Del Mar Saturday 11/22/25 | Lindo & Spears

It's been weeks, Barry, but the music is back.

No more rain outs. Oh, let's get after it.

So Cal, Saturday's here. We're presented by am wager.

It's the horse racing happy hour.

Lou, your bow Berry Spears in our usual spot on a Friday.

Really happy to welcome in a rain soak John Lindo.

He has told me that there is a chance that the the sun is

creeping through the clouds or you could see it behind John's

shoulder. That is not an angelic vision of

John Lindo, rather that is the sun actually coming out at this

point. John, thanks.

I'm jumping on buddy. How are you?

Doing great Lee, and good to talk to you guys.

It was great seeing you in Domar for the Breeders Cup.

That's exactly right. Last time we saw John was at the

at the Turf Rider dinner, which was way more enjoyable than I

thought it was going to be. John, I'm not going to lie to

you. I thought some of the stories

were really funny. Rod Laver was there of all

things in the world. I thought that was pretty

awesome. And so, yeah, no kidding.

Yeah, it very same thing. But yeah, no.

Good to see you at that night. And by the way, you know, Barry,

who we really got to meet, is the real star of the Lindo

household. It's it's the wife who wins all

the awards. And then we've got John on our

show because, you know, he's not an award winner.

And it is what it is, right, John?

I mean, it's that's really what. I have to drive Miss Daisy

wherever she needs to go. So, you know, have a giant.

Oh, man, that's the good stuff for sure.

But John, go ahead and and if you can, for those of us who are

outside of California, sort of explain the rain out rules and

those kinds of things because for example, we're just we're

what's called off the turf at Churchill today and they're just

going to run on the slop. What are the rules out there in

California? The protocols in California are

the strictest in the nation, not only for racing conditions but

trying to get there. As far as workouts and things in

California they did. We did not have any workouts at

Delmar this morning of the track was sealed.

They they sealed it after, after the workouts.

Yesterday's it rained last night it rained this morning.

It's starting to clear out now. But usually after we seal the

track, the the California Horse Racing Board rule is the first

day you open cut open the track, which would be tomorrow, there

usually is no workouts. So tomorrow they'll be joggers

only. And so we have not had workouts.

There was a period of four days straight where we didn't work

out from last was Saturday or Friday through through

Wednesday. We're able to get in some works

Thursday, nothing again today. And, and again, even if it was

raining today and let's say we're racing and they and they

roll that track seal, if it was good enough to rain today,

tomorrow, we still wouldn't be able to work on it.

So we deal with a lot of stuff out here and, and, and it drives

me crazy when I see horses getting over a track at

Churchill Downs so they can handle fine.

We used to race in the in the winter here and on the rain at

Santa Anita, you know, spectacular bid was pretty good

in the slop, winning the San Anita Handicap.

And, and so it's just the cards that were dealt now and it makes

it really hard on the horsemen trying to keep the horses fit

and ready to go. And right now, especially when

most of the horses are stable at Santa Anita and we're racing at

Del Mar, you know, if there's any doubt, they're not coming

down. So that that hurts entry.

So we're dealing with a lot of stuff.

Dirt only car there tomorrow at Del Mar as well.

So part of that. What do you expect the track

condition to be by the time we get to race time?

Post time race 1:00 tomorrow. Well, again, they haven't

touched it today. I think there's joggers only

tomorrow, No works. So then we'll probably cut it

open. And when they did last week, it

was it. It was good under the same type

of conditions and it dried out the fast.

After four or five races the track was a little bit dead and

then closers did pretty good on that track.

So there should be some water in the track.

I don't think it's going to be a rock hard surface at all.

All right, John Lindo with us hanging out our usual spot here

on Socal Saturdays on the Horse Racing Happy Hour presented by

amwageramwager.com every single week.

Go check them out right now. Live in California, $150.00 sign

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Let's get into it, guys. Race 1 is a maiden 32.

We're going a mile on the dirt as we will for the first three

races on the card. This is for two year old

Phillies in this one and a couple of shorter prices.

But boy, odd race means we get Barry Spears because he's an odd

guy. But Barry, we'll go inside the

mind of Spears later. John, it's not going to be good

for you. The this is a tough one, Barry,

because you've got a favorite that hasn't been close in a

while and just a an interesting group of two year olds.

Yeah, it, it is an interesting group of two year olds, but I

think the horse that I selected, the three horse definitely

probable. I think there's no O there, but

I think that horse, you know, the two races that they ran at

the maiden special weight level kind of stand out over the rest

of these horses. I I don't expect them to to have

much trouble getting to the lead or, or near it.

And, and the race is really there.

So win or lose in my estimation. Throw the Blinkers On is Michael

McCarthy. Where'd you land, John?

Yeah, just looking at the races, the the two horses that haven't

been beaten at the maiden 32 level are the horses I'm going

to look at and that's number one.

Can't say that and #3 definitely probable.

They come out of the same race as Sprint and one of those

maiden optional claiming type of races.

Neither one were were were a factor, but I do think can't say

that wants to go two turns. He's she's by Vino Rosa.

So I'm assuming that that this is going to be good for her and

the speed ought to come back in here and she's the one to beat.

Definitely probable. I tried her last time I better

and and she didn't show much interest at all.

I don't know what happened. It was a fast race at this

level. She's going to get first run and

can't say that. I just think they're coming out

of the best race process of elimination, the 1:00 and 3:00.

Yeah, I have 1/3 on top of here as well.

Bears board came in third spot for me.

John, just watching that horse early in races at similar

levels, I think the horse obviously has ability, just

hasn't finished yet. I'll tell you Frisu keeps them

out here, but should be, should be, I think A13 type of set up

here. Barry, I know you went 3-1 and

four. What do you see in Joules

potentially hit the board? Speed factor might last a little

bit longer than Bears board. So we kind of went a different

direction in that regard, but I think the top 4 will be the one,

2-3 and four in some order. Yeah, there you go.

Move on to Race 2 on the card here at Del Mar.

We're talking Saturday racing, of course, presented by AM Wager

here on the Horse Racing Happy Hour.

John Lindo, Barry Spears. My name is Louie Rabbo.

We're here every Friday if you would like to walk through the

card with us in Southern California, $10,000 non two life

reclaimer awaits us in race. 2 mile on the dirt again, 18,000

on the line for 3 and up here we go to you John, even races.

You're an even guy. So what do you make of this one?

Well #1 Camera Chai is probably the nicest thing we can call

this field. They have an aversion to

winning, so somebody's going to have to win today in a wide open

race. Just a very small lean to #8

Noble Gary, who's at least in good form.

And from the outside post, there's some speed right to his

inside. And number six Typhoon Tommy #7

toppers at Seaside. I think maybe Noble Gary falls

into a trip here just stalking the speed from the outside and

you know, again, I don't trust his heart at the 8th bowl, but

at six to one of the morning line, at least there's value to

try it. So Noble Gary is slight lean for

me. If the race falls apart late,

the gentlemen's club from the inside has no early speed.

He'll be running a little bit late and it's really hard to get

behind a horse like Nate Smith, who is a 7 year old eligible to

non winners A2. There's a there's a reason

they're non winners, a 2. They just don't win.

And when you've had that many chances, I I can't go there.

Yeah, Naismith now one for 22 lifetime.

Only been in the exacta 3 times. Barry, Interesting difficult

race you and I have as this show has gone on throughout the year.

Once in a while on these races we land in the same spot.

We don't have any of the same three horses and it's not like

it's a 14 horse field like we had last week in the clammy

ground. This is an 8 horse field.

Man, yeah, it's very interesting that that did happen, but I

landed on Typhoon Tommy. I I think we have kind of a, a

lone speed sort of situation. If you look at this horse's

maiden breaker back at the Pleasanton in 2024, in November,

the horse was forwardly placed and I think the horse has

improved since then. So getting back to the dirt

makes a lot of sense. And especially the cutback

getting top rider in in Raspoli. There's a lot going on here.

I I think they may be lone speed.

Bryan Corners number going turf to dirt.

Not great, but this horse did break its maiden on the dirt up

at Pleasanton in a maiden 12/5 back in November of 2024.

Man, tough race here. I landed on the two in here in

Naismith, so I'm going for the horse that's one for 22.

Lifetime does have eight third place finishes, so hopefully

just hitting the board. I'm essentially leaning on that.

Race 2 back at Santa Anita at the beginning of October for

that kind of form. Maybe the horse can't get the

lead in this one, but can be close to the lead and calf and

get him home for that one point. Just a tough race.

If I'm laying on a horse that's one for 22, your chance almost

certainly to make money early in the early pick five.

We move on to race three. Another one on a mile on the

dirt track. Excuse me, at a mile, maiden 50

in here, $33,000 is the purse. John, I always ask this when we

go around the country with these shows, is Maiden 50 the highest

level of Maiden right now in Southern California?

They've ridden another condition, the maiden optional

62 five. This is like a a maiden special

way for horses that have sold for a certain amount of money.

They're trying to write the I don't want to run against Bob

Baffert maiden special way and they put the optional $62,500

tag. So that's the highest one at

Delmar in the summer. The run of maiden Maiden 80 and

maiden hundreds for the 2 year olds just again to protect them

as they get started. But in general, Maiden 50 is

probably the upper level in in Southern California.

Who'd you land on here? In a wide open race, I like the

pattern of #5 another Juanito 2 sprints to a route.

This is from the horses from a route family, all, all the

siblings that have one of one going two turns.

I, I'd like trainer Víctor García, a guy that doesn't, it's

kind of an under the radar guy, but they're not afraid to cash

tickets. And, and this horse has the

right kind of pattern, had two sprints now a long work pattern

to stretch out. I think we're going to see a

better race out of the the horse on Saturday. 5 to 2 is a you

know, I wouldn't take anything less than that in a wide open

race, but I do think he'll run better.

Number one classical comes out of the best races, drops him for

a claiming tag. I expect him to show some speed

from the rail. And I see Antonio Fraser who

gets them out here. You know, he might carry this

field a long way. And if you're looking, you know,

show bet players #2 King has success.

A big, lumbering 1 paced horse who finally stretches out.

He's going to go a route. I just don't know if he's going

to go around very fast, but he's one of those horses that if they

fall apart, he's just going to keep grinding and grinding.

Barry, you went chalky here. What the heck?

What's going on, buddy? I, I must have been slightly

I'll when I looked at this card yesterday, but I, I, I.

That's Barry feeling and not the not the card being I'll where it

would be very clear. Yeah, it's a big difference.

There's a big. Difference.com.

It's just Barry. OK, go ahead.

Yes. Yeah, I I landed on kick

Charlemagne. I, I those two efforts, the

first two were really good. One in the kittens Joy at

colonial. They probably were overmatched

blinkers off does kind of make sense here.

Jonathan Thomas does really good with these types dropping back

in maiden special 8, the maiden claimer.

I think this horse will have the run of the race be wherever they

want to put this horse. I I think they're the goods.

Yeah, I went 153 here hoping that Classico throws some of

that longer distance form in, but more like we saw two back at

Del Mar. I know it was on the turf, but

we get to dirt here. But man, I can't look past Doug

O'Neill's number for moving from maiden special to maiden

claimer. And I certainly can't look past

his two year old number either. It's been a pretty good meet for

Doug O'Neill here, John. Yeah, it was a little bit quiet

at the Santa Neo auto meet. You know, it just depends down

here. Excuse me, what races will go?

And, you know, Doug's got horses at all different levels.

So he'll keep firing at you and he's going to win a share and

then then he'll go on a run and just, you know, for two or three

days, win everything. Insight And then they're out of

conditions. He has to wait till they come

back again. But he's going well right now.

He's got a big barn and he just runs on where they belong.

And if you want to claim them, that's fine.

He'll get another. He's, you know, he's got an army

out there. He means when he says why not

us? He really means it again.

By the way, if I haven't mentioned it, John's room, a

radio program on the weekends called Thoroughbred LA.

At least that's how I found John originally.

And so thoroughbredla.com, they're on KLAA every Saturday

and Sunday. Be sure to check that out.

Frankly, you can listen online, but if you're in Southern

California, for sure, Maiden 20 awaits us in Race 4.

We will Sprint for this one. GOAT 6 1/2 on the dirt fillies

and Mares 3 and up here, we're in for 20.

We're trying to win our first race.

Barry, you get to go first on an even race because I'm feeling

charitable. Oh oh, that's different.

I guess it is tis the season as they say.

Right. Thinking about my brethren.

That's right. There you are.

But this was an interesting race.

I think there's quite a bit of speed in here and I went to the

horse on the cutback. The Seven Gretta's Ghost should

get a great trip second time at this level, which I like as an

angle a lot. But Kyle Frey should have this

horse in great position. If they kind of do what they did

last time in this race, they should be good as gold.

Yeah, we're going to go from a route to Sprint there.

A decent angle for trainer George.

Papa Prodromu. Where'd you land here?

John? I I landed in a different spot.

You know, the the ones that I've seen in Southern California,

they're not much and so I went looking for one of the ship and

wind horses. They do have that ship and wind

program here at Delmar and #8 Aloha Dreaming qualifies for

that, where they get a travel travel stipend for coming out to

race in California. And they're running for on the

dirt, a 50% first bonus. So you had 50% on whatever they

can earn during this meet. So it makes all the sense in the

world to run the horse where they can win.

I thought the race at that Who's your Indy last year was not bad.

Broke slowly from the rail, had some traffic and finished up

well. I think the horse will like 6

1/2 furlongs outside from from the rail last time.

That's going to help. And you catch the right feel

here. Trainer Bob Hess having a good

meet day. He's, he's just been he, he

loves Delmar and he points horses to these ship and win

races. And I think this is the right

horse. Aloha dreaming the other ship

and win horse #2 Divine win. You talk about Doug O'Neill

again. He's going to run this horse

where he belongs, dropping out of races from Churchill Downs in

Ellis Park. It won't have to be any kind of

starter to win this race. I I don't like the lack of

speed. This horse might be a little

further back than you want to be a Del Mar, but I respect the

connections here and I just think both ship and wind horses

are alive. I got the one Tupelo on top here

celebrating Mississippi apparently, but a daughter of

Bernardini in this spot. Tried the maiden 20 level last

time and finished a decent second ahead of another runner

in this race and Moonlight Courage.

Essentially, guys, I'm just hoping that this is the second

time doing something and the horse puts it together for

Michael McCarthy and I, and I do think that that's an OK angle,

this kind of layoff for him as well.

He hits a 20% with a massive sample size.

He's really good maiden claimers, etcetera.

So I have Tupelo on top in this field in race four.

Race 4, by the way, did start the late, excuse me, the late.

The only pick 6, the $2.00 pick six there at Delmar.

Let's carry over tomorrow, John. 51,879 in the pool, it was

supposed to go Friday but obviously they cancelled so it

carries to Saturday, so it gives us something to play for in the

back half of the card there. You go.

So I was 187 there. Bury 7, four and eight in a

race. 4 again. John's going to try the eight on

the outside in Aloha Dreaming and the two Divine Wind in the

beginning of the pick. 6th early pick five of course starts in

race, 550 cent minimum there. 12-5 maiden claimer here. 5 1/2

on the dirt for this for Cal Bretz fillies and mares 3 and up

on this one. And John, this is, you know,

we've you know, we've been doing this show since February,

looking through the card every week in Southern California and

what a couple of things stand out as far as which races draw

the biggest field sizes. And certainly turf racing in

California is always going to draw nice fields.

And that's, that's where we're going to see the bulk of I, I

think the best betting race is. But boy, some of these claimers

when we get into this spring kind of stuff, especially with

the movement of the Northern California horses, it's really

worked. It's it's worked out into a

nice, a nice group of horses, frankly.

Yeah, that that's the key. This is a new condition that

wouldn't have been run at Del Mar in previous years.

But with the the cessation of the the Northern California

racing, they've added these maiden 12 fives and you had a

caliber condition to it. So now you get some of those

horses that maybe were were running at Los Alamitos or maybe

you had gone had to go do Turf Paradise or something like that.

You've got a place for these horses to run.

They're not run that often. So when they do, they flood the

entry box. Got to feel the 10 in here.

And the first thing I look for is a dropper, somebody who's,

you know, all right, you know, we're going to get a lot of

horses that maybe are coming up trying to fit on the circuit.

Well, number six Amelia Zecho has been running in tougher

races. Comes out of a maiden fifty last

time, you know, has had some trouble with the gate.

Not not a quick horse out of the gate, but at this level you get

a lot of 2 speed to set the horse up and the drop in class.

You get Antonio Afresio here for Phil D'amato.

I just think he's realistic here.

You know, if they want to take this Philly, they can have her.

He doesn't need these kind of the barn.

You just win races and drive them down their throat until you

can move on. So Amelia is definitely the one

to beat here. K Bella Luna coming off of the

layoff. This is for Ron Ellis.

Horses train pretty well in the morning.

I don't know how much ability she has, but she's a new face in

a race where I've seen a lot of these.

I think Kay Bella Luna #7 has a little chance.

The six and seven for me. And if somebody else wins, you

know, I'll I'll cover and spread the race in the Pick 5 on a

backup ticket. Kay Bella Luna is Berry's top

pick here in this one. The seven horse Serratus rides

for the aforementioned Ron Ellis.

What do you like here, Berry? Well, usually in races like this

I gravitate to horses that A haven't run very much and B

shown a little bit of speed and Kay Bella Luna kind of fits that

bill. And the drop down makes a lot of

sense to from 20 down to 12/5 probably fits here very, very

well. So we'll give that one a shot

and get away from the favor a little bit.

I agree with John on the 6th horse here.

A long shot that I'm going to be watching is the 2 Circle of Fire

for Sally Rivera, who doesn't have a win yet this year, but

Giovanni Franco picks up the mount.

He also has no wins in this in this meet, but the horses put

together a couple of nice works. A nice work from the Gate 3 back

in September and I'm wondering if we don't get a horse that's

at least second up got on the track a little bit before we get

to Gio Franco will this I think this one can hit the board and

really upset the upper car because I think we're going to

get way more than 20 to 1. I think this horse will be man.

What is it circumference. Yeah, the old daughter of

circumference. That's what we're going for

here. I I just I think we're going to

get like a solid 5560 to 1 on this horse and I think it's one

that can absolutely hit the board second time out.

So just a heads up. That's my very very random long

shot of the day. Is the 2 horse in race 6 or race

5. Excuse me if anybody's

interested in that. So Cal Saturday's rolling on

Louie robot John Lindo and Barry Spears here are presented by am

wager and am wager.com race six starts the late pick 4 as well

25 claimer here. You can get down to 22 five with

some weight allowances. This is again for non 2 lifers.

We're going 7 furlongs the full use of the show the shoot there.

Excuse me at Delmar on the dirt fillies and mares 3 and up.

Which have never won two races. A lot of these today, Barry.

I'm gonna let you go 1st and even race again.

The charity is coming through. Yeah, this one I, I, I really

couldn't get around the favorite here or the second choice.

I, I, I think this is a real straightforward race with

headstrong ways ways kind of leading the way, probably lone

speed. If they aren't, they'll be right

up close and and should be able to stalk and pounce pretty

easily against this group. I I can't get around the four

either. Finishing second in Freya has

the second best kind of record in this race and in second best

sort of activity. You know, the way this race is

going to be run, it looks like Freya is going to easily finish

second and then we're just going to round it out with a third

choice Exington for 3rd. Just kind of to to pick up the

pieces late. What do you think, John Chalky

Racer? I think so I think I think

Barry's on the right two horses. I I went the other way.

I put Freya on top, but first time dirt for her.

She's by smiling tiger who gets you know, he's he's known as

dirt sire basically in California.

So I think that may actually help her.

She's trained well enough on dirt.

She's had she had a little trouble last time leaving the

gate when she breaks. She's got some tactical speed

and at 7 furlongs I think is a good trip for her.

She she's got that long run down the back stretch to find a spot.

So Freya for me, headstrong ways did nothing wrong last time, a

solid second at the level. You know, she was stepping up

out out of a maiden 12, five wins.

That was a big jump for her and and she handled it.

So if she can repeat that, she's the one to beat.

She should have a little company with the severe clear maybe

pushing her from the outside. One thing to look for here,

guys, watch the start of #3 girl can't help it.

She may be the worst Gate Philly I've ever seen If if I've never

seen anybody break slow as often as she does.

She has a little bit of ability, but I guarantee you she's going

to get left here at the start. That's just what she does.

Comments in the form of. The comments are incredible.

They're incredible. Off, slow, off slow off, slow

off slow dwelt step slow, step slow, hesitated bit slow dwelt

off slow. 11 races. That's where they should be

taken to. That's where the bet should be

taken on whether she breaks slow or not.

Oh man. I you know, we were, we were at

the track a couple weeks ago and the group next to us was doing

the old, everybody throws in 5 bucks a race and the first horse

back after a race gets the pot. I don't know if you've ever

played this game before. It's a spectacular game that

feels like the kind of horse that doesn't want to draw right.

It's just going to be like, all right, I hit the line, I'm done,

I'll be back. That's the horse you put the 5

bucks on. That's exactly.

There you go. But yeah, I largely landed in

the same spot. Girl can't help it though.

John, if she gets the engine going at the end, could she pick

up the pieces here? She actually has a little bit of

a late run. I mean, if they fall apart, she

can hit she can impact the exact to try.

I I just don't trust you. She can have so much to do turn

her for home, but she's not impossible.

Late pick three up next, John and I wanted to ask for those of

us around the country who have enjoyed it, the late pick 3

going to the $3, going to the 15% take out.

I, I think it's just such a huge positive.

I'm going to pick on Southern California a little, especially

when you don't always have a big field in all of the legs that it

does force you to be a little more tactful in what you're, you

know what, where, which opinions you're pressing essentially.

Generally speaking, though, when you talk to people out there,

have they been happy with how this wagers gone?

Because I really hope they are. Absolutely it it was created for

a couple and I give Sam I need a lot of credit.

The other ones that created this wager, they made it a $3 minimum

a 15% take out and they made it a retail wager.

You know, you hear all the to talk about the Caws and the late

odds changes and everything else.

You know, Delmar started shutting off the wind bats at 2

minutes to post during the summer.

When we saw the first couple weeks, it was so bad and that

that helps stabilize that pool. Santa Anita came back with this

wager, a retail wager. And I find myself playing more

and more of these retail wages that take that out of the out of

the equation. So good for them.

I like it. I'll play the wager as long as I

can find a, a sequence that I like.

And yeah, this is an interesting race.

And for me, with the pick six and everything else, I think

there's a single in here. And I like #7 crystal clean.

She ran real well last time from the rail, ran second to a Philly

stay in line who really ran well that day.

She tried 50,000 over the weekend, Open company.

That was too much. But she's a good solid Philly

that wins races. This is a three-year old that

was taking on older that day. She goes from the rail to the

outside. She's got tactical speed and she

didn't catch any monsters in here.

She's going to be very tough to beat #7 Crystal clean a single

for me. If you're playing exact as or or

tries, I think the three time keepers charm and the four

Rizzleberry rows are the right ones underneath.

But if if Crystal clean gets beat then I lose the pick 6 and

I'm out of that late pick 3. Barry is going to disagree with

you, but he's going to kind of agree with you.

Barry, I know you got the four points off here.

Yeah, I used Rizzleberry Rose. I like horses that come off a

layoff from their two year old year to their three-year old

year and they either pair up their best figure or get a

little bit better. Usually that means there's some

more improvement in there after that.

And this horse did that on September 7th, came back off a

layoff from November 1st, 2024 and ran a pretty decent race

against this group. Then they went to the turf last

time, you know, and and actually ran a pretty decent race and I

think they may have improved getting back to the preferred

surface of the dirt and this trip should get get it done for

a horse like this that that will be a pretty decent price.

Juan Hernandez in the saddle doesn't hurt either.

So we're gonna, we're gonna put the four on top.

You didn't mention don't you forget here John who won

essentially this race 2 back at Del Mar claimed out of the Peter

Miller barn in that effort goes for Papa Pedroneau here who

tried her on the dirt last time. It could she win here as well or

or is she a step slower than the 7th?

She can, but I tell you before her last race in the work before

the last race, she lugged out so bad.

It was it really looked ugly. And then she did the same thing

in the race and this was off off the barn switch.

So I don't know if if George Papa Bodormo has figured out the

keys to the car yet. This looks like a tricky Philly.

She's good enough to win the race, but she just looks like

she's gone the wrong way off the barn.

Switch to me all. Right.

Fair enough. Yeah, it was a little weird.

I mean, it was a little weird with that horse because she

showed speed early and late last year and early this year and

then all of a sudden she comes off the pace in her first run

for the new barn and then does no running.

Then Juan Hernandez just abandons her.

So there's there's a lot to be desired, but she's still

talented enough in this sort of field to pick up some pieces if

if she doesn't have the speed like she once had.

I mean 27 races, 16 times in the trifecta.

I mean she's I mean at some point, you know that that's the

kind of horse. But if I what you say, John is

correct. I mean the most recent work, one

O 5 and change and it just, it just doesn't even look good on

paper. I mean I didn't get to watch the

work, but it just even on paper doesn't look good.

So hopefully, hopefully they do find the keys if you will, as

John just said. But the late double is a $5

minimum on the late double. Another great bet.

I do miss those those golden hour wagers.

Oh Barry, I miss that. Trying to pick off the $8000

claimer at a Golden Gay Fields and the right one is flashing on

the gate at Golden Gate Fields. Thank you, Matt, thank you.

The native diver is a grade 3. It will be race 8 tomorrow at

Excuse Me at Del Mar, a mile and an eighth on the dirt, $100,000

on the line here. Barry, I asked this question to

start. How surprised were you to see

Nevada Beach in this field? Not too surprised because of the

fact that this horse really didn't do much running in in the

British Cup Classic and seemed to be just fine.

I I think this is a field that they can definitely handle and

should handle. It's just a matter of how far

this horse will win by. What's your sense, John, of why

they're running Nevada Beach here?

Are they getting him ready for a ship to, say, the Arabian

Peninsula? Are they thinking about the

Pegasus? Why do you think he's in here?

I just think it's an easy spot, you know, you come and you have

to remember, yeah, he ran 7th, got beaten 13 lengths in the

Breeders Cup Classic. But we talked about how good

that field was. He just wasn't ready to handle

that kind of competition. You know, he beat older horses

in the Goodwood, which is a great one in San Indy in the

previous start. He's unbeaten going 9 furlong,

which is what he gets on Saturday.

And he's got some tactical speed that I would expect #2 Westwood

would probably make the lead. And then you can have Nevada

Beach sitting on his outside in the clear stocking, which is a

pretty easy trip. So he's going to be awful tough

to beat in here. The Barnes go to guy Juan

Hernandez picks up the mountain now, now that he got beat last

time. So I can't make any excuses for

him. I just think it's a good spot to

run him and he'll have to beat #1 indispensable from the John

Sadler stable. This is a horse.

He's only 1-2 races lifetime, but they've both been at Delmar.

So he likes this race track and he's got some tactical speed

from the inside. He can go, but he does have a

little finish in him. He'll probably be stock in the

top two horses and and try and make a run for for home.

And if Nevada Beach doesn't fire, if that that last race

took something out of him at a short price and indispensable is

the the logical 1. You know, to take up the pick up

the slack. And it to me it's a 2 horse race

and that that's it. I just think of one of the

others going to win. That would give Nevada Beach 3 3

stakes wins on the year. Of course, that listed locile

Derby in June before winning the aforementioned Grade 1 Goodwood

at Santa Anita in September. Did try the the British Cup

Classic last out? Yeah, as you mentioned, John, a

four horses finished in sub two O 1.

I mean, like at some point, like it's just just a great race.

I know you're just not going to keep pace in some of those.

If you were playing it cold exactly here though, John, what

would you play? Just three one, because I I

don't trust indispensable. He's not real big on winning and

if you fight him, I think you can beat him.

OK. How about for you, Barry?

Are you going to try to beat the three here or we use the three

on top? Yeah, 32 cold.

I I think Westwood in that race over British Cup weekend kind of

was against the track in that race because early on speed was

doing pretty good. The track didn't seem as quite

as fair as it was later on in the afternoon, and I think

Westwood stands a pretty good shot to to hold on for a second.

If Westwood tries the splits that he did in his maiden win,

John, does he have a shot to be because if people don't

remember, Westwood's one of those horses ran in the San

Anita Derby as a as a maiden and then came back in that in the

Affirmed and then broke his maiden after that.

They tried to do that with publisher the other day here and

Donna Louisville didn't work. But is there a world in which he

runs back to that form from his maiden win and he's actually the

one on the lead when we turn from?

It's yeah, I think he he could possibly make the lead.

You have to remember this was the workmate for Baeza all

spring and summer. And so he was kind of getting

beat up by a pretty good horse. And when that happens, you kind

of have to teach this one now how to win.

So he he broke his maiden and he's done OK against Winters,

but he's he's kind of loomed up and kind of waited like, OK, now

is your turn. And you just have to get him

through that. And, you know, that's what John

Sheriff's job is to do. Maybe you just put him on the

lead, see if you can get clear, because that's how he won

before. And if he does that and wins

again, then now we know his running style.

He has to be on the lead. Yeah.

If I'm, if I'm the trainer giving instructions, I would

just tell him Berto Risley, put him on the lead.

I think you'll make the lead in here.

See how far he goes. Do you think British Isles runs

in this race? I don't know.

I mean, he'll run all day. He's never been on on dirt that

recently at least I. Was going to say yeah.

Yeah, you know, he he struggled against allowance horses.

I think he just filled the field here.

I really do that. Was kind of what I was

wondering. I love the closer on this card.

It is race 9 again. This is So Cal Saturday's on the

horse racing Happy hour network. My name is Lou Urbo alongside

Barry Spears. Our friend John Lindo sitting in

this week because it's raining in California.

That's why people. That's how we get John A has to

rain for us to get John. That's never it's never a good

thing for John if he's on this show.

Maiden special to close the card, $60,000 on the line did

get the no John. We're going to be seeing $70,000

maidens at Santa Anita coming up here.

Yes, they're they're boosting that purse a little bit to start

the Santa Anita Winter Meet. Some of the purses are up and

they're they're trying to concentrate on some of those

allowance and maiden races to get some of those better horses

out here. Fortunately, some of the cheaper

claiming races, they're going to be actually be down a little

bit. But overall purses are going to

be up 5%. We'll take anything we can get

out here. Remember, we have no purse

enhancements from ancillary methods of a purse.

So we're we're based on handle and that's what we have to do.

Reminder John, of course. thoroughbredla.com.

Go check them out every Saturday and Sunday.

An hour on Saturday, 2 hours on Sunday with their program.

Did I remember that correctly? I do, right?

Yes. 9 to 10 Pacific on Saturdays. 8 to 10 Pacific on

Sundays. Don't hit that too hard.

That's soft right there. Bald and there's something in

here that's right, the closer, like I said of maiden special.

We're going 6 1/2 a buried 2 year old race here and I think

frankly a really fun one. We get the return of blacksmith

lost to acknowledge me. Please last out.

I cannot remember the last time, by the way, a Baffert first

timer who has decent works at 8 to 1 John on the outside.

I cannot remember it at 8:00 to 1:00 for sure.

I was stunned that this horse wasn't second choice.

Barry, where'd you land? I was stunned until I looked at

the pedigree. It's really like a, a, a turf

horse. That's that's probably why.

But you know, knowing bad for this, this horse probably has a

ton of speed. It'll win the Derby and we'll

get it done. But I, I you should have.

Your Derby winner? Yeah, I heard.

Yeah, I, I went through with Authentic Patriot, you know,

kind of doing the same thing. I you know, looking at the

workouts, it seems like this one was working just slightly better

than the outside horse and even the three blacksmiths.

So I put that one on top and I kind of like the one Essos a

little bit. There's some precocity there.

I think 1 sibling, one first time out and another finished

second. So this horse has some speed in

that pedigree. You know, there's not much to go

off in this race. Why not give a horse like that a

chance? I think Essos's work from the

gate going 6 furlongs is a sign from from trainer Mark Glatt

that he thinks he's got something on debut here.

John, where did you end up planning?

Well again you Baffert has three in here.

He's got Blacksmith, Authentic Patriot, Winston Ave. and they

have been working against each other.

Back on October 27th, Winston Ave. worked with Authentic

Patriot. I I thought Authentic Patriot

was quick, but Winston Ave. was slightly best and then then

Winston Ave. worked with Blacksmith and that was back on

November 5th. Blacksmith was a little better

there. So if you just kind of go by,

you know the order and then you see Hernandez on Blacksmith,

he's probably right horse. He's got a, he's got a good

race. You know, Santa Anita, he's the

one to beat. I think Authentic Patriot may be

the quickest of the three Bafford horses.

He might be on the front end, but if you're trying to beat the

Bafferts, I think Estes is the right horse.

He's been working with so happy. He was also in this race #8 and

he's been better than So Happy a couple of times and he's got a

little finish in him. I wish he wasn't on the rail

because I don't think he's really, really quick.

So he'll have to work out a trip from the inside.

But again, Antonio Freisu is one of the go to guys for trainer

Mark Glatt who can win first time out.

Told the One is too big a price. I made it the three blacksmith

over the one Essos and I just give Essos the the best chance

to beat the the all three Baffert horses.

Between the two, then Authentic Patriot and going to the outside

to Winston Ave., which one would you lean on more do you think?

Just because of the outside post, I think Winston Ave. would

give a little just because he's going to get a trouble free trip

out there. I don't know if he's good

enough, but the outside where there is fresh and clear, as

Marty McGee always says. He does say that that's true.

There are other interesting ones in here.

Barry, I know you landed a four, one and three here.

Is there someone else though that might might fill out like

say a get out super effect to kind of play for anybody?

The five Robusta has some OK works in there.

I, I don't know how consistent this horse is at least at this

point. I mean, even the workouts don't

look all that consistent, but at a price like that, I kind of

have to throw that horse in there, I think there.

You go. Are they planning to be back on

the grass on Sunday at Delmar there, John?

Yeah, I think there's 5 grass races.

They drew Sunday and Monday and then I think there's another 5

on Monday. We need to get those races back

on the grass. We're really backlogged with

turf horses out here, so trainer racing secretary David Jerkins

doing the best he can. If it stays dry between now and

Sunday, I don't think there'll be any problem getting on the

grass and fingers crossed 'cause if they come off that race, that

card could fall apart of us. I really could

thoroughbredla.com for the great stuff that John and his

compatriots are doing out there. John, I'm going to make you wait

2 minutes because I'm going to have Barry give a love poem to

Del Mar. I think you should hear how much

he enjoyed being out there. Oh man, it was so spectacular.

You know, I, this is my first visit, but I, I was just amazed

with the scenery, the views, you know, the horses, everything was

great. I, I, I think, you know, and I,

I talked about this with Louis while I was out there.

It's just a different sort of vibe than Saratoga.

People like to compare the two, but there really isn't a

comparison. They're just two unique places

with two unique kinds of racing. And it's great, both of them

well. There you go, John.

How about that? You like that?

I do and you know, we, we don't need to wear a coat in the in,

in in our box seats and. I'm, I'm, I'm good with that.

You know, I wear shorts. I wear shorts all the time.

So I'm I'm OK with that. Well, you're short the flip

flops guy. You got the sanding of Padre

head on. Come on by any.

Time. There you go.

He's job. Lindo thoroughbred LA Barry

Spears. Of course, you know it from the

notorious OTB and from all of our great programming here on

the Horse Racing Happy Hour Network.

I'll be dropping a couple of episodes, shorter ones, one with

Steve Kornacki looking at a couple of stakes races around

the country. He was on my radio show this

morning and Wit Beckman and Jason Worth were on together

this morning. I'll drop that one as well.

They've got fly Bohawk, of course, Derby 151 alum.

He goes in the Grade 3 Commonwealth turf at Churchill

Downs tomorrow for John and for Barry, I'm Lou Rabo.

Thanks to our friends, of course, over at AM Wager and AM

wager.com. They've got that great sign up

bonus right now for you. Get on over there. 100% deposit

match up to $150.00. We'll see you next Friday ups on

Cal Saturdays.