Road to the Preakness | James F Lewis Stakes

Hi, welcome in the silliest music and all the horse racing

podcasting. It is the horse racing happy

hour. My name's Blue Ribo here at the

home studio hanging out with you.

Today we begin our Road to the Preakness 151 segments of the

day. Welcome in Dan Ullman and

Mackenzie Piper from the Maryland Jockey Club.

You can find Mackenzie on the simulcast there all weekend.

You can also catch her on my radio show tomorrow on ESPN

681057 right here in the market as well.

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So be watching for those once in a while at Laurel Park as well.

Welcome in Mackenzie Pfeiffer and Dan Ilman to the program

here. Dan, do you appreciate me

finding my favorite Preakness logo there that is on your

sweatshirt right now? I'm very, very impressed.

I knew you had to do something to sort of spice up the

presentation here a little bit. You mentioned your studio in the

back. It's basically a white wall.

I have an excuse because I've only been here for a few months.

I likewise have no excuse my Blood Horse Monday banners over

here literally to my left. And so we just kind of swap the

banners in and out and at some point I am going to have to get

like a big horse face like on this spot for sure.

McKenzie, how are you? Welcome back to the happy hour.

It's nice to see you. I'm well, thank you.

I mean, you could just put the Preakness logo up there.

You know, that might be something to consider if you're

looking for a little background decor.

I do have something from Pimlico that I'm having framed.

And so that will go up behind me.

I think Dan knows exactly what it is.

And so that will be behind me. It relates to the happy hour in

a very significant way, very personal way for me.

So that will make its way behind us on the wall here.

Mackenzie, you might not even know what that thing is, but

we'll find out either the next time you're on here.

But the road to the Preakness does kick off here, Dan and I I,

I I got to ask, does anyone else consider this the road to the

Preakness or is it just me? It's just you, but it's always

too early to start the road to the Preakness.

But now that I'm in media relations, I, I like it.

I like promoting the word. The word Preakness seems to get

ratings no matter what. So the road to the Preakness,

I'd like it. We're going to start things off.

We're hoping that the Black Eyed Susan winner will be

participating in the Smart Halo Stakes and that perhaps, just

perhaps, Preakness 151 at Laurel Park, the winner of the James F

Lewis Stakes will be right there to take down the Black Eyed

suits. Let's go.

That would be spectacular, Of course, to Pew to testimony

1983, the last to win the Tessio and then win the Preakness.

Of course, we're trying to find the next to Pew to testimony on

this series. I always want to ask what's

going on in Maryland when I have you 2 on, you know, the the

renovation of Pimlico and they call it a renovation.

That is not what it is. It is a rebuilding at Pimlico.

Last time we talked, Dan, it was bulldozers.

Have we gotten past the demolition phase at least?

We have gotten past the demolition phase now we're

slowly starting the rebuilding phase and it's going to take

some time, especially as the winter comes in and the weather

gets cold and we're going to be at the mercy of the elements.

But slow and steady is going to win this race.

Remember the Preakness next year in 2026 will be held at Laurel

Park and we will be reopening the new Pimlico, New hilltop, so

to speak, Preakness 2027. The old, new, old hilltop.

That's exactly right. I think Dave Rodman coined that

last time he was on this program.

And so I'm not going to argue with Dave Rodman.

I'm smarter than that for sure. I also wanted to ask, and I

don't know if either of you know, but you know, it's

something that I've noticed in a trend in in horse racing.

Certainly I think of the first example as the Monmouth example

where the horsemen are largely in charge of the operations of

Monmouth, etcetera, Dennis raising their team up there.

But it's it's awesome to see in my mind at least the Maryland

Stadium authority involved in this process, Dan, because look

where the Ravens play, look at Camden Yards.

They obviously know what they're doing.

I'm hopeful that they'll bring that kind of feel to the new

Pimlico. But as far as the training

center as well, I even have a government link from Carroll

County government about the new trading center.

Can you kind of explain to people what that will look like

in the future? That essentially, you know,

we're about 2025 miles from Pimlico and that the horse I

imagine will largely be stable there and brought in for races.

A lot of the horses will be stable there.

Some of course will be stabled at Pimlico, some of course will

be stabled at Fairhill where they are right now and they come

down to Laurel Park and of course some on a private farms

as well. We're very excited, as you

mentioned, with the Maryland Stadium Authority running the

show. As you say, they know how to put

on a really nice building, so to speak.

We're really looking forward to to Shamrock Farm.

We think it's going to be a lot of excitement there, housing not

only a good amount of horses, strong population, but also a

very safe surface and we'll get some foundation for these horses

when they'll be ready to race. We're leaving Timonium in the

schedule here. Yes, McKenzie, right.

We're not going away from that, that bull ring you guys got

north of town, right? As far as I know, yes.

I mean that's where I got my start with the handicapping

stuff. So it that would be a really sad

day for me. There you go.

Last time we were on, everyone gave me the the the Timonium

Maiden breaker and that horse ran.

I think he's still running. That's what happened on the show

last time. So I don't know that you want to

listen today, Dan, but you know, here it is.

Yeah. Here we go.

I told you about Timonium. It's a very nice place to visit.

Enjoy the kettle corn, enjoy the fried Oreos, enjoy the pig

races, enjoy the 4H club, but certainly don't take anything

that occurs on that race track seriously.

And I love all of those race tracks.

But let's be honest, dear, I mean, we've seen horses that

just love Timonium. They can't stand up at Laurel

and vice versa. It's like the Kentucky Downs on

dirt. I'm.

With you until those two finishers went 1-2 in the

British Cup Turf Sprint. But anyways, we're going to move

on for. That well, OK, so now, now

they're one for 190. That's a probably, hey, 2 for

190. You settled out over there,

Daniel, But there you go. Mackenzie Pfeiffer, Daniel with

me. I'm Louie Rabot.

This is the horse racing happy hour.

Thanks for hanging out with us today.

We're going to go through the late pick five there at Laurel

Park. And I want to set the scene for

anyone that's thinking about maybe a trip up from DC or down

from Baltimore to Laurel. You're thinking about Saturday.

You're like, man, I don't know what the weather's going to be

like. I don't know if Laurel Park

takes care of the betters and I have terrific news. 71 probably

cloudy and 12% take out on that late pick 5.

And I mean, I'm telling you, buddy, this is, I mean, this is

Chamber of Commerce stuff for you guys.

And it's been Chamber of Commerce stuff, right Mac, for

like what, 3 months now? Four months we haven't had,

we've had one off the turf day since we've returned from our

hiatus at Colonial. I believe we're the track with

the most turf races since the summer all across North America.

We've run about 105 turf races. Turf expected Friday and

Saturday. We've got a lake 5 figure lake

carry carry over into the lake. Value pick 5 low 12% take out.

No one treats the better better than the Maryland Jockey Club.

That's exactly right, 12% take out a carryover tomorrow into

the late pick 5 on Friday, but you of course will hear from us

about Saturday. A couple of maiden claimers on

the bookends, but boy, a 2 year old trio in the middle.

Fascinating. Pick three, a different

difficult sequence as well. Should be a lot of fun.

And frankly, if we get another carryover, your boy would not be

too terribly surprised. But let's get straight into it.

The late pick 5 on Saturday, race 6 will be a $16,000 maiden

claim. We're going 5 1/2 on the turfs

for Phillies and mares, essentially 3 and up or running

for $24,000. Mackenzie, we start with you

here. I, I love this sequence because

I mean, we got double digit horses all over the place.

Where'd you land in this one? I do.

I have to be honest, it's not too exciting for me in the

beginning and the last I try to really key around those races.

I wish I could just narrow it down even more, but the one in

the 11 here in the sixth race, holy brick on the inside and

then my sunshine girl on the outside.

I think both of those plenty of reason to go ahead and suspect

they improve. Holy bricks going to be the

speed and just caught right to the chase from the inside.

But she took plenty of pressure last time out and so that's

where I give her a little bit of respect and think that she might

be able to hang tough, especially at this level.

My sunshine girl on the outside struggles with that lead change

and that's where, you know, I don't really want to be all in

on that type, but I think she can run the right type of race

that, you know, for me, she's a must use in there.

And if you're trying to skim down, you know that first leg is

always a nice one because you can get back into the pick 4.

What an 11 for Mackenzie there. One probably going to be on the

lead. My sunshine girl probably going

to be stalking all right on the lead there.

Dandelion anywhere else? I like Holy Brick as well.

I think Mackenzie laid it out perfectly.

I thought this horse ran very well last time out, pretty much

pressing the pace and a race one by the favorite dug deep down to

the wire is likely going to make the lead in the rail in the way

the turf course has been playing.

It's been, I think slight lean forward speed.

It works for a horse like Holy Brick.

These are made in claimers, however.

I'm not sure I would be singling Holy Brick, but I would use

horses like maybe Mun. Mun can run the number 12 who I

think has a chance to drift up off the 2:00 to 1:00 morning

line. And this is a horse it's turning

back in distance and I just think two turns wasn't there.

And the last time the source ran in a turf Sprint, he got wired

by the favorite take back make one run.

And what about each each pair? Plum Delicious Source showed

speed last time out at Delaware in A2 turn race and finished the

head of a horse that came back to win with a 55 buyer speed

figure. Now that horse showed speed

going two turns. I can't see her making the lead

against Holy Brick, but maybe a stalk and pound strip this barn

just very well third off the layoff.

I beat Perry Palm on top and it's a Dan Illman special.

Going route to back to Sprint in this, in this case, I will use

that angle on top. I went 9/11, 12 and 1.

So I agree with you all very much on the first leg of the

pick five. We're talking through the late

pick five at Laurel Park on Saturday as we kick off.

This is the only place in the world that does this.

The Road to the Preakness, of course, the James F Lewis is the

big race of the day in Race 9, alongside the Smart Halo, of

course. In Race 8, we'll talk about Race

7, one of those aforementioned middle trio of races featuring 2

year olds. We're going to the maiden ranks

here. Maiden Special 6 furlongs on the

dirt for those two year olds, $47,000 on the line, Dan.

And just another fun one in here.

Another full field of 10. Another full field of 10.

You can't stop Gary Capuano, can you?

Mack, I think he's won 17 two year old races this year.

It's somewhat remarkable. He's got Awesome Andy looking to

make it 18 for Yancey Hazelwood. Awesome Andy and well in the

career debut set the pace, kind of got pressured, raced.

They kept the source well off the rail turning for home.

He was in the three path, he got bumped in upper stretch and he

tired at the end. But Garry's only 10 for his last

twenty with two year old second time starters and dirt sprints.

So somebody tells me awesome and he's not going to bounce off

that race and will show good speed.

Hometown Bound, the number 8's a very interesting first time

starter. This horse breezed a furlong at

9:00 and 4:00 at the OBS mark. Sale sold for $350,000.

There's a lot of pedigree in here and if you look at the last

workout, same time, same day as a horse named Bolt of Orem for

Jorge Duarte, that's a four year old.

It's already popped a 93 buyer's speed figure.

I wonder if they worked in company.

I think Hometown Bound can run a little bit and being by Mottoli

out of the factor speed on speed.

You know, Mackenzie, he mentioned Yed Z Hazelwood, who

is as of today tied for lead in wins with Jorge Ruiz there in

the colony. A remarkable story, almost

certainly. You know, I'm an Eclipse voter.

I'm almost certainly going to be voting for him as apprentice

jock here in in a long tradition, frankly in Maryland

of apprentice jocks that that win Eclipse awards.

The list is extraordinarily long of of very talented riders who

have come through there. You think he's got a shot to win

this thing? To be you know, this race or the

eclipse because. Well, not no, neither actually.

The riding title Laurel. Sorry, honestly, all of the

above. And.

It's really impressive. He even, he had a little bit of

a break earlier on due to an injury this year and still just

can't take anything away from him.

I mean, he came back stronger than ever and that's kind of the

key is he's so incredibly strong.

It was so fun watching him through the beginning of the

year as things just really clicked into place.

He came out riding really well, but to watch the finesse and you

know, just the mind that he has developed over the year has been

incredible. So I think there's a very good

chance, especially when he's teaming up with Gary Capuano and

you know, he's getting on really good horses.

It's pretty likely. And and just think guys, he's 17

years old. I mean, how remarkable is that?

His first ever Jim McKay, Maryland million, he wins four,

he won four the other day. And he has such an advantage

over Jorge, who is just a fantastic rider in his own right

or he specializes a lot on turf and a lot of his main clients,

Michael Trombetta, Graham Motion, they're turf guys.

Well, turf season's coming to an end.

I think that gives Hazelwood a big advantage in the riders

style meeting. Certainly he's the best

apprentice obviously this year. It's a remarkable story for sure

at 17 years old there in the Maryland circuit.

But Mackenzie, do you agree? Is he the the rider to beat here

at least? I do, I mean, it's pretty

incredible. And you mentioned the storied

history of Maryland and, and some of these apprentice riders.

And it's really fun to see him coming through here because I

think, you know, he's 17 and he has a long way to go.

So it would be great to watch his career build.

For sure. And does he win this race?

And I think you said yes. So I think he has a likely

chance, but getting back to this race in particular, I use

Awesome Andy in my pick five. He does not land in my top 4

selections though. So that's kind of the irony.

It's a spread race for me. I completely understand it.

I actually take a shot with Raspigi just on the inside, who

I thought, you know, was chasing a gate to wire winner for Cal

Lynch last time out. This is 1/2 to Nimitz class and

he looked pretty professional on debut, but he just never could

quite close that gap. And I mean, they went quick.

I know it's over at Penn, but he kept digging deeper, add a

little bit more ground. And I like that he has the

experience and, you know, didn't necessarily get his way, but was

game to go ahead and fight along with it.

I have that horse, 4th of my handicapping.

I landed on the four horse on top here at Awesome Andy Stunner

there, but then went to the 10 later outside and work hard,

play hard. Just missed the Delaware last

out. I don't love the 113 and one.

I think the horse is going to have to run faster than that

when we get down here to Laurel. But I think that form can

absolutely translate. And frankly, we've seen a lot of

those Delaware park runners show up really well in their next

spots, wherever it is, whether it's at parks or or Laurel,

etcetera. Dan, do you have a second kind

of a second horse here, maybe a third even to fill out a try

maybe? Well, I'm the first time starter

that I mentioned. I mean, he's the kind of horse I

want to use. But since I think Awesome Andy

is going to be very, very tough, Mac probably taught me on to her

top pick in this race that I would use as the third choice.

But I don't want to go too deep because I think you're Awesome

Andy is going to take a lot of money.

I'm probably going to use Awesome Andy the first door.

And now Max talked me on to the other one because I don't want

her to knock me out. I'll never hear the end of it.

I like that. That makes me very happy.

We'll move on to the Smart Halo. This is the Horse Racing Happy

hour. Her name's Mackenzie.

His name's Dan. I'm Louis.

We're hanging out with you and we will do this once a month

until we get to Tessio Day, and then we'll do that again.

Hopefully I'll make it to Tessio Day this year.

That would be really nice. They were going into these

races. These are 6 furlong races.

And Dan, let's kind of just explain the the process of

getting to the Tessio for local horses here.

This is not a Maryland bred or sired race.

This is an open company race. So people can bring in their

horses from wherever they were frankly born or sired or

whatever. But we started essentially at

six furlongs. So we're going to run at that

distance for a couple of months before certainly the Colts, a

little bit before the Phillies will stretch to seven and then

to the one turn mile there at Laurel before trying the two

turns. But there is really a nice

progression here. I mean, other tracks, they're

kind of 6 to a mile, then seven, then a mile and a 16th.

Here you have the natural progression from six to seven,

the one turn mile, then the two turn mile and the 16th, the

private terms. And then of course you got the

Tessio with a mile and an eighth.

So if you want to take this route and your horse passes one

test, there's no reason why you want to try another furlong.

And hopefully we get to see a horse continue on and make it

through the Tessio into the Preakness.

But it's just that natural progression I think is very

attractive here for the local horsemen.

You're not going to see too many of them, even if they have good

talented ones, unless they've got ones that want to get

Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

They're going to stay here and try to make the money and again,

build fitness and foundation with the additional distance.

I've seen a lot of very good runners who have run in really

good stakes, including Barbadian runner who was on this path last

year. And so keep your eye on many of

these kinds of horses, even if they don't end up being classic

winners. Many times we see them later in

their careers winning races at Charlestown at high levels, that

sort of thing. So keep your eye on a lot of

these runners here. Race 8 again is the Smart Halo.

It's on the Philly side of things. 2 year old Phillies

here, 6 furlongs on the dirt as we've mentioned, and I consider

this the road to the Black Eyed Susan and no one else does.

But you know what? Dan's in media now, so he agrees

with me. How about that, Mackenzie?

Where'd you lay into the smart Halo?

Just filtered on the inside really.

I mean hard for me to go against.

So I with two year olds, here's my preface.

It means a lot to me just sort of how they're maintaining them

between races as much as it does how they're running in the

races. Superstitious, I think is

really, really impressive. I loved the way that she was

able to win, but still kind of a quick turn around.

She had a lot of work to do and you know, she's had two works

back since then and some, you know, how much do you want to

do? You're going short.

I think, you know, if they're coming into the race with enough

condition, sometimes I wonder you want to maintain them for

longer. So that's where I land with just

filtered. She comes out of a really

competitive group. You know, Grade 3 Matron ran

well enough there for me, but comes back to the dirt and, you

know, was a debut winner on the surface and then even won the

Keswick early on. So I think she's kind of hard to

go against and has enough tactical speed she can probably

work out the trip from inside. Not a lot of not a lot of

arguments against her there. Trombetta Very good in stakes as

well, especially at this level. Dan.

I talked to Mike earlier this week, he said just filtered

training into this race just as well or better than she did on

the turf last time out. He feels dirt or turf, it really

isn't going to make a difference.

But perhaps right now dirt's OK and he isn't concerned about

breaking from the inside post. He feels she has enough speed to

get to the lead and if someone wants to go crazy, he's very

happy with her rating. He thinks she's a very smart,

professional 2 year old and quite simply, as Mackenzie

mentioned, she is the filly to beat.

There are some very interesting horses in this race now.

Beach Heist, the number six is going to scratch.

Will Walden's going to run this horse on turf, but he's going to

run Holland Dr. the number 2 and you want to talk about pedigree?

She's by practical joke. She's a half sister.

Holy, who won the Breeders Cup Sprint, also 1/2 sister to Hot

Rod Charlie who won the Pennsylvania Derby.

This is a huge pedigree at 15 to one on the morning line.

Holland Dr. graduated at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

I talked to Will. He's kind of saying he wants to

get some of the pressure off, get some black type inner where

and then move on. Prosecco Rita, Brittany

Russell's horse won by a zillion last time out.

Brittany says she's a little quirky behind the gate and it's

really she they know she can run.

It's whether she can behave herself in the paddock.

I agree with everything Max said about superstitious.

I'm a little bit concerned about the source turning back in

distance, especially after Robbie said in in the Maryland

Million winner's circle. Going to give her a little bit

of time and think about next year.

I wouldn't be Dan Ullman if I wasn't thinking about a Gary

Capuano horse. Doc's Miracle.

The number 8, yes, must improve. I will say that Doc's Miracle

did all the heavy lifting in the Maryland Million, dueling for

the lead with two other horses on a day where speed didn't hold

and then holding second behind odds on superstitious draws

outside here doesn't have to run and gun Going to be a good

price. Give me Doc's Miracle at a

little bit of a price. All right, McKenzie, you have

access to the show sheet. Who do I have on top in this

race? I have the same horse and so I'm

on the 8 here. I have a terrible feeling, Dan,

we're not going to get anywhere near that number.

I totally agree. If you watched that last race,

she did all of the work. Well, there's a lot of weight

right there. That horse has no chance, by the

way. Well, Walden, Awesome that he's

sending horses to Maryland, of course.

Just had rhetorical as his first BC starter just this past

weekend in the turf mile. Yeah, Doc's miracle.

I think a lot of this too is yet see I'm not going to lie like

that really does stand out to me as a major positive in here

getting Hazelwood aboard. Frankly in this spot.

I went 817 and four in here. I agree with Mackenzie about

just filtered superstitious. It's just hard to look past

right. She just shows up every time we

know what we're getting from her.

And so I, you know, I it's, it's one of those horses that has

never been outside the exact in four races that's always

attractive to me amongst 2 year olds.

And so Mackenzie, I think those four will stand out for me.

But man, yeah, Dan, see, this is the problem with hanging out

with Dan is eventually he has this kind of influence on you

and then you start thinking like him about Maryland races.

Maybe that's good, I don't know. But you work with him.

Is it good or not? I don't know.

Sometimes I, you know, I have to come to the table with my own

argument for it. And sometimes I walk into it

saying I know I'm talking the source into the winner's circle

by not using it and I'm standing by it many a times.

Ask. Me about never done that

personally, no, I would never do that.

Yeah, no, that that never would be a really fun rendition of

this race, though. It should be yes.

And you know, it's funny because superstitious when I saw her on

Marilyn Million day, she's just big, mature, really, really

classy type. And if you see her in person,

it's hard not to fall in love with her.

I think she deserves more than the 64 buyer than she ran last

out time. Last time out too.

I also. Appreciate that.

She's absolutely gorgeous. I mean, Maggie was down there

for a fox for a Marilyn Million and she just was gushing over

superstitious how well she looked in the paddock.

And she's a beautiful, beautiful horse.

We like to see the local horsemen do well.

Robbie Bales with a Maryland bred Louis.

You may continue now. It's all right.

I voted for Maggie for the Jim McKay Award this year.

Anyways, the, the I appreciate also how honest Brittany Russell

is about these horses. Like just, yeah, just got a

little bit of attitude problem. She does, you know, that kind of

thing. And I, I just appreciate the

just the, the brutal we always seem to get for Brittany, who's

always on top of what is going on in her barn.

We move on to the late double race. 9 is the James F Lewis of

the third. I will be honest, I don't know

who James F Lewis is. Dan, Who is James F Lewis?

James F Lewis was the 1st president of the Maryland

Million. He was a very noted horse

breeder and owner. And I have a trivia question,

one of James F Lewis's offspring graded stakes winning trainer.

Would you like to hazard a guess it's.

Going to be the same last name and this is a terrible job by

me. I have no idea, Dan.

I apologize. One of my favorite ROI trainers

over the years may not have as many horses anymore.

Lisa Lewis. Oh, no kidding.

And would not have put that together all right.

But we move on to race 9. It is the the Lewis.

It is 6 furlongs on the dirt going over the cold side of

things here again, 2 year olds here.

We're calling this the start of the Road to the Preakness,

$100,000 on the line here. Mackenzie went first last time.

Dan will ask you who you've got on top of the Lewis.

This is a complete skull Buster. I, I I'm going to trust

Mackenzie here and just roll with her picks.

But to be honest with you, I'm going to lean a little bit

towards Channel the Music, the number 3 for Jorge Duarte.

Maybe a little bit cheap on paper.

Winning at what? Colonial Two starts back.

I watched the sources sapling on dirt and that race was at a

mile, A2 turn mile and he loomed boldly at the three sixteens.

He had a huge look at it and I think the distance saw him out,

not the other way around. They ran him on turf last time

out. He didn't seem to like it.

So they're shorten them up here in a dirt Sprint in a race where

he's going to get some pace and I just think he's dirtied up

enough that he's going to be a price in here.

I respect a horse like Balboa for Brittany Russell other

putting the blinkers back on. Supposedly Brittany was very

impressed with this horse's last work.

He's got his head bashed in his last two races against grade one

horses. He's going to fit well with

these. I'm just not sure how much of a

short price. The question is how good is Big

Cuddle? Because if you watched his

Marilyn Million, he might be very good.

It's a fantastic question. How good is big cuddle?

Very uncomfortable asking a woman that question.

But Mackenzie, how good is Big Cuddle?

I mean, he's another one who I was pretty all in on him when it

came down to things on Marilyn Million Day and to run like he

did. There are not many horses in

North America that you see do that.

He did not get away from the gate and he ran every single

step of 6 furlongs flat out and six wide, 7 wide, you know, form

says 6 wide. I looked wider than that to me,

to be honest, and still just kept going.

You talk about Hazelwood, right? To have the confidence in a

horse, to ride him, somehow get him to take a breath and finish

a race. That's the replay that you have

to watch when you're thinking about the Eclipse and everything

else. Because really he is that good.

And what I think is attractive is if they don't work this horse

back, they just maintain him. It's a family that has some

natural speed, but unlike the other ones, he's pretty

comfortable coming from off of it.

And if he can run that race again, I think he's odds on

here. Who else is interesting to?

You well, and so that's where it is because it's a fantastic

handicapping race. You have a reason to go against

everyone. You have a reason to go for

everyone. Gurney Halleck is 1.

Who's interesting? The Lasik's question is there

for me. That's something that I have a

hard time with when you're talking about sprinting on the

dirt, though, so I look to channel the music as well.

He's one who, Dan, you said he didn't run much or didn't like

the turf, but that was in the futurity at Belmont and he ran.

He missed by three lengths, so it might still be there, maybe

give him a pass, but I think he can sit the right kind of a trip

in this race. He's run really well and again,

I agree with Dan on on the mile just being a bit much, but I

think that three back maiden special weight win is convincing

enough for me. How about the eight though, are

we? You're not talking about

sometime at 30 to one on the morning line?

Who, you know, ran OK enough at Keeneland last time out against

outfielder, you know, if you can get 30 to one or near that to

round things out, I think he's kind of an interesting player in

here. Dan, I need to know who the

rider is on 9 and because I have a conundrum.

And Mackenzie, I need you to hear this in front of the

millions of people that are watching.

Dan has told me many times, as we praise Yedzi Hazelwood over

and over, but this is horse racing and not jockey racing.

He's told me many, many times and I have good news that the 9

horse here for Gary Capp doesn't have a rider.

So hopefully the horse will just break, not have to carry the

weight and just win the race since it's not jockey racing.

And so Dan, do you happen to know who might be riding this

horse? Because I love, I love, love,

love this horse. Reminds me a lot, frankly, of

what Super Corridor just did in the Breeders Cup.

Juvenile Phillies coming out of a dominating maiden where she

just got to the front and did it.

I know that that's what they're going to try to do with this

horse, depending on if it gets a person on its background.

It it makes me think that maybe Hollywood imports not going to

run because Hazelwood was named on both and he's going to be, of

course, go on big cuddle and Gary hasn't named a rider just

yet. And Gary, I think really likes

this one Hollywood import. He had him entered the first

level allowance the other day and he broke and he was position

did post 12 and Gary said forget that.

I'm not dealing with that with this source.

I'm curious to see if we get a late rider change and Hollywood

import does run. Don't don't say he's scratched

yet. He isn't, certainly not, but I

am wondering if Gary's going to run him in this race going 6th.

I thought his debut was really good because I have a feel like

he actually wants to go longer. He broke sharp and he was just

run off his feet in the early part of that race and he slowly

started to pick it up and he grinded him down and he grinded

him down and he came wide. I was really taken with that

performance and I think they like this horse a lot and I'm

not sure a they want to run up against Big Cuddle, especially

going 6th, but we'll see. Yeah, I I agree with you.

By the way, that's an honor AP Kerlin Mare.

I mean, distance should be well within that bloodline for sure

with him. I'm actually this this this

channel. The music with Mclean's music

and then an Empire Maker dam is actually very interesting to me.

As we go through this series, we get to that mile, maybe even get

to two turns that might be one that we're watching come the

springtime. I really want to bet the 9:00,

but I really didn't know the riders.

I really like his form and what I really like is different.

Unless it's some complete incompetent that came off the

street and you threw him on his venue.

Like, maybe I don't want to play Hollywood import.

If John Velasquez was riding Hollywood import, all that, all

that happens is you lose 3 points.

Toledo is on, you get 3 points. He's the most, the third best

rider in Maryland. Come on, let's go.

The other part of that is whoever his exercise rider is,

just get that guy. The work from the gate last out.

Let's just do that. But.

He might like What do you want, horse?

McLean yeah, let's just do that. So Gary, if you're if you're

watching, and I know you are, just go ahead and get that, get

that exercise rider out for us. We'd really appreciate.

It. Get it done.

Let's say let's get this all together.

Come on then make this happen for me.

I need I need things in my life. All right, here we go all right,

we'll go to the closer here, another maiden 12/5 to close the

card here nice full gate again here double digit horses, 10 of

them. We do have a an even running

favorite on the inside Dan, and this is one of those races.

I'm sure you're like me and you see the morning line you're

like, you know what I'm going to do I'm going to find the winner.

That's not the number one. I'm going to do it.

And then you look around and you go, oh crap.

I think I'm going to have to bet the one here, Dan, who's beating

the one. I can't find anyone beating the

one I mean in in. We're all playing I.

Hate the I hate these give up. I hate these give up moves.

And Brittany's just sort of putting the for sale sign and,

you know, it's like the, you know, like it's like the yard

sale and destinations being LED out into the garage, out of the

garage and just, you know, they're putting the tag on and

hoping someone drives by and is very interested in the Liam's

Map, Dark Bay or Brown Philly. But Destination also has speed

and destination drops in class and that is a huge, huge angle

in horse racing and breaking from the rail.

It's now or never for destination.

If she breaks, she gets to the front.

She probably wins this race going 6 furlongs if I tried to

beat her, maybe 5th gear for Phil Capuano.

I think that's kind of an interesting horse coming off of

a long layoff. But this source came off of a

year layoff I think 2 starts back and they ran two turns

against a very sharp horse. And then last time out look at

the fractions, the source was pushing 24.4 O and then went

faster the second quarter 24.24 over turf.

Turn back if destination doesn't stay, maybe 5th gear picks up

the pieces. But again, I'm interested in

Mac's opinion here. Yeah, I'm also one and seven

here. Mac, where'd you land?

It's pretty funny because you summed it all up from the get go

and it it doesn't help the destination.

The first horse you see when you look at it right, like surely

they're somewhere else. Surely I'm I'm going to keep

looking. Oh, there's no AE list.

Oh, OK, I guess we're on the 1. So yes, destination, but just

when you're outside, you know, can I make the case for the 2

Valerie St. She has the speed just to her

inside if destination breaks and Tice does a really good job

sometimes getting these types of horses encouraged and a little

bit braver. And you look, I like the six

furlong effort and I just think those two last out types of

trips. She's not beating the world in

some of these other starts, but is she good enough to maybe just

go ahead and wear things down if she sits right there the entire

way and Destination really doesn't necessarily want to take

that pressure, maybe. I can't argue.

Very confident maybe there there we are for sure a reminder of a

couple of pick 5 notes 12% take out in Maryland.

You can't beat it. Literally just can't beat it.

And on top of that, carryover in the late pick 5 on Friday.

So take your first stab, build that bankroll, get ready for the

James F Lewis Day on Saturday. You guys at the Maryland Jockey

Club, you like to name things. Every weekend has to have a

theme. Mackenzie, is there a theme this

weekend? Is it like apple orchard

cinnamon weekend? It's like what's going on at

Laurel Park this week. Now, believe it or not, I'm I'm

not a big pumpkin spice person, but it is veterans.

Oh, that makes much more sense. All right, OK.

Yeah, Louis. Oh, I didn't know that's.

How do you How do you get a show?

What's funny is I do the I do the veteran's day pick five at

Horseshoe Indianapolis every year, and I'm already getting

the emails about that and it's not in my brain right now for

some reason. You know, I do this show.

I don't know what my wife's favorite color is.

It's my life. There you go.

So all right, well, he's Dan and she's Mackenzie.

They are from the Maryland Jockey Club.

Give me like 30 seconds. I'm going to close the show.

You too. I'd love to couple quick things

to wrap up afterward, but thank you and Al the best Edgar 71°

and the beautiful weather on Saturday.

Thanks Louis, always good talking to you brother.

Thank you. Bye, Mackenzie.

All right, this has been the horse racing happy hour Blue

Rabo. Thanks for hanging out with us

at the top of our Road to the Preakness series.

I'm really, really pleased that we do this all year long of the

Maryland circuit and certainly the people involved there as

well, as you can see through all of these episodes.

So thanks to Mac thanks to Dan for hanging out with us here on

the program again. He's back with me tomorrow on

ESPN 681057 in the morning as we talk through these races again.

We shall have some thoughts by tomorrow.

Maybe we'll beat that one by the time we get to the morning again

for Macadam. My name is Louis.

See you next week.