WV Breeders’ Classic | Paul Espinosa

And yes, he's back on the show for some reason.

His name is Paul Espinosa at Better Call Paul, believe it or

not, not Saul. Don't mistag the man on Twitter.

Be like me, kids. You could be better with your

life than whatever it is that I'm trying to do and failing

miserably. A man who does not fail, who

calls the races very well at Charlestown is Paul Espinosa.

Very nice to join us despite the fact that he is in West Virginia

and has AI assume a natural disdain for the state of

Kentucky. How are you?

You know, it's not it's not so bad.

I definitely not as bad as like, you know, I guess it's not not a

a state, but the city of Pittsburgh, you know, not a.

Not a fair enough yes absolutely Western Pennsylvania in general

go to hell yes I'm. With you, yeah.

You know, I, I did a, did a two year stint down in, in Lexington

and then I have family that lives down there.

I actually, you know, Lexington's one of the, you

know, one of the greatest cities that I've ever been to.

I so I, I do love it down there. You know it's not no, no real no

real strong resentment. There you go.

My my producer on the show here, actually, his mother's from West

Virginia, and she bakes the best cookies I've ever had.

So I have a real fondness for West Virginia.

I'm not going to lie to you. I assume there's some kind of

like West Virginia voodoo like fat ingredient in it that is

just delicious. And so I'm just going to.

Yeah, I don't want to know. I don't want to know.

Just keep bringing the cookies. That's all I want in my life.

Paula Spinosa with us from Charles Town.

It is your big state bread day there.

So if people are not familiar in our area, you know, Paul, I

think when you're in a Kentucky, you lose sight of the breeding

thing just 'cause it is, it's so omnipresent.

If you can't, you mentioned Lexington, you can't drive to

Lexington from here and not pass, you know, 5-10 breeders on

the way there. So we sort of just take for

granted the fact that we don't have really a, a, a set aside

day for Kentucky breads as far as those programs, certainly

incentives with those things. But as far as West Virginia's

concerned and and this day, why is it special?

And frankly, why does it exist? Yeah.

So Sam Huff, NFL Hall of Famer, the late great Sam Huff, he and

his partner Carol Holden, way back in the day, they saw the

Maryland Million, which I know we'll touch on a little bit

later. And again, just kind of one of

the one of the really forefathers, if you will, of

these the state bred event days. And Sam, he said, I want that.

I want that here. And so when Sam wanted

something, it normally got done. The next year, the West Virginia

Breeders Classics started. This is year #39 So next year

will be the 40th anniversary of that.

And you know, it's just, I think they are the backbone of our

product. You know, again, these are

horses that from a calling standpoint, it's one of my

favorite nights of the year because, you know, I don't have

to worry about horses coming in from out of town.

These are the horses that I call, you know, night in, night

out year round. Again, like I said, they're the

backbone of the product and and it's just great that we get a

chance to to shine. We have 10 races on Saturday

night and over $1,000,000 in purses and that number obviously

has gone up over the years. And so just really looking

forward to to what should be a really good night.

You know, this is a place that runs allowances in the high 20s.

So getting to run for 75 for a lot of these connections is a

big deal, right? I mean, and it look don't have

to look too far away. This happens up in Indiana, of

course, Ohio for sure, these kinds of state bred programs.

But getting these these spotlight days, man, you can

always tell these trainers are ready.

They want to win 123 races on these kinds of cards.

So really, really fun. What are some of the names that

we need to know as we handicap there at Charlestown?

Well, we can kind of work, I guess from the top down and

we'll start with the with the Breeders classic itself, which

is now named after Sam Huff. So the western you Sam Huff

breeders classic and teaching the release is the 7:00 to 5:00

morning line favorite. He is a horse that has gotten

really good off of the claim as several runners have over the

years for his owner Robert Cole course.

He he currently has Stephen Murdoch as his trainer teaching

the release. Before that he had Kevin

Patterson and you know, some other really high percentage

trainers that again seem to be able to work wonders with some

of these horses. And so teaching the release.

He's a speed horse in the mile and an eighth I thought was a

question mark going into last year's Randy Funkhouser

Memorial, which was the stake race that comes up after the Sam

Up West Virginia Breeders Classic about a month later.

But he passed that test. He was able to hold off both

Wadib and Ronaldo, who happened to be the second and third

choices in this year's renewal of the Sandbuff West Virginia

Breeders Classic. But we mentioned Ronaldo.

He is actually named for the combination of Jeff Franco and

Arnaldo Boca Chica. I have him as the second choice

at 5:00 to 2:00 and he is the defending champion in this race.

It's been kind of an up and down year for him.

It started off his five year old debut was sparkling.

I felt that wow, like this horse like really, really has turned a

corner and then he kind of struggled to refine that form.

He's coming in off of a win. So maybe he's rounding back into

form. And one thing's sure, this is a

night that, again, people definitely point to.

This is, you know, the night that you'll see the folks here,

Charleston, we run about 160 days a year.

And so, you know, you can kind of get dragged down in some of

the monotony. But this is the night that

people get dressed up. They put on their Saturday night

finest and they want to put on a show and so I look forward to

really seeing who comes out and who's able to to be back to

their best. And, and I think that this is a

a case with Ronaldo where we haven't really seen his best.

I think we'll get to see it on Saturday night.

It's an interesting weather day you might be having there at

Charlestown. And by the way, Paul Espinosa

with us, we'll call the races on Saturday, as he always does at

Charlestown. A bit of a West Virginia dude

himself. A bit.

I say a bit. My God, you could be the

governor of the if it does rain, is there a horse in here that

might move up in your mind? Could it be, perhaps Wadib,

who's going to break from the seven here, does have four wins

and eight lifetime trips over Wet Go?

I, I worry a little bit about Wadib being, being a little bit

over the hill. You know, he started his career

a perfect 10 for 10 before he ran against Art collector in the

Charlestown Classic. And he actually ran second to

Art Collector, which is clearly no small feat.

And he then was able to notch a couple more wins after that.

So he started his career 12 for 13 since I believe he's 5 for

24. He does not have a win this

year. He's 8 years old.

He is awesome. He's going to be one of the

horses that I will remember for a long time after he retires.

I just, I, I think that I think he's a little bit, he's getting

a little bit long in the tooth. So I actually do think that for

me, I mentioned Ronaldo's start of the year this year that

actually came on a muddy track and it was, it was just an

awesome race. He circled the field again,

obviously the the muddy, muddy track on the tight turns, you

know it, it can always produce some interesting, interesting

results. He Boca Chica kept him way out

in the like the 6th path and he basically came to the wire in

hand. So he's a horse to me that I

think he does actually relish an off track and I think that he

would be very happy if it does come up a little bit wet that

night. Race 7 is called the Onion Juice

Breeders Classic. Tell me about onion juice.

Onion juice. He won the first ever Breeders

Classic, I believe. Then it was called the the, I

don't know if it was the Jim Beam or or not, but but if you

talk about like the cult, the cult figure of West Virginia

racing, that is the horse that if you talk to anybody that was

around here in the 80s, they will tell you about the juice.

OK, so I bring this up because I have an idea.

You know, after you win the Indy 500, you drink milk.

Is there any way that the Breeders Cup classic last place

finisher could drink up a glass of onion juice?

I'm just saying last place finisher.

I just look, there's got to be some punishments.

It's like, you know, you're, you're, you're, you're at the

golf course. You don't get past the ladies

tease. You got to do something very

specific. I'm just saying, what if onion

juice is the thing you have to drink If you're the last place

runner in the I'm telling you I this is an idea that I have and

you should never do. I don't wanna brag, but I'm

actually on the Breeders Classics board, so kind of a big

deal. So I'm gonna let you know.

I'm gonna pitch that at our next meeting.

All right, all. Right, okay.

And the credit will go to you. It's not gonna be.

It's not gonna be my idea. I'm gonna say, listen, Louis,

Louis pitched this and and I think we should go with it.

So. I still don't have a Charlestown

like hat or anything so if they go with it I need a glass of

onion juice shipped here with a hat.

That's that's all I ask. That's it.

I'm rocking the the Breeders classics hat.

We don't we don't have a ton of like Charlestown merch.

Also got the Breeders classics. That hat is super awesome

though. I I I need three of them all

right so but some of these races are for two year olds and I

always ask people around the country about their two year old

races just in case, just in case.

You never know where that next great 3 year old Mike come out

of. We've seen way stranger things

of Animal Kingdom can win if Rich Strike can win the Derby

boy, you never know where that Derby winner might come out of.

Is there a 2 year old right now in West Virginia City we should

be watching for? I think there are a couple in in

both divisions. The first night, first race of

the night is the Triple Crown Nutrition Readers Classic, and

there's a showdown between a Brittany Russell trainee named

Come On Eileen and Orange Canyon for the aforementioned Jeff

Runko. And I think that both of these

Phillies could potentially be Charlestown Oaks level good,

which again, is not to say that, you know, that's not to say test

level good. But I think that again, these

are horses that clearly have already shown an affinity for

the track. They've they've both been really

good so far in their career. Come on, Eileen, perfect 2 for

two. Nobody's gotten within 6 lengths

of her and her two starts. Orange Canyon defeated first

time out. But a lot of times I I noticed

that Jeff Runko, some of his he's he's not a he's not a win

at all cost first out guy. So like the four and a half

races, this Philly just kind of got ran off her feet.

She can comes back and she did it on a sloppy track second time

out and she galloped. The other important thing I

think about these two is that they don't have West Virginia

bred pedigrees. Complexity is the sire of, come

on, Eileen Vacoma, the sire of Orange Canyon.

So again, they have some the potential to to really, I think

be a tier above some of their competition.

And you know, Jeff Ronco is no, he's no stranger to taking a

good horse and running out of town.

In fact, the best West Virginia bred in training is not going to

be running tonight. His name is Coastal on Saturday

night. Excuse me, his name is Coastal

Mission. He's actually going to be

pointing to the 49er up in Aqueduct, the race that he

actually won last year. And so, you know, again, I think

the the Sky's limit for for either of these Phillies that,

you know, we could see them go on to some bigger events at

least in the Mid-Atlantic and and maybe up and down the

eastern eastern coast. But I did want to point real

quick. Also the boys, another Jeff

Runko trainee and Gurney Halleck.

Race horse here, just so people know, Race 4 he's talking about

the four horse. This is the Vince the Vincent

Moscorelli Memorial Bridge Classic.

Correct. Thank you for keeping me on

track there. It's an interesting, an

interesting rematch again between Gurney Halleck and a

horse fittingly named Chucktown. And they have.

They've raced twice. Chucktown won the first time.

Gurney Halleck won the second time.

They've been separated by a neck the first time, 1/2 length the

second time. So both those races were around

4 1/2 furlongs or they were 4 1/2 furlongs.

So they get out to the 6 1/2 furlongs.

I think that again. Here's another Jeff Ronco

trainee with a nice pedigree. By Practical Joke, Chucktown is

by Motown. So again, you don't have the the

fiber son who's like the top perennial West Virginia bred

sire Juba. You'll see a lot of Jubas that

night. These are some some nice

commercial stallions that that have produced some pretty good

runners. I think that both of those

horses have a chance to be be pretty decent West Virginia

breads, but I'm especially excited about the Phillies.

Yeah, it's interesting you mentioned with those Phillies

early on, especially in that first race, the two and the four

were the horses that you mentioned.

Come on Eileen in Orange Canyon, Whenever I see that name

Brittany Russell next to a horse and and she tried on debut one

easily at Colonial, I mean that it's interesting to to see the

inclusion of different parts of that of that of that circuit

coming together even more and more and more.

And I think Brittany Russell's one of those people that's going

to do it. Absolutely.

I mean, I think that you know, she, she is at the top, top of

the of the class right now in, in Maryland for sure.

And you know, that's one of the angles that a lot of folks use

handicapping is any horse. We will get some Maryland

shippers obviously on a night in, night out basis.

And those horses normally are going to be a little bit tougher

on in general because you know, they're, they're clearly just

facing better horses. We have some interesting

conditions throughout the the regular course of our of our

racing year where West Virginia that races aren't considered an

eligibility. So, you know, a horse like let's

just say, let's just say Orange Canyon, you know, she's only won

a West Virginia bred maiden race that she could win a West

Virginia bred steak and then still come back in an open non

winners or race other than. So, you know, we do some things

that kind of try to level the playing field and and make it

make it a little bit tougher for those out of town shippers.

But but yeah, I think Brittany Russell, she she for sure if

she's if she has her hands on a good West Virginia bred,

definitely have to take note. Yeah, that's exactly right.

Paul Espinoso will be calling the races there at Charlestown

is their big state bred night on Saturday.

So tomorrow make sure you are listening for, excuse me, you're

watching and wagering for that one.

I did 2 shows about the Maryland million yesterday.

You can find those at the Horse Racing Happy Hour Podcast

Center. But certainly wanted to get in

with our guy Paul ahead of their big night as well.

Why don't you and I do something real quick?

Why don't we go through and put together an A ticket for the

late pick three. How about we do that starts with

the race 8. It is the West Virginia Carvada

Breeders Classic going 7 furlongs in the eighth race

here. This is for Phillies and mares 3

and up essentially the Distaff on the card here, 7 furlongs at

your place is 2 turns. It is a it is a a full race

there. I had to explain this when we

got back to Keeneland and those horses coming out of those

Charles Sod Classic race days as well.

Vava that that was a two turn race folks.

Today she'll be OK kids, but an 8 to 5 favorite?

And here is that a single for us in the late sequence.

I I would have said a year ago, yes, she's the defending

champion in this race overnight pow wow again, you'll notice the

mayor holy pow wow. Unfortunately, she she passed

earlier this year, but she has multiple runners on this night.

She is also the dam of Wadib, also the dam of Duncan Idaho.

He's the favorite for the cash for cash earlier on in the card,

so overnight Powwow coming back to defend her title.

She ran 4th in the Charlestown Oaks before eventually winning

the Cavada last year. It's been kind of an up and down

year for her though, and she's been campaigned in an

interesting way where she's only raced 4 1/2 furlongs.

So I think she's a little bit vulnerable in a race where I

think that there is some other speed in here.

You obviously have to look at anybody that Runko and Boca

Chica are teaming up on. They have the sky is falling and

she has closed into some, I feel like some fairly tepid paces

here this year and still been able to get the job done.

I think she'll get maybe the most honest pace she's had to

this point that she's also had some some smaller fields.

So it kind of goes both ways. She can, you know, have to deal

with more traffic, but again, gets more pace.

I think you have to look at her and the other Runko Philly, I

think is that is interesting as well.

Navy band, but I don't know about pace scenario with her.

So I think he'd probably be safe to get through with the top 2,

the four and the seven. I I just, I feel like again, you

have 1 speed and one closer. You should have your bases

covered there. Yep, got the best up front and

the best in the back. There you go.

West Virginia Brewers Classic is raised nine, $300,000 on the

line, 3 and up in this one. A mile and an eighth.

We're going three turns in this one.

You mentioned the favorite in this one is going to be breaking

from the 8IN teaching the release.

I would would lean toward this being the horse you have to beat

in the late sequence if you're going to get paid the most,

Paul, but I think also the most difficult horse to beat in this

sequence. Is he the single?

Here I would concur. I don't have I don't have the

conviction to to single him again.

I look at his just his running lines and it's they aren't

running lines that you love where he's he is most of the

time losing ground from the top of the stretch to the wire.

He doesn't finish all that strong.

And again, while he did win the Randy Funkhouser memorial, he

kind of said a little bit of a more tepid pace.

I worry a little bit about who's going to apply that pressure.

I actually feel like again, right to a couple posts to his

inside, Bale is denied a three-year old.

I think that he has the speed to kind of keep up with him early.

And I don't think that from his outside post, I think Boca Chica

will have Ronaldo up close. So this is a race for me where I

feel like Ronaldo is kind of my lean.

I think that like for the reasons that I mentioned, I just

think that that Runko is going to have him ready to peek and

run his best race. I think we're going to see the

best version of Ronaldo and I don't know that we get the best

version of teaching the release at a mile underneath.

So I I would be pretty confident, honestly, singling

Ronaldo just for just not again, not saying the teaching, the

release. I'm not going to be shocked when

he wins when he wires this field, but just from a wagering

standpoint, I think that's a stand that I'd be willing to.

Take race 10 is the West Virginia Blue and Gold British

Classic. I wonder why it's blue and gold.

4 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. They're 3 and up on the Philly

and mare side of things here. This one might be the most open

to the last last three races, yeah.

I would concur. I I really like Maggie's Girl,

but I don't always love the angle of cutbacks to 4 1/2

furlongs. I think that again, she's always

shown speed. She is really good.

She's 5 for eight at this, 4 1/2 for a long distance.

But I feel like sometimes you lose that sharpness when she's

been stretched out here racing longer than 4 1/2 furlongs for

her last four starts. So I think that that could, I

don't love her to have to pass horses.

So I think that opens things up a little bit.

I like the two inside Phillies and Party Time for me and

Strida. I think both of them are solid.

Anthony Farrier claims back Strida.

I think that's a very intentional claim knowing that

they were going to point to this spot and she is really, really

fast. So I think that she'll be the

Philly to catch in here. Kind of actually showed a pretty

impressive dimension last time. 2 pass horses, so definitely

lean on Strida for me. Maggie's girl you probably have

to include and Candy Tricks is pretty sharp as well.

And she doesn't really need any sort of trip.

She's shown that she can do pretty much anything.

So I think that like you said, this is definitely the spread

race. I think I pretty much covered

most of the contenders there inside to Maggie's girl with

with candy tricks. And again, like I said, hoping

for me at least to be teaching the release.

Four winds at the distance for candy tricks, who's six to one

on the line has hit the board in all of her last six races as

well. 1/3 of those two second place finishes as well.

So she is peppering the board at this point.

Well, Paul would really appreciate it.

Have a bunch of great calls, enjoy the day.

Get me one of those hats, pitch the onion juice idea and we'll

talk to you, I'm sure in a couple months.

Sounds good. We've been by fourteens means.

Like you have a church or you coming in November?

Are you gonna be doing that this year?

What are we doing? I don't think so though.

We've done some Thanksgiving trips down there to Lexington,

which again would be a nice little car ride down for like

the Clark or something like that.

But I don't know if we have anything on the docket this

year. So no, no my old Kentucky home

for me for for at least a bit. Yeah, we're trying to have a

civilization here. He's Paul Espinosa.

He's going to call the races at Charlestown.

We appreciate you, buddy. Talk to you next time.

All right. Thanks, Louis.

Thanks. There you go.

All right, Paul Espinosa with us here.

Otter boat code ESPN 681057.