been knocking on the door in her

four last four starts, the one over the dirt taken off the turf

while at the fairgrounds before that did break her maiden 2 back

before that. So in her last six races, all of

them on the turf, first, second, first, fourth by three and 1/4

and then four, fourth by a length and a half and then first

by a nose. This is one that's going to

probably do a bit of stalking and then get there at the end.

I love the addition of Brian Hernandez Junior.

I've decided to gamble on this one here.

I think this is the horse that I'm going to take my stand on on

Saturday. I'm playing a ticket on

Saturday, JD, with a very low percentage likelihood of outcome

here for me. But I do think that this one, I

think at least offers some value.

The 12 to one price for me is outrageous.

Frankly, I love it. I think this horse should

probably be 8 to 1, something like that.

And so I will gladly take every bit of money on this one.

The three wins and six runs for this one this year, I love it.

So I will lean on the long shot. The seven out too late in here.

JD, where did you land in Race 9 on Saturday?

This is a tough race for me and I think you, you've got to

really bear down and, and look at what is being asked here and

what are the horses that are entered.

And I think one of the, the challenges we have here is I

think the two fastest horses we potentially have in this race

are trying turf for the first time.

So who knows what's going to happen.

And that those would be the inside and outside runners.

Irish Maxima, obviously, you know, been running 7 furlongs,

but been running against much tougher fields and been getting

the lead and, and just missing. And I think, you know, when you

look at a, a bed of roses, a horse getting the lead against

that field against a horse like Ways and Means and, and, you

know, going against those, I think that's going to be a

natural transition to being able to potentially lead here.

I'm, I'm also one that will look at the positioning of the gate

at Ellis Park for these 5 1/2 furlong turf sprints.

And if you'll notice, it's, it's almost like we're at a track

meet, Louis, because you're going to see the the gate have

one of these. So you're going to see some

perceived bias, whether it's true or not towards the inside

runners because it's basically right off the end of the turn.

And so I generally depending on how much run up they give,

because sometimes we see it like where they're actually having to

turn in a little bit and sometimes we see it where it's

it's straight. So without knowing exactly what

the run up is going to be, you know, it's tough to say.

So I think another horse that's been super fast is the 91 Happy

Mama. I think that's the fastest horse

at Prairie Meadows right now. And sometimes when you're a

trainer like Travis Murphy and you've got a horse that's

dominating state, state bred company and then coming out in

the Saylorville and beating one of the toughest fields that

they've had in that race in a long time at six to one and and

cruising home, Yeah, I think you got to give it a shot here.

And I think there's enough sneakiness underneath on the the

pedigree here. I mean, the it's this kind of a

sad story, but you know, this, this horse is 1/2 to anarchist

who we obviously ought lost earlier this spring.

But anarchist was great in a couple different efforts

downhill going on the turf course at Santa Anita.

So there is some turf there. There is some things that make

sense. And this horse is just quick you

you look at it, it doesn't matter who they're running

against in this case. You look at, you know, the times

in Altoona are always going to be a little faster on the dirt,

but you just look at the horse. This horse is quick.

This horse is gonna try to go. So I think it's an include on

the ticket. I'm a little over the map here,

but in order of preference 2319. I didn't even talk about my top

horse because that's how I operate Louisiana at the end of

the day. But the two pondering 6 to one

on the morning line. Was really good, the pee patch.

She was, yeah. Yeah, and and she doesn't have

Declan Cannon to buck off anymore.

So since she got over that gap in her career, she's been doing

very well. Now the question is Declan

Cannon runs in this race. Do you think Brendan for a

second thought about putting Declan back on because obviously

he's the trainer of both the two pondering and the spot where

Declan ended up which which is the five cloud Walker I'm.

Going to guess no. I'm just going to go with no.

I'm going to go that my brain says no.

The fact that he gave it a third shot after being bucked off the

horse twice, I mean, hats off to Declan in that.

Situation he went after that's for sure.

But yes, so JD in this one is 2/3, 1:00 and 9:00.

I landed on the seven. I went to the 8 right next to it

and the three foxy Cleopatra running for Larry Ravelli here

coming out of an optional claimer there at Churchill Downs

running second before that did win over yielding go at

Hawthorne, but I thought showed enough last out gets Jarrett

back in the irons that that'll be a good one as well.

And then again, bling is in here for Vicki Oliver and the one but

but this one last time I did win under Luan at Churchill Downs

before that ran and won as well and then was disqualified at

Churchill before that was, I thought pretty good in the

unbridled Susan as well. So I I I don't think this field

is as good as the unbridled Susan 1.

So bling certainly a shot of this one as well.

The close Go ahead. I was going to say I, I think we

talked about the last race. I think the seven and the 8 want

the same trip and we're looking at 12 to one morning line on

your 7, three to 1 morning line on the eight.

I would I would definitely not tell people to go against you

there when you're getting better value for horses that seem to

have similar ability and are going to get the same trip.

Yeah, and I get Brian Ryan as junior, so there you go.

All right, Race 10 closes the card on Saturday.

This is the Kentucky Downs Preview Mid Millions Turf Mile.

One of my very favorite horses is in this one.

This is for three and up and $250,000 on the line in this

one. I just finished up an interview

with Brian Nippenburg, who trains Mercanti, and he's very

confident about Saturday. My sense is he very much should

be. Where did you land in this one,

JD? Yeah, I'm, I'm 127.

I do think Mercanti has done nothing wrong.

I think you look at the effort in the Turf Classic at Churchill

and Spirit of Saint Louis was just no, no one was being Spirit

of Saint Louis that day. We take that out, You know, the

horse would be 4 for four right now, but three for the last

four. Nothing wrong in the Arlington

last time up. I do have talking candy, the one

on top, I think sit right off the pace, make one run depending

on how Mercanti breaks. I mean, there's a small chance

that talking candy could also try to wire this field as well.

So just kind of a an interesting situation with Brian in those

situations. You know, Brian's got horse, you

know, he's a good enough horse spin to be able to take the the

horse all the way around and and ration that speed.

So, you know, and, and then I think the other interesting

horse is the 7 green light and you know, 12:50 for Rudy

Brissett, Tyler Gaffney on a board.

You know, this horse has been a deep closer.

This horse is set right off of it.

Rudy right now is 50% second off the six month layoff and ten

tries, five wins. You know, that guy can do no

wrong. He knows how to place horses

too. So this is an interesting spot,

second off the layoff. And I think this has been an

improving type and and could close from the clouds and make

it interesting at the end. Yeah.

So J DS pick 3 is on the board. I did not include the $3 or

$0.50 denomination in this one. If you choose.

You choose is exactly right. The $3 pick 3 is about 36 bucks.

With this one it is $6 to play his pick 3 otherwise for $0.50.

So 12 bucks, it's it's 12 bucks for each dollar.

Whatever you want to do there, you can figure it out is

essentially how that works out. But yes, you choose this, right?

So a single in that first leg four and then three horses total

in that. Again, I'm going to try the

seven here, man. I'm going to go after it.

That's my $3 price here is 48 bucks.

So of course, if you, you pair that one down, essentially

divide by 6 of your kids and you end up with 8.

And so if you want an $8 pick three, you can try mine.

I will try a very aggressive single there in the middle of

the sequence. But hey, if we're not going

aggressive once in a while, then what the heck are we even doing

here? So I'm Lou Rabel, this is the

horse racing happy hour hanging out with Jamie Foxx.

Good to have him back on the program we're going through now,

the late pick four on Sunday down at Ellis Park.

Thanks for joining us for this one.

By the way, if you want a take on on Saratoga and everything

else, I have good news. 30 other podcasts will do that this week.

So we're talking Ellis. So there you go.

So let's move to Sunday. This continues Kentucky Downs

Preview day, but also includes the grade three pucker up four

races in a row to close the card on the turf course there.

Yes, it can be done in the state of Kentucky.

All right, so let's go ahead. We'll look at that late pick

four and it is a $300,000 purse that welcomes us to the Kentucky

Downs Preview Turf Cup. This is for three and up going a

mile and 1/4. This turns into a mile and a

half race once we get to Kentucky Downs, which is only

it's not even two turns. It's just not even.

It's not even one turn. It's actually just a straight

line a mile and a half there at Kentucky Downs.

I kid, of course, but we are looking at this one.

Where did you land here on Saturday?

A nine to five favorite in this one.

I was a little surprised to see. That, yeah, a nine to five

favorite that I am. I am chucking off the ticket

entirely. Louis and Hwy.

Robber. We'll talk about highway robber

for a bit here 'cause I think class wise, you know, you,

you've got to think, you know, this horse kind of is, is the,

the bee's knees in relation to that.

But you know, this horse needs everything to go right to win.

And we've seen it a couple times happen, but more recently we,

we, you know, we see second thirds and we see second thirds

in the spot a lot. And I think this horse is

absolutely gonna get crushed at the windows.

And I can't take a a three to five horse that needs just

absolutely everything to go right to win.

So I think the most aggressive thing you can do here as a horse

player, if you're playing a pick 4 is, is find some coverage and

Chuck the one off. And and I think, you know,

obviously you're taking a chance here, but based on class.

But I mean this horse again needs the set up and even

sometimes when gets the set up like last time out at Churchill,

I mean didn't finish. Yeah, it's a remarkable thing

there In your handicapping though, who are you including in

your pick for? So I think the nine's my top

pick dash man. And obviously it's it's tough to

sit here and and talk about a horse that was 18 to 1 and and

won by a nose last time out. And then you see 6 to 1 morning

line. Obviously, hey, we we wish we

were there, But I also don't think this horse is going to be

6 to 1. I think this horse is probably

going to be 12:50 or so coming off of the the layoff for Brian

Lynch, but I think this horse will be closer to the pace and

will close and does finish races when in the position.

So grade 3 winner last time out. I really do like this horse in

the spot. And then I think I'm I'm nine

710 for my ticket Anglophile. I I, I basically, I'm going to

give you the same thing I said about highway robber, but in a

positive for Anglophile. I think Anglophile and Hwy.

robber are very much the same horse.

And I think you're going to get 6 to one on Anglophile on the

day. You're going to get 3 to 5 on

Hwy. robber. There are horses that are always

there but who can finish. And I think a Gophile has as

good of a chance as the one to finish.

And I think you've got to include just based on the price

difference between the two. And then the 10 old crazy bone,

we'll be near the lead, we'll be in it and you know, could even

get the lead in this spot. And I just think this this horse

tries really hard. You look at the replays and this

this horse does not give up when you're the front end.

If if not engaged in the race, this horse does not engage.

But if he's close to the pace he likes to run 15 to one on the

morning line. I think and include there was

washed off last time tried to wire them lost by a neck and is

first up for Michael Maker, which we will see a lot of

Maker. First off, the claims when we

talk about. Get ready for Kentucky Downs is

exactly right. Yeah, it's a pretty much you can

set your watch to it. The old claim Runneman Ellis and

then Runneman Kentucky Downs for Mike Maker.

Only one that I have in my handicapping you didn't mention

is for stopping the two horse year Warfront obviously and and

has been running. This is his 28th career race,

six wins during that time hasn't won yet this year, JD, But I

thought I thought the Elkhorn, the Elkhorn and the Louisville

his his two efforts there. Both of those races would win

here as far as I'm concerned. And so I think Verstappen has a

really good shot here. I think Tyler will time this a

little bit better than other riders have with him.

And so I think Verstappen is a must include in in their

handicapping tickets this weekend as.

Well, the thing the thing with Verstappen.

Honestly, Louise, we just need to make sure the horse doesn't

hear it's a stakes race. If it's a stacked allowance

race, that should be a stakes race.

This horse dominates. And then as soon as you tell the

horse it's a stakes race, this horse just doesn't show up.

I don't get it. You look through, you watch the

replays, you look at the past performances and if it's an

allowance race, this horse runs really well.

And if it's a stakes race, even a stakes race against worst

company, this horse doesn't show up.

I don't get it, Louis, And that's why I can't include it.

I don't blame you. All right, late pick three.

Guess what, folks? We've got the double pick 3

again. I'm sure JD could go after it

again, but we won't. Kentucky Downs preview ladies

Turf Mile will be race 8 on Sunday.

Phillies and Mares 3 and up here.

Quarter million bucks in the Kitty here.

Of course, we're going to mile on the turf of the first here,

JD in this one. This was my spread race in this

sequence. I have a lot.

You have a single. You know what?

That's a better way to do this. You have a single here.

JD who is it? It's simply in front, and what

we want to do for this horse to win is to not simply be in

front. Actually, I would like to see

the source be as far back as humanly possible and close

because that is the style that wins the race for this horse.

And I think there's a lot, there's a lot signed on of of

horses that kind of want a similar stalking trip and

somebody's going to go. Besides, maybe she's looking

lucky. And I think Simply in Front will

hang back with Juan Machado aboard for Eddie Kennealy and

low them down in the lane. She did win the Music City the

Grade 2 at Kentucky Downs last year and of course comes back

looking for more of this. I have that horse in my in my

handicapping for sure. I went ahead and I landed.

If I have my notes, I do. Where's my son to take it?

There we go on 7, which JD is about to hate and that is an

austere. Telegafolion gets the mound for

Brendan Walsh here. We saw her last up at Woodbine

in the Nassau. Are you seeing that the the turf

translate from Woodbine to other places this year?

I know that's a one turn mile and we're asking the horse to do

something different. Yeah.

I think really it's it's tough kind of in the to take the EP

Taylor and some of these races just because you get the odd

configuration of it being the outside track it would bind.

So if you're not familiar with Woodbine, the EP Taylor, the big

turf course is outside of the mile Oval.

That is the synthetic course and then they have another turf

course inside of it. So it's very much a different

scenario. This horse loves Kentucky Downs,

so it obviously makes a ton of sense that they're showing up

here and getting ready for it. I will bet this horse at

Kentucky Downs and I will stay away from the betting window on

this horse on Sunday. There you go.

We also saw this one in the Gallaurette 2 back.

I thought ran really well in that race and should get better

conditions this weekend. Before that was good at Turfway

as well. And so just hoping that Austere

will get the trip this time. I think for a horse like that

for Brendan Walsh, I think that there is a desire to be in the

winner's circle in this one and she's looking lucky on the

outside. I think is an interesting one

was in that inner Indiana General Assembly and Mike Smith

was in to ride. It was not his best day.

His timing did not seem to click up while he was at Horseshoe

Indianapolis. But this one in other races has

been running well at high level allowance races as well and was

really good in in the Cardinal at a mile and an eighth at

Churchill Downs as well. Doesn't have to go that far

here. If we get that Cardinal return

here, I think she's got a legitimate shot here.

So I went 7-9 on top. I definitely have your one in my

handicapping as well. But I think the six is

interesting in here, as has the favorite for Dale Romans and

Corey Lannery has just because she's a winner.

She's won her last two outgoing a mile at the distance 7 times,

hitting the board in nine runs at the mile distance.

Has won at Ellis Park before. I think she makes a lot of sense

here as we as we go through this.

JD But yeah, no, I, if you're right about the one here that's

going to that's going to cheapen up those tickets a lot.

I have a different single on Sunday than you do, but we will

get to that in just a moment. Race 9 will start the late

double on Sunday there at Ellis Park.

We're doing Kentucky Downs preview day, but this is the

grade three pucker up a $400,000 race at a mile and an eighth for

three-year old Phillies in here. A bit of an Oaks.

And JD, where'd you land on top of this one?

I like the eight Admit, It's 7:00 to 2:00 for Tom Drew with

Brandon Hernandez aboard. It's tough to really come up

with on paper who is going to be the lead horse in this Grade 3

affair. And I think Admit has just as

good of a chance as anybody else.

It's she's a horse. If you've been following, you

know, I think she was the most impressive Philly that was

running at Turfway Park this winter at the beginning and then

obviously in the, you know, Cincinnati Trophy in the

Bourbonette Oaks just was a little short at the end of the

race. I think getting the turf last

time was the revelation and really probably always the plan

for this horse after trying the dirt in the Ashland at

Keeneland. So I think this horse is is

better on turf. I think there's a chance that

this horse gets the lead and if that will be very close up, I

think it's admits race to lose. With that said, given that, you

know, we are doing some things here and against grade three

company for the first time, I was close to singling the horse,

couldn't end up doing it. So I've got a little depth

adding the three and the seven. I think Delaware Ree's very

interesting and you mentioned Mike Smith and timing rides at

Indiana. He didn't have the greatest good

job of that. I really like Delaware Raine in

the Indiana Oaks and just got involved, got her involved

early, maybe a little too quick too early, kind of faded out,

faltered down the line. I, I want to give her one more

chance here. 12:50 on the morning line.

Yeah, when we saw her in an optional claimer at Tampa, you

know, in December, she was spectacular.

And so now this is one that's got a ton of ability that, you

know, Owen Hardy putting her in the Indian Oaks is never an

accident, right? That's not something that he

thought. And frankly, I'll tell you, I

was there. Nobody was catching Klico that

day. She was unbelievable.

And she's she's as pro as they get amongst those 3 year old

classes. I agree with you.

I'd admit that's one I'll definitely have in my

handicapping. I'm going to try here for a good

time on the outside. The 10 horse, Tyler Gaffelion

and Brendan Walsh. We get a little bit of a break

from that regret. But I thought showed over the

mile and an eighth that she's going to be ready to go for most

of that. Frankly, if that if that race is

at a mile, I think she's got a legitimate shot in it.

Did win it a mile on the 16th before that after breaking her

maiden, excuse me, at Keeneland at a mile and an eighth in a

race that was washed off the turf.

So I I just like her. I think she's a gamer five runs

five times hitting the board this year.

So I think here for a good time daughter of justify.

I get to add Tyler aboard. I think that's a good play there

on the outside at 4:00 to 1:00. And then I also was going to try

in my handicapping, you know, and I'm much the same horses.

Destino de Oro that you mentioned earlier came out of

the clouds last time, but he is second off the layoff here for

Brad Cox. And I think that that one will

be interesting as well. The closer on Sunday after that

grade three pucker up is the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf

Sprint going 5 1/2. Here is the male version of the

race that we saw on Saturday. This is for three and up return

of Coppola, Moustache, Joe Scheiste.

We got no balls in here. Arzak's in here.

Charcoal is a nice little race, isn't it?

It is a very nice race and I and I know we're going to get a love

fest from you on no balls. I, I will say, and I teased this

earlier that I have a very strong opinion on no balls for

the rest of the career. And I honestly think this is the

instruction for for Tyler Gaffe Leon.

We're either going to set a track record or we're going to

lose. That's what no balls has been

trying to do. It's it's all or nothing is

we're going to go, we're going to throw everything out there

and we're going to try to collect as many track records as

we can when the horse is drawn. Well, and I think I think mid

gate here is a good draw given some of the circumstances I

talked about. We don't know how much the

rump's going to be, but it's kind of an angular start here

with this turf Sprint at Ellis Park.

So obviously, you know, no balls, you know, Breeders' Cup

wing sprinter a couple years ago.

Yeah, I I think you can. You can say all you want right

now. Will we go for it?

Oh, no, I know you're going to include him in your tickets.

That's the number one thing that I know I'm going to single him

here and try to get get this done because he's he's like what

you just described, which is they're not waiting for Kentucky

Downs with this one. No, just go out and get the

biggest checks that we can and go South that set the Atlas Park

track record. And I think they'll give him a

little tap, tap and he'll be gone.

And that's what's going to happen here.

I just, I, I think he's very clearly the class of the race.

If we're talking about a horse like Arzak as like the biggest

competitor here at 3:00 to 1:00. And I've watched that horse win

once in his last 10 races. And frankly, in some of those

he's running against nothing. I mean, I want to be very clear

like he won't, he lost the Janus to Coppola and had no business

doing it. So I just, I, I think Arzak is

washed And, and so I'm, I'm leaning on no balls here.

I'm going to go single on him late in the the card here.

So let me get my pick four out. There we go 2250 nice and cheap

here, but I'll single at the end here. 35 and 3 runners in the

first three legs of this so essentially an expensive pick

three that has no balls at the end.

If you are not watching this, you can certainly go back to

Spotify or YouTube and watch it for sure.

But who did you land on the final in the finale here on

Sunday, JD? Yeah, I think really if if you

know Coppola can get a perfect trip here from the one hole sit

right behind the speed and I I really think that you know he's

he's set up for this perfectly to wire them last time out at

Horseshoe Indy ran respectful respectfully enough in the

Jaipur against you know much tougher AG bullet.

Obviously my boyfriend's shout out to our Ontario breads.

I'm always going to shout them out and you know, I think that's

that's a horse. You know, overall for my ticket,

I'm 17311. I think the 11 is very

interesting to talk about charcoal because they they've

kind of found something here with the the the freight train

close. And basically what's been

happening from a jockey standpoint and Martine rides

back from the last time is you're going to sit at the back

of the field with this horse and you're going to go far outside

or you're going to go rail and you're going to say Yolo, we're

going to try to beat you at at the square on the square at the

end. And I think obviously, obviously

a must include and I think you can make a lot of money

potentially on Sunday if you want to key Charcoal in 2nd and

3rd and you're in your exotics. I think that's a very smart play

because I think there's a lot of horses that are going to be on

or near the lead. I think Charcoal is going to be

running like a freight train in this one.

Charcoal 27 to 1 when he won this race last year.

Just on the card last year on the Kentucky Downs Preview day.

Thanks to JD for hanging out with us.

He'll go 3 wide in the legs, one and three.

He'll single in the second and go 4 wide in the final leg of

his ticket on on Sunday. Excuse me down there at Ellis

Park, a fun two days of racing down there in Henderson.

If you are a college student, they will be doing college day

on August 10th because they had to move that because of the heat

got that cancelled in late July. They will move that event back

to August 10th. When's the last time you went to

a college themed anything there JD?

There it is. I'm really excited for Jaden

Rashada in the Sacramento State Hornets.

You know, Jaden Rashada transferring in from Georgia,

going to be the the Hornets quarterback this year, college,

everything. I normally would have more from

my alma mater. Drake, who has a new coach, and

Eric Henderson. The last three Drake coaches

debut in the Big 10 this year. It's exciting.

On basketball, yeah, right. But yeah, yeah, yeah.

Does Drake have a football team? And I mean that without kind of.

FCS non scholarship. Oh, OK, got it.

OK. So like Butler or that kind of

stuff? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Play in the Pioneer League with Butler.

Yeah. Got it.

OK, cool. There you go.

All right. Well, he's JD Fox.

He's a little too proud of FCS football.

That is what it is. He joined us here.

I'm kidding. I'm dead to joke.

Hey. I've been over 75% winners on

FCS football the last two years at horse tickets.

Well, that plays every week for FCS football eventually and

there'll be a lot of Woodbine picks and other things that I'll

throw the picks up on Saturday and.

Sunday. How do you prescribe?

Is that dude seriously? Yeah.

Do you want to be a Do you want to be a guest on local sports

talk radio? Kentucky.

I mean on. Fridays could not.

It'd be fun. I don't know.

I don't know if if people want to.

I don't think people want to hear me talking FCS football,

honestly, Louis. Who's FCS in Is Morehead FCS and

then? Eastern.

Yeah, More. Yeah, Morehead in Eastern.

Yeah, OK. Is Murray.

Yeah. Murray.

Murray's FCS and Murray. Yeah.

Yeah. OK.

All right. There you go.

Plenty of plenty of FCS action surrounding me here in Kentucky.

He's out there in Arizona. We appreciate JD Fox joining us

here on the Horse Racing happy hour.

Well, happy Ellis to you. Happy Kentucky Dolls Preview

day, buddy. I'm sure we'll catch up soon.

Thanks Sniper. Get out of here, get him out of

here. I'm done with this.

It's JD Fox. We appreciate him jumping on

here. Odd of the program, but man, it

is time for us to wrap this up. Reminder we'll be back tomorrow.

So Cal Saturdays, the Clement Hirsch's this weekend, grade one

out there at Delmar. I'll be talking that tomorrow

afternoon with Gary Spears, who will also join me on radio in

the morning to preview the Whitney as part of Rebo and Co

on ES Get 60 and 105, My friend JD Fox, I'm Lou Ramo, thanks so

much for hanging out with us on Agent 1st Edition.

The horse racing back at it next week.