SoCal Saturday 9/27/25 | Santa Anita

Speaking of stupid, I'm Louie Ramo hanging out with a not so

stupid Barry Spears. Maybe he's just hanging out

with, you know, SoCal Saturday on a Friday.

It is September 26th, 6th gram and not with us, of course.

We are previewing the September 27th card.

Tomorrow's card of course, 5 graded sticks, that's an Anita.

We're going down the hill a couple times.

We're doing some dirt route racing 1/4 mile and a quarter on

the turf. Barry, how about that?

How you doing today? You doing all right buddy?

I'm hanging in there, hanging in there trying to figure out who

rubbed off. More dumbness on who in this

relationship here. A lot of dumb.

It's a stunning amount of dumb. My kid has an eighth grade

soccer game today and it might be his last middle school soccer

game. How about that?

So when you're an old man, you say things like that.

Lou, your beau Grease Spears with you, represented by

amwageramwager.com. Go check them out today.

If you are a new customer, they've got a 100% deposit match

up to $150.00 available for you. They'll be at our seminar here

in Louisville. If you are able to join us ahead

of the Breeders Cup Tuesday, Martini Italian Bistro here in

the city on the East End of town.

Certainly welcome to come check us out there.

And by us, I mean Barry Spears is coming to Louisville for like

1/2 day just to do that seminar. So there you go.

You know what? This show is just jet set and

that's what it is. You understand me.

You're very I like. The jet set it's.

Going to be your birthday? Would we do that seminar a big

birthday too? Yeah, sort of.

But you'll be able to find that wherever you watch this show,

you'll be able to find that. We'll also be on the blood horse

that works for that one on that Tuesday ahead of the Breeders

Cup. The bear.

We're getting close to that Breeders' Cup got several

Breeders' Cup winning in races at Santa Anita, the Vosburg as

well at at Aqueduct. If anybody's interested in that

coverage. Had a conversation with Matthew

DeSantis up there on Long Island earlier today on my show on ESPN

Radio here in town. That's up at the podcast center

at the horse racing happy hour as well.

But this card getting back to Santa Anita, these meats, you

know what I like about this meet?

I like about the September meet at Churchill for for I think a

one to one kind of very apple, apple kind of comparison very is

that it almost feels like a boutique meat, does it not?

So it feels like we're kind of getting the boutique thing at

Santa Anita, doesn't it? Yeah, that, that's actually a

good point. You know, this this month,

little nice little scrimmage before the big game, pretty

much, right? Yeah, at the end of October.

But you know, I think what's really going to stand out is the

turf racing because everybody's been holding on their turf

horses and they're going to unleash and I think the good

fields, big payouts and the whole 9.

So I'm I'm ready for it. All kinds of good things

tomorrow on the Cardigan AM wager.com.

Go check them out. At least go see the platform.

You'll love it. Once you see it, go check out

our friends there. Of course, we'll go to race one.

It is an odd race, which means our odd guy Barry gets to go

first. State bread.

Philly's running here in a maiden special weight.

You got to be 3-4 or five years old to run in this 16 furlongs

on the turf for $60,000, Barry. And you landed on the outside.

One of the outside horses in Della Terra.

Look at you being boring to start the show.

Yeah, unfortunately, I, I landed on the chalk.

I I tried to beat the source and trust me, I really, really,

really, really did. I just couldn't see it.

There's really not any speed in this race other than Deletera.

She's the fastest horse on paper, she's the fastest horse

in this race and I think she gets the job done fairly easily

here. Yeah.

Coming off a little bit of a layoff.

Any concern with that? No, not at all.

You know, she hasn't run all that much.

So the, you know, her, her two starts there in February and

March really have very little impact on this race.

I I think she's the goods. You are 8, five and three in

here. I'll go 18 and five.

So I'll try the inside horse here.

Second time starter Tiger of the Sea for Brian Corner and of

course, Daniel Herrera getting them out here, the two of them

over 8 to start their career together.

So I think at 4:00 to 1:00, I'm actually going to get a fair

amount more value than that. Love the work.

Last out on the 15th of September.

I think that's the kind of speed that can carry here and frankly

was really good on debut in August and should be, you know,

August of last year should be ready to go.

I think off of a long layoff here and very part of the reason

I think that this is a good play is not just not not that I think

the layoff is going to be an issue.

Obviously I don't, but I think we're going to get way more than

4 to 1. I think we're going to get way,

way more than 4 to 1 and I think that this horse can win in this

spot and I think 6171's fair price.

Yeah, you should. Because I, I think they're

really going to pour it in on, on Della Terra.

So we'll see what what it ends up as, but I think a healthy

second choice at at 5:00 to 1:00 would be probably what's what

you'll see you and. I both like Mendelssohn's Angel

and that's an interesting thing because this horse finished 8th.

Last out is 8 to 1 on the line. We both have the five in our

handicapping. Do you have that one second?

What do you like about her? Just kind of got her progress

impeded. The last race was, you know,

didn't get a great trip and I think the horse is on the

improve. You can kind of tell the the

workouts coming out of that last race are pretty good And I I

don't know, it's I think this horse has some ability just by

looking at that first race. Probably would want longer, but

we're here on Saturday. So I I think this one is a

formula foe in this kind of race.

Barry Spears, Lou or Beau with you here on Socal Saturday as

represented by AM Wager. This is the horse racing happy

hour. Move on to race 2 on the card

here. It is an optional claimer,

$50,000. If you want to throw your horse

in with the tag 6 furlongs on the dirt, they're running for

$61,000. Miracle Mark is the 2 to one

favorite, at least on the morning line in the 2 hole.

Barry, I do not have that horse in my handicapping whatsoever,

which is pretty unusual for me. But here we are having fun on a

Friday, May. It goes to midnight for Aval

Escano and Mark Black comes in in the top spot for me.

This is one that we saw in the San Carlos in March of 2024 is

now going to be second off the layoff here in and an optional

claimer at the $100,000 level for nod 2 life for his last out,

I think just needed the race. Barry will be considerably

better here. Mark Lat 34% off of these kinds

of layoffs. And so I think that this is the

spot for this one to land in. Hopefully Abel is kind of ready

to go with this one as well. So go ahead, give me in this

spot. Give me Ghost of a Midnight, the

five horse on top in race 2. Barry, I know you went to, I

don't know the exact same spot. How about that?

Anything you want to add? Yeah, I, I think the setup is

really, really, really there for this horse.

There's there's quite a bit of speed with Grubauer and a few

inside horses. Cole Dweller, who's actually

running very well, has a lot of speed too.

I I think that's going to affect this horse.

And even the inside horse Lawless World has a lot, a lot

of speed. So I think the setup is there.

Glatt takes the double as far as I'm concerned.

Interesting. Yeah, OK.

That would give you the the Mark Glatt double there you at 5-2

and six. What do you like about Miracle

Mark Here the. The favorite going to the post

just has the the the speed figures to do it, not so much

the the running style. And I'm not really sure how well

this horse will take to the dirt.

But if you know, you figure this horse is down maybe 10 points

off of the those turf efforts puts this horse right in the

mix. Probably gets a favorable trip

to Kimura's very savvy with his judge of pace.

So I think I think that horse will be really tough too.

But I gave the nod to the five. I was talking with Jaime,

Joaquin, Jaime, excuse me the other day on and Jaime Torres in

my head for no reason. I was talking to Joaquin Jaime

on this show yesterday about these races and and Kazushi came

up and going over 1000 wins on the North American scene.

Certainly just one of those guys that's emerging in our sport, as

you pointed out as a especially seems to have a good read of

pace as he runs in these kinds of rides, in these kinds of

races. Excuse me, I went 5-4 and three

here in the second race. Coduelo, as you mentioned is

running really, really well. And part of this very is because

I got one of these runners at Los Al for like 45 to $45.00

kind of payout. And look, if you give me Edgar

and I like this development in Southern California that

especially in these Sprint races.

Let's be clear about what Palleris is as a jockey.

This is what he specializes in, right?

Is making as few mistakes as possible, getting your sprinting

horse to either the front or near the front and then figuring

it out at the very end of these races.

I love this. I love the number six to one on

Code Duelo, who because of running in mixed company with

quarter horses, has a lot more wins on the resume than most of

the horses in this field, Barry. And so I just like when a horse

crosses the line first as often as Code Duelo has one last out,

frankly at the optional claiming $40,000 level as well.

So if I get 6 to one there, I love it.

The three Berlin Wall I love because this horse got first

place through DQ last time, gets to try winners from the first

time, but I thought frankly did a bunch of good work with so

much trouble, Barry, for this horse to even have finished

second with all the bumping and all the things that went on to

that race, very positive for me. I went 543 in this spot.

You also have the six horse in your handicapping in Grubauer,

Ron Bauer not around anymore, but Grubauer in this one.

Yeah, kind of a stop and pop. This horse likes to get out

there and go. And you know, there are versions

of this race where Grubauer shakes clear and and kind of

runs away. I mean comes out of that awesome

rhythm race that you were just kind of referring to that last

race is was a huge improvement from the layoff the August 2nd

race and I think this horse will probably progress, but I really

have doubts of this horse sticking around to win a race

like this. It seems like she kind of get,

he kind of gives it up late and I think obviously the five is

Johnny on the spot and should take this heat.

Again, amwager.com. Oop, I just heard my mic drop

precipitously. Can you still hear me, Barry?

Oh my gosh. Yeah, barely.

Oh, I wonder what the heck just happened.

Is that way better? Yeah, much, much better.

I gotta watch where I put my arms because I have technical

equipment. So that's what happens when you

have those fortiens pythons. I don't think that's what it is.

amwager.com. We move on to race 3.

We'll go inside the mind of Spears later on in the program.

We sure don't. Another state bread maiden

special. We got Phillies here, 6 furlongs

on the dirt, $60,000 on the line. 2 year old Phillies here.

Barry, we are always starting serious watch of the Phillies at

this point or the 2 year olds, excuse me, at this point of the

year. This maiden special, no

different for sure. We've got a three to 1

Jacqueline Lucas in here, but a 7 to 5 cashed for Doug O'Neill.

Where'd you land with these Phillies?

I ended up on the four. Funny enough, though, the

longest of the horses I thought were really contenders.

I I thought it was kind of 4-5 and three.

But the four, if you put a line through that last race on the

turf, clearly that the horse didn't want any part of that.

This horse has some speed. Parabon likes to put blinkers on

to get a little bit more out of these horses.

He has a really good strike rate with that going way back and I

don't see any other speeds in this race and I would think

final table lady will will get the run of the race.

Whether she can hold on and win is another story, but I think

we're going to get a good price and a good shot to win this one.

You and IA fair amount of overlap here.

You went 4-5 and three, I went 5-2 and three.

You of course talking about the four horse there in a final

table lady who I do have in my handicap in cash flow on top for

me 7 to 5 here I thought looked really good last out against

other state bread company. Just kind of ran out of gas at

the end of that one should be able to figure it out this time

around not having to do any of the extra work that you might

have to do at a Del Mar. I do love that this one started

its career at Wyoming. By the way, just wanted to give

that shout about in a $13,000 made special weight out there in

Wyoming is cash, but in the O'Neill barn now having moved

over from the Chris Mitchell barn.

But again, I landed 52 and 3 here.

I think Jacqueline Lucas is interesting.

Juan Hernandez picks up them out here for Ruben Silvera.

So I do think that's a big step forward for this horse.

Barry, I'm trying to think because I was working on this in

my head, when is the last time you saw a 1 furlong workout on

the form and that there were three of them in the same day at

Del Mar? Yeah, it's, it's has to be at

least 25 years since I've seen that.

And it's funny, you know, they must have, I would, I would say

like they must have told the Clocker they were going to do

1A1 furlong work. No doubt about it.

I mean, I don't know why, but hey, have at it, man.

You go that 11 seconds, just you're doing all right.

I will not lie, I I I'm doing that pick based on Juan

Hernandez getting them out. I'm not going to lie about it.

I then went to the three horse in Billie Holiday Aguilar riding

for Stevie Audio. In that case, second time

starter. Really nice work from the gate

of the last time out. A little bit better, frankly,

and improved from the one before that.

So hopefully just a horse on the improved sort of in general,

Barry, But in this race you went 4-5 and three.

Anything to add on on say the five or the 3 here?

Yeah, the three just didn't get out of the gate.

I want to give that horse another shot.

Yadi do a little bit better second time out, Aguilar kind of

migrates over here and a nice workout September 20th.

So this horse is might be on the improve and I think that they'll

they'll show up during this race somewhere.

There you go. All right, we'll move on to Race

4 or even number races means Louis gets to go first.

This is the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile.

Last year's winner, Johannes went on to a second place finish

in the Mile at the Breeders Cup, $200,000 on the line.

Johannes is back to defend his crown.

Berry. I do think he's the class here.

I think it's not necessarily very close, frankly, that

Johannes is going to be the class here in this one.

Very interesting choice by connections whatever to debut

this horse in 2025 and that version of the four-star Dave,

My goodness, that is a life choice that I would not have

made, I don't think. But here we are.

I think getting back to his turf at Santa Anita where the horse

is 7 for seven lifetime. Did I do that again with the

volume? Good gosh, it's the shirt.

It's this it's this like dad shirt bad rolling job on the

sleeves by me. It's a it's just not good Barry,

but I got you on top here for all of the obvious reasons.

Final boss second for me here for John Sadler.

Why don't has been riding this horse for a long time.

We last saw this one integrate to Delmar Handicap.

Bad news horse finished sixth. Good news.

The horse would have won the race had it been at this

distance. So I think getting back to the

mile will be something very, very good for this horse.

We saw her him Excuse me in the Wicker early on this year.

A list of stakes at Del Mar refinished behind Almendariz and

Zo Joe again had the lead late in that race.

If we can just settle a little bit, this horse ran faster next

time out in an optional claimer in in total amount of time.

If we can just get this horse to chill out just a little bit in

the form cycle should be good to go.

But this isn't every other type as well. 4 back, one fourth

place, 3 back, 1-2 back, 6th place last time out should be a

a factor here. So again in this one Barry, I'm

going to go 3-4 and a six in this race here though you landed

35 and four. What do you like about the five

horse here? Yeah, yeah, it's kind of the

best of the rest. I, I, I don't think this field

is very tough as far as steaks horses go.

Almendaris is pretty consistent closer and I I just think final

boss might give it up late and Almendaris just pass them.

Meanwhile, looking at Johannes win by probably about four or

five lengths. OK, wow, All right, that's more

than I've got as far as just a beat him up at 34354 for Barry,

their 3-4 and six, but for me in here go.

Ahead, just a a point on what you're saying, bringing back

that horse in the four-star, Dave.

Yeah, I was with you at first thinking that why would you

bring this horse across the country for that sort of race?

But it it kind of makes sense. By the time you think about

where this horse is starting to where this horse wants to be,

they're working. Probably get right, get the

hardest race possible to start, even though he didn't run that

well. Go to a softer spot, get that

confidence and then peak at the right time in the third race of

that form cycle, which should be in the in the Breeders Cup.

So it it does make sense, but he's got to perform.

I mean, anything close to what he did last time is not going to

cut it. Yeah, he won't.

Not only will he not win this race, he might miss the board if

he wants, like you did in the four-star.

Yeah, you can't do that again. Totally agree with you there.

Johannes was my vote for Eclipse award-winning turf horse last

year. Barry, based on the body of work

in North America, do you agree with that vote?

Absolutely OK. He was very good.

So do Joaquin Jaime. How about that?

He and I, fellow fellow Eclipse voters, how about that?

I had no idea till yesterday. I'm just kidding.

All right, so Race 5 will be a maiden special race.

Flex it, Just flex it on me. That's messed.

Up I am I am I'm excited for one of the horses in this race it is

a $60,000 purse for six furlongs on the dirt. 2 year olds in this

one, Barry. It's an odd race so I don't get

to go first, but I'm going to let you go first.

I I think there's this potential superstar in here.

Go ahead. Who do you have on top?

I went to the five plagiarist. That race that that horse ran on

August 31st is really interesting.

Stuck on the rail, didn't get a great trip at all.

I I mean was was slow. You can even see it on the

replay if you go back and look, it was just clearly a step slow.

Didn't get any room, didn't even get to run.

Mark Glad does very well second time out getting Abel Liskano

this time. But I I think the the the role

reversal is there. I think this horse is going to

improve second time out and be on it six to one good price.

Let's take it. That is a good price.

So Barry landed on the five on top there, I landed on the 1 and

I am, I'm very, very excited about the one.

I'm not going to lie to anybody. I think he's really good.

I think he's going to be great. In fact, my banners are all

screwed up. So I got to reorder all these

things. But we are on Race 5, believe it

or not. So that's there.

I don't know where my personal picks went at all for this race,

Barry, but I'll just tell people out loud what I was trying to

do, which is 1/4. And two, I landed on the Bob

Baffert trainee that Juan Hernandez is going to ride with

a stunner for me that they went at 39% together at Santa Anita

and 40% overall. I think this one who they

debuted a mile, very interesting.

Frankly, getting back to six furlongs.

All he's got to do in this spot, Barry is just go.

I think he's going to be able to do exactly that.

I don't know that there's another horse in this field that

even holds a candle to what he's going to try to do in this spot.

I went 1-4. And two, as I mentioned, Army

man is going to be in here. I don't know if we've got a

trend on this show, Barry, but what is it?

2 weeks in a row we've had a McCarthy first timer.

Yeah, I get bent down. Well, one of them won, right?

And so did win. Yeah.

I mean, like that's actually starting to happen a little bit

here. So I'm looking harder at the and

and you picked it, by the way, That's how I remember because I

didn't pick it, but I got Army man in a second here.

Real question, Barry, because I don't know the answer to this.

And no one in California has been able to tell me who's

riding for Paco. That's.

A good question. No one's been able to tell me.

I know little things like I imagine once we get to the

Goodwood and he's not there and Roberto Rispoli doesn't have a

mount, I have a feeling of who's getting that mount.

But in a race like this, who's getting them out?

You know what I mean? Like who's picking up for Paco

here? Maybe somebody else from out

east? Would they ship somebody in?

At this point? Why am I messing?

With, I mean, Tyler Gaffe rode Boyd for Baffert, why not?

Yeah, I don't know. I, I think at this point it's

probably too late to ask people, especially with the person that

both at Aqueduct and at Churchill this weekend.

I don't know if you can get somebody out there at this

point. I'm great at stakes.

I'm not, you know, I'm not fighting that.

Obviously Paco was willing to make the flight and he should

have, by the way, been able to make, willing to make that

flight. I just, no one's been able to

answer that question for me. And so it sits out, it's kind of

a out there in the ether and no one's been able to answer the

question for me kind of thing. But you went 5-2 and three here.

What do you like about Rio Grande?

Second time starter same thing a little bit slow was wide.

You know kind of got caught wide more than Providence who you

know I I have the idea that Providence provenance does not

want to Sprint. I think this horse has has

stretch out speed and we'll see on how that horse gets out of

the gate. I mean, most Baffert horses do

get out of the gate, but I, I'm, I'm of the ilk that Rio Grande

might really get out of the gate a lot faster than Providence

because of the fact I think Rio Grande is more of a sprinter

type than Providence and they probably want to go longer with

Providence too. I I know they paid 750 for for

Rio Grande, but I think they did that well knowing that that

horse probably is a Miller. Son of Justify, his Rio Grande,

son of Into Mischief is Providence or Provenance or

whatever they call that horse. I'm sure Frank mare Body will

clear that up for us on a Saturday.

Race 6 is up next. It continues the grade at stakes

here, the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, $200,000

here. We'll start on the downhill turf

course, Passover, the grass, and then finish the rest of the race

on the turf course at Santa Anita for three and up here.

Again, $200,000 on the line here, Barry.

And an interesting race because we get the return of Gold

Phoenix, who just won the Delmar Handicap for the fourth time in

a row, which is unbelievable and wins that grade, too.

But that's at a mile and 3/8. We're cutting back to a mile and

1/4 here. Not a huge difference, frankly,

in the amount of running that you're going to do.

An eighth of a mile less, of course.

But there are some horses in here who are fascinating, and

not one that I picked, but one that I love because I feel like

the horse is always there. Is Dicey Mochara.

We'll break from the four. Hector Barrios gets them out.

Barry, is there a world in which, with Hector Barrios in

the in the irons, Dicey Mochara actually gets this done?

Damn right he does because of fact there is no speed.

I mean, if if you were, if this race was in 2022, Balladeer

would be my choice. But we're in 2025 and Balladeer

hasn't seen the lead in quite some time.

And that just leaves the door open for Dicey Motard.

And specifically if you go back to the August 31st, 2024 race

and the September 28th, 2024 race, he comes into this race in

similar fashion. You see the pop the last time

going to mile and 3/8 did the same thing the race before the

John Henry Turf Classic. I think he's going to try to

recreate that. Hector Barrios is going to get

to lead. He's you see he's getting back

on this horse. The intent is there and the door

is there wide open for this horse to take to go through it.

Because a horse like Gold Phoenix who is very tough and I

love watching him run, but I can't bet horses like this,

especially when they're caught out wide.

I know it's not too wide like he was last time, but man, it's,

it's hard to get a horse like that at a short price.

Winning by a neck, I mean, and that's how he wins.

I mean, go Phoenix. Doesn't like.

Pull away from everybody. So he he's always susceptible

for an upset and I think Dicey Mochar getting the lead makes a

lot of sense here. Certainly not on the same level,

but I just remember wanting idiomatic to pull away from

other Phillies and mares and she just never would do it.

For sure. Gold Phoenix is a bit like that.

I do have him on top Barry, just because he does win, right?

I mean, it's just one of those things where he does win.

I went 7-6 and five in this race.

I think Stay Hot is super interesting here, 3 for three

hitting the board this year in all three of his races, all of

them in stakes. Started at Lone Star before

moving to Del Mar was a winner at Lone Star.

They flew in Mike Smith for that race, who keeps them out here

for Peter Urton and the X Line Border Racing folks.

And I, this is 1 where if this horse has never tried the

distance, OK, has been at a mile and an eighth and then they

tried him in the Del Mar Handicap and finished an

excellent, excellent second, OK And you talk about there not

being a ton of speed in this race.

Is there a world in which Stay Hot and Mondego go to the front?

No, no. Stay hot stay hot does not want

the front. I I mean they went to the lead

in that turf classic because they were tons the best.

Mike Smith knew it and that's he got the job done, but they

really ideally want to target. The only problem is is gold

Phoenix just is a better closer, but again, we're then.

Going to try to get the lead here.

Who do you think ends up in the lead in this one?

Dicey Mochar, he's going to he's going to go to the front.

Balladeers just doesn't have any more.

He's just a step slow spy catcher has the ability, but I

don't think the horse wants to go this distance and isn't as

good. And that was my my reservation

would stay hot is that that horse might not want to go this

far. You land at 4-7 and three.

What do you like about SPY Catcher in this spot?

Big Price 12 to one. Yeah, I think Spy Catch can work

out a nice trip. You know, being for the place, I

think in this race is going to be really good things and I

think this horse can hang around likes the distance.

I think this horse the farther the better.

Funny enough, I I mean, I know this horse hasn't gone this

distance, but his effort at at Mound 3/8 against Rasta Man Vibe

was pretty decent. And that horse is probably going

to take some money in the race that he's running here, but only

because he likes the distance, not for the fact that he fits

class wise. But that always in these kind of

races goes a long way because not many, you know, there's not

many races that go this long and there's not many specialists.

So if you can find a horse that likes this distance, the the

class sometimes doesn't matter, right?

So we'll see. And and at 12 to one to round

out a triple. I think Spycatcher can do it.

Amwagerandamwager.com. That was the first of six races

on the card there at Santa Anita on Saturday.

This is Socal Saturdays in the horse racing happy hour

platform. My name's Lou Urbo hanging out

with the mind of Spears and Barry Spears.

How about that? I want that.

Moving on to Race 7. You're you're so right, $20,000

optional claimer here. 6 furlongs on the dirt.

We're running for $29,000. You talk about just an absolute

very different race in the middle of a bunch of graded

stakes. Barry, here we are.

It is race 7. You landed on the three horse

like I did in this one. We are very different behind

Supernal, but why do you like Supernal?

I think that, you know, they, they kind of ran him in the

wrong races there. He's he's not technically a turf

horse And this, this seems to be what he wants to do is sprinting

on the dirt. His races in May, in April and

March, most of those races would get it done here.

He he was running with, you know, a little bit better

company than this and he's going to get the set up.

I think devil among us is is going to set the table for him.

That horse is really faint hearted, doesn't want to win and

I think he'll take over late and really, really, really go away.

I, I like this horse quite a bit.

In fact, I I would say this is the my most likeliest winner.

On the card, OK, there you go. 3 for five lifetime at the

distance does have a second as well in that underrated stat I

think is 21% win strike rate for Kazushi Kamura, Doug O'Neill at

Santa Anita because I don't think I don't think of Doug

O'Neill as a 20% anything and I'm not picking on Doug O'Neill

at all. He runs his horses.

No, he. Runs his horses right.

He's like Kenny Mcpeak. He he is he's he's like the

coach, frankly, right? I mean, he's like lots of

frankly, for us horse players, he's he's the that's what we

want, right? That give us those guys, right.

Just go run your horses, just fill the gates.

We'll figure it out from there. We'll do the we'll do the

wagering part of this to get your horses in the in there as

much as you can. I'm with you.

I landed on supernal on top here.

I went to the 9 on the outside and Tiger in my tank.

Second here, a son. This is a fascinating 1A son of

Smiling Tiger, but a Kentucky bred.

I don't know. Speaking of things that I don't

know that I've seen one prolonged workouts and then sons

of Smiling Tiger born in Kentucky.

But this is an interesting one. Last seen in the $16,000

allowance company at 5 1/2. And I think the six furlongs is

probably just right here. A second and a third and 232

lifetime attempts. Excuse me at the distance, but

hasn't done this in a while, Barry right.

It it you know, outside of the the last run before that was

last seen 6 1/2 at Del Mar. So I think this distance is

probably right. Kyle Frey keeps them out here,

which I think is a big positive as well.

So I landed on three, nine and eight and here the 8 is Bali von

gig. What what you know about a Bali

von gig? What you know nothing because I

know nothing Bali von gig literally nothing.

But this horse was not great last time, but that was a until

the very last moment. Giovanni Franco picks up the

mount here. This one did win on the turf 2

back before that, though was super competitive at a lower

level than this and I'm just hoping that that speed will

carry. SO39 and eight here.

Barry, you in a different direction after the three.

So 3-4 and one. What do you like about the Devil

Among Us? Just the speed this horse should

get out and go and and it's probably going to outlast the

other speeds in this race. But you'll see obviously Devil

Among Us, the record on this horse, 22 starts, 8 second place

finishes. So I think it's inevitable this

horse is going to finish second. OK, All right.

So Devil Among Us is your second place finisher.

Barry also has the one horse that is handicapping, which is

Kahuna Magic. You get John Schurfs and who?

Bear Wristley 12 to one. I'm not.

Yeah, best of the rest kind of picking up pieces late.

It should set up for this horse to come running.

They they just got to do it. I think Raspoli is smart enough

to keep this horse in contention because class wise this horse

might be up against it a little bit, but I I still think this

horse, just the running style alone should put this horse in

the picture late. Well, good, I hope you're right,

Barry. Again, 3-4 and one.

I was 3-9 and eight. They're in a race 7.

Move on to race 8, of course, is another of the grade at stakes.

We're heading to the hill, down the hill in the NDD, the grade

two, $200,000 on the line, 3 and up in this one here, Barry.

We get some new shooters in here who have never tried the hill

and we get some older shooters who have tried it a lot.

Where did you land in in Race 8 and why did you land on a long

shot? Yeah, I'm throwing one downfield

here. I landed on #7 Kale's Angel

primarily because I like horses that cut back from a mile to go

down the hill. That's precisely what this horse

is doing and should get that push.

You see how this horse came off the layoff in the early part of

the year? So they they came out sort of

running at Oaklawn. Slight layoff ended up at

Turfway 1A minor stake there. The Animal Kingdom, which is

really good race. Went back to Oak Lawn and and

started the the competitive juices there and there's low

level stakes. Ended up at Delmar over the

summer ran a bang up race going a mile.

The cutback makes a lot of sense.

Peter Miller's firing on all cylinders literally gets Juan

Hernandez for this race. I don't know how much more you

could call your shot than than putting Juan Hernandez on this

horse. Love it, Love It 71I.

Don't think we're going to get 12 to one thanks to Juan

Hernandez, but I do think we'll probably get about 6 or 7.

Oh sure, I actually definitely agree with that.

I'm on the 8 here. First piece outside for Mike

Smith, who's had the mount for this horse since 2022.

This is a horse that's three for six down the hill and three

seconds. So never been worse than second

down the hill. Barry.

I just love that kind of consistency.

Wasn't great in the green Flash last out, but I think they were

using that to set up for this race, which the horse won last

year and came from off the pace to do it.

This is one that's going to be able to have the late kick.

Barry. I think we'll be good to go.

You mentioned going from a mile to down the hill.

What did this horse do? Won the Wicker at a mile last

year at Del Mar prior to winning this one.

So I do think this is one in first piece that if ready and I

think the so the workouts are an indication that in fact this

horse is should be amongst the contenders at the very end of

the race. Again, 8 five and one for me.

Yellow card second in the handicapping for me.

Michael McCarthy here. This is one that has tried the

hill just once finished a good second down.

It hasn't tried the hill. Excuse me, tried the hill in

Kentucky Downs before was in the Grade 1.

Franklin Simpson finished a good second in that race and Barry,

I'm using that that experience from the the weird thing that is

Kentucky Downs to go down the hill and over the dirt at Santa

Anita. So my sense is if you can run

well in Kentucky Downs, you could certainly run well down

the hill at Santa Anita. So give me a five and one in

here. Your second pick is the four

horse here. You agree with me on the 5

yellow card. So Red toe Sky Horse that we

talked about quite a bit on this program.

Yeah, it's better. Races actually have really come

down the hill and I, I, I, I'm sure Phil D'amato and and the

connections would want more races car to down the hill,

especially for this horse. Finish is really, really strong.

I just think Kale's Angel has a little bit of an edge going that

mild and on the cut back. The setup is there.

Sorento Sky is going to be close.

I think those two horses will dominate up front when it's all

said and done. 7 four and five. Anything you want to add to

yellow card besides my my my Kentucky downs take about the

yellow card. Yeah, he's a nice horse.

You know, he gave Howard Wolowitz a little scare and at

Kentucky Downs. But this horse is on the up and

up and and I wouldn't be surprised if next year Yellow

card really comes into his own and becomes like a real turf

Sprint monster. All right, move on to race 9.

Start of the late double already.

My goodness is the Grade 1 Goodwood win and in for the

Breeders Cup Classic in this one, $300,000 on the line.

We get the ship a first mission across the country.

Barry, let's go ahead and just try to do the predicting for for

Brad Cox and connections here. Obviously out of the as our as

our guy Chase would say go dolphin out of the good dolphin

folks here as well. Roberto gets the mount.

Here is our guess, yes. I don't know what what is.

What is Florent Giroux doing on Saturday?

Is he he could show up out there there's.

Like four $400,000 races here. Why would he fly I that's.

True. I'm just telling you for money

purposes, nobody's leaving Churchill and I'm not putting

any of these roles now. They're running great threes for

400K, They're running great threes for 100,000 out West.

I'm not, I'm it's not the same. It's not the same.

Iran's not even in New York. But who's who?

Who's he going to get? I think it's, I think it's a

fiddle for this race, I mean. Just to get whoever's in the

room. Yeah.

Yeah, that that would make sense here.

I think in this spot, it's probably going to be Umberto

we're going a mile and. You know he's not getting on a

winner, so that's OK all. Right, well, there you go.

Barry's tipping his hand here ahead of time.

You and I landed on the same horse here, Barry.

What do we like about Fultrono? This race gave me fits.

I'm not going to lie. These horses are really tough

because it seems like they get into this kind of competition

and they don't want to win. Full Serrano is the only one

that kind of executes and does it.

I don't particularly think he's all that flashy or even

exceptionally good. He's just better than these and

this is probably the perfect thing for him heading into the

Breeders Cup because of the fact this race isn't going to be

terribly hard on him. And if he can win, it'll set him

up really well for his, you know, for a back into the dirt

mile and I and I think that's a perfect thing for him.

So it there is that possibility that they may not be fully

cranked on this one. So he's kind of a risky

proposition. I think he's going to run well

regardless, but if he doesn't win, that wouldn't surprise me.

Red Cock shipped out hit show for the Santa Anita Handicap

this year. How'd that go?

Not good, not good. OK, so I, I, I question and I

talked to Brad on Monday on Blood horse Monday and he was

very clear. They are going out for this race

because it's a grade one. That's it.

That's why they're shipping the horse for this race for first

mission in in because it's a Grade 1.

And that to me is not, that's not the horses in good form.

That's not we're trying to figure out where he fits.

Well, they did. They did it in the Pegasus and

and look what happened there. I mean, this horse clearly isn't

a grade one horse. He's more of a grade 3 type that

could win a grade 2. So you you would figure if he

drops down after running in this tough competition, he he would

have somewhat an advantage, but he really doesn't.

I I mean, he's a tough read in this race, to be honest with

you. I went with gaming as my top

baffert here. The other baffert, if you will,

was in the shared belief looked like trash last out, but before

that looked really good in the affirm.

So I'm hoping the affirm version of this horse shows up or the

Pat de mile version of this horse.

Now the problem is one of those was in the slop.

That was Pat de Mile, but over good form or excuse me, over

fasco at sanity to the horse was very good as well as a

three-year old. I'm very interested to that He

put a three-year old in this company here, Barry, but seven

runs in the money in eight lifetime starts on fast dirt and

the only time the horse missed was in the southwest at Oaklawn

Park. I'm not holding that race

against the horse because frankly, Barry, I watched an

entire spring and summer of racing at Churchill Downs where

those horses that came out of Oaklawn couldn't win.

They just couldn't. So I am not going to hold that

race against him. He did run in the Hot Springs.

He ran second. I thought, though, that Affirmed

showed that he could be very good at, he could be very good

at Santa Anita. He's a son, a game winner.

So I don't quite know what to make of the breeding except that

that's in the Candy Ride line. So I don't think the distance at

a mile and an eighth is going to be too much.

Again, the Affirm was at a mile and a 16th.

It's not like we're doing so much more there.

So I landed 7 four and one in here.

You landed 7 two. And for him.

Tell us about Ultimate Gamble. Yeah, I mean, honestly, Ultimate

Gamble and Bafford's other horse, Nevada Beach.

Kind. Of kind of have the the same

sort of feel to them. I just chose Ultimate Gamble

because he has more experience and and he ran pretty decent

against fierceness and journalism last time.

Good enough to where I think this horse can can kind of keep

that steady flow going and maybe slightly improve or even run the

same kind of race. And that should be good enough

to show up here. But Nevada Beach is really

interesting to me also. And I know I didn't use this

horse in my handicapping, but you'll see that gaming beat this

horse back in June. But I think this horse has

gotten better. I mean, gaming has regressed.

Gaming is very inconsistent. I mean, it wouldn't surprise me

if that horse just takes off and wins this race.

But it's going to be hard to predict.

And I would want a price on gaming.

But Nevada Beach, it may come off that gaming might set the

table for for one of those two horses.

And if that does happen, I would I would definitely think Nevada

Beach might be the best closer. Unfortunately, even though I

didn't even put that horse in my handicapping.

You've been inside the mind of Spears.

Yeah, you want. See, I told.

Youpleasure.com 100% deposit match up to 150 bucks.

We think the 1362 people who are hanging out with us right now on

this show, what a ridiculous thing for all of you to be doing

at the same time. But race time will close the

card on Saturday at Santa Anita. No Privman for you.

Actually, no privman. You don't like Privman?

I'm pro J Privman. Yeah, I'm not pro Privman Horse

Jay Brittman. Jay Brittman's the obvious guy.

Yes, he's the. He's the.

We get it. He's the guy.

He's the guy. You know, it's a humble brag

when you say things like, you know, I don't have to go to the

Derby this year. What a humble brag that is.

Can you imagine just saying things like that?

I am. No, retirement's great.

I don't have to go to the Derby anymore.

I can travel that time of year. What?

Let's go. People like me that never been

this guy's like, yeah. Finally, I could travel, my wife

and I could go drink wine in a different place.

The the John C Harris, formerly the great 3.

Unzip me. We'll close the card here, of

course. Named after the legendary farm

owner and breeder out there in California, the late great John

C Harris. So glad to see this Barry in his

honor and his memory here. When you think man, when you

think those great cow breds, when you think those, you know

that program. John C Harris is definitely one

of those names you think of. Again, 6 1/2 down the hill here,

3 year old Phillies in this one. There's one in here that I adore

in this spot. I have a long shot I like in

here that you think is the best horse in here.

I'm going to have you go 1st and tell me why a horse that I do

like. I'm not going to lie, I'd like a

lot, but Mirko Demuro's about to go down the hill and win a Grade

3. Tell us why the Five Lee's baby

girl wins the damn thing. Well, if this horse is going to

do what I think she's going to do, all Demuro has to do is hold

on, Just hold on. Because this horse has been a

different horse since adding Lasix.

Honestly, You know, that run in February was really, really

good. Dominated that event then paired

it up with that 80K optional claimer run slightly off the

pace which is adds another dimension.

I think Down the Hills is perfect for Lee's baby girl.

If we get that 15 to one, look out for the bailout.

Seven times hitting the board in nine lifetime turf runs.

So if you take out the three runs on dirt, this horse does

have a sparkling record, frankly hitting the board.

And of course, we love Carla Gaines on this show.

You land on the five on top. I have the five in my third spot

in handy cabin. It's interesting you and I both

got there. I think Kazulu, I you know what,

Barry? When when all else fails, you

pick Bob Bafford on the turf down the hill.

You understand me? That's what you do.

You take Bob Bafford. Does he know the hill or not?

He does. You're damn right he does.

How many times do you think Bob Baffert's walk the hill?

Twice. Maybe once, maybe once.

Bob, you watching? Let us know.

It attacks the show. It is a comment section.

I'm actually. Curious.

I think Kazalu is legitimately not just a favorite, like the

big time favorite here one the Suite Life Down the hill in

February looked really good in the San Clemente at a mile.

Tried the mile and an eighth in the Delmar Oaks and just ran out

of gas. I think Kazulu in here is, I

don't know, I, I feel as good about that as I do about any pic

on my handicapping today for sure.

I I think she's going to be spectacular on Saturday.

There's our guy Kazushi. Eiffel's a really interesting

one to me, too, the 9 horse here.

And Barry, for a lot of the reasons you like horses down the

hill. I like Eiffel.

Comes out of a mile and a 16th, which was just too much.

But before that, in an optional claimer at Del Mar, did the

closing late over a mile and looked really good doing it.

Lost by a neck in that one. Innovative who was also in this

field, but before that did Sprint at six at Santa Anita and

won that on debut under Antonio. Hasn't gotten rid of that

running style, that closing running style, but we see that

be very, very effective down the hill as well, Barry.

So I went 6-9 and five in here. I agree with you about much of

the five horses about that. But me so fancy on the outside.

By the way, you need to just play this exacta Oh.

I'm definitely doing that. Ox up for 5 bucks, cost you 10

bucks because if it hits, my God, you're you're you're you're

moving. But Hector, barriers go ahead.

Yeah, Miso. Fancy, I was going to say, I was

going to say Miso. Fancy is just in really good

form. I know that last race, August

21st, was a little strange and this horse was kind of wide and

just ran on. It kind of shocked me that this

horse kind of showed up late. It was really, you know, just

hung around and it's a better effort than it looks on paper.

Getting to the turf makes a lot of sense, and going down the

hill makes a lot of sense for a horse that really doesn't want

to go, you know, over a certain distance.

I think a mile is this horse's ceiling, but it should

accentuate her kick. And being way outside might not

be the worst thing in the world either, considering there might

be a little bit of commotion and some speed going out out there.

Could set the table for a horse like me, so fancy just to get a

nice wide clear trip. Finish strong, probably get more

than 12 to one to be honest with you.

I think we're going 25 to 1. You could double that.

I go trainer letter Powell does have two graded stakes wins this

year in the San Juan Capistrano with Needy and in the San Simeon

with Air Force Red as well. Well, there you go.

There is the 10 race card over there at Santa Anita tomorrow.

This has been So Cal Saturdays. amwager.com of course, is where

we encourage you to go visit our friends over there.

We will see them at the Breeders Cup seminar as well on that

Tuesday here in Louisville over Martini, Italian Bistro,

Martini, louisville.com. If you want to go check out the

restaurant there, we will put those tickets up for sale very,

very soon as well. Well Barry, your boring play of

the day, I skipped over that by the way, I should give that out.

The bad job by me was the three horse in race 4.

That was Johannes. Here's Johannes and you don't

even have to go to the mind of Spirits for that one.

So there you go. Well, I'm here.

You don't just play 35 and and you'll be you'll you'll at least

cash 1 ticket. By the way, I think we should

say it enough on this show that we have to do it Breeders' Cup

Saturday like we're doing nighttime at Cyprus, right?

We're going to Los out right. Yes, I thought that was the

plan. I just, I think we need to say

it out loud enough that we force ourselves into going to Cyprus,

going to Del Taco something, right, You know what I mean?

Like just figuring out. Begin into existence.

Just if we if we continue to reinforce these thoughts, maybe

we'll actually there you go. And inside the Midas Bears, this

is So Cal Saturdays. I'm clear about good luck

tomorrow.