Road to Preakness 151 | Mackenzie Pfeiffer, Frank Vespe

Terrible music, fantastic podcast.

It's the horse racing happy hour.

Thanks for hanging out with us today on our Road to Preakness

151 series. I'm Lou Urbo.

You get used to her on this show.

For whatever reason, she keeps coming back.

Her name's McKenzie Pfeiffer. Find her at Mac under score PF

on the socials. And of course, new friend of the

show from the racing biz. Frank Best be a guy that I run

into exactly once a year. At the.

WBAL set there in Baltimore, but we've decided to make it a

little bit more than that. We want to get into a little bit

of what you're working on, the racing biz.

But if people have followed this show and enjoy Maryland racing

and have discovered Marilyn Mayerson perhaps through this

show, I'm very happy that that's happened #1 but #2 if you're not

going to theracingbiz.com, you're missing out.

Frank, how are you? I'm great, Louis.

It's good to see. I think that well, as you

mentioned, the last time we saw each other would have been

Preakness last year. We're kind of sharing war

stories, so. That's exactly.

Nice to see and a different environment.

It is good to be here for sure. Uh, thanks for hanging out with

us on yet another edition of the horse racing happy hours.

We had tour Preakness 151. Frank, do you like that?

I call these Preakness and, uh, Black Eyed Susan preps.

Of course I do. Yes.

Love it. In fact, you know, we, we have a

radio show in Virginia and the host is, is Nick Khan and he's

getting handicappers to do all the like the Derby prep races.

And he's like, should we call him, you know, Preakness preps,

what should we call it? And and so, so yeah, we're,

we're all in with you. Good.

Steal it. Please.

Use it. Yes.

Everybody go. I love it.

You should make T-shirts. You should have hats.

Mackenzie, get it together down there at Laurel Park in any way

that you possibly can. Frank Vespie and Mackenzie

Pfeiffer with me. Louie Orbeau on the horse racing

Happy. I appreciate them hanging out

with me. I'll be at Laurel Park for the

Preakness this year. That is where we will find the

races this weekend as well. And frankly, it's got Wyckoff on

last month and we talked about Laurel as the new, you know, the

stadium authority takes over. They decide they're going to buy

down in Laurel to build out the training facility there.

Makes sense for you? Oh yeah, absolutely.

This is what this is what the horsemen in general have wanted.

A lot of them live around Laurel.

The other thing that Laurel gives you, that was not going to

be the case at Shamrock, is it gives you the possibility of

running some races there, which frankly, I'm going to say this

and I'm going to say it this way, it would be malpractice if

the Maryland Jockey Club does not run some race.

It actually gets Laurel and does not run some races there because

you've got 145 foot wide turf course where you can run on two

different lanes each day. Pimlico's got a 90 foot wide

turf course. You're stuck on one lane each

day. You can run about 3-2 to three

turf races a day. Laurel, you can run 6, do a turf

festival, do something like that, you know, do something to

spice up the meats and something to attract the DC crowd.

Because Pimlico, much as a lot of people love Pimlico, if you

live South of the Baltimore Beltway, you're probably not

going to Pimlico because getting to Pimlico is hard.

And so Laurel's a lot closer to DCA lot closer to a much larger

and wealthier population. You got to run some races there.

So it gives you, it gives you a lot of good options.

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

Mackenzie, did you know the exact width of the turf courses

respectively at Laurel Park and Pimlico?

That's why we have Fred Vespian. Approximate I won't claim.

I would never let you quote me on my guessing the numbers.

But here's how you here's how you know I'm in a basketball

market. By the way, he said that the

distance of the Pimlico width and I thought, oh, basketball

court's 94 feet wide. That's that's that's where my

brain went immediately was, oh, people comes like a basketball

court. So there you go hanging out with

Frank and with McKenzie there in Maryland.

We're getting into the sort of the the meteor part of this

schedule here. McKenzie, you know, getting to 7

furlongs, stretching out to the full mile on the boys side of

things in the Miracle Wood. Who has stood out to you at this

point? We're always trying to figure

out who that starter might be on the Philly side, on the cold

side. As someone stood out that, you

know, is shooting for this route, what do you think?

Will definitely be there on that.

I guess third Saturday then. Well, it's funny with the boys,

you can't necessarily say a single horse.

You have to just throw a blanket over the Gary Cavallano barn

because it's just going to be a matter of, you know, who, who is

going where and how. He kind of campaigns those, but

he has several very, very good ones.

Odds are he'll probably have two in there in April, But you know,

for the time being, if there were a futures bet on who's

going to have a horse going, I think you could hedge your bets

on a Capuano DO. You agree with that Gary or

Frank excuse? Me look, Gary Capuano is the

hottest trainer on the grounds. He's he's just a really good

trainer. He's a guy, he's a guy that you

know, a lot of trainers maybe could say this, but if you could

give him a half a length to use any way he wanted in his career,

he would have won the Derby and the Preakness with Captain

Bodget and probably wouldn't be training in Maryland anywhere

anymore. But so he's a terrific trainer.

I, I can't disagree with what McKenzie said.

The one thing I would say, the one horse who's not here, who

ran in the spectacular bid, who's now pointing for the

private terms that I think is a little interesting, is the Tim

Keefe horse of Silence. That horse, all kinds of bad

stuff happened to him last time out, running at the end.

He wants two turns. He runs like a horse that wants

two turns and he runs like a horse that's going to be a lot

more mature in a few months than he is right now.

Interesting. Yeah, no, I love watching this,

this winding path from the fall all the way through from

Maryland Million Day. It's going to be a little bit

later this year, which is awesome.

I think sets up really well for what they're trying to do,

especially with this trail to the Preakness.

Frank Vespi from the racing biz and of course, you know,

Mackenzie Pfeiffer from the Maryland Jockey Club on the

simulcast there at Laurel Park. Let's get into those races.

Pick 5 starts there in Race 5 on Saturday.

By the way, high level conditions for all of the races

this weekend at Laurel Park. So you're going to get some

really, really good racing in here.

I texted Mackenzie in within 10 seconds.

The morning lines dropped on Equibase, so that is obviously

me doing that for everyone. You're very welcome, but Race 5

isn't optional flavor. We're on the dirt for all of the

races in Maryland right now, $55,000 claim price. 56K in the

Kitty for this. 1/5 and 1/2 on the dirt for four and up.

McKenzie, we go to you first, should you like in this one.

Look, Prince of Jericho, I'm not sure I'm going to single, but he

ran such a great race in both of these two starts coming back for

the fall winter campaign. You know, First off the bench

running second to Petingis twin, who you know, huge on that day

and then Chipotle last time out. I could watch that replay 10

times and still not be bored because it was like those two

horses were just fighting tooth and nail who was going to have

their nose in front. It was one of the best horse

races and you know, it was a fun allowance race.

So that's what you get in this set up here today.

I think he's one who just having a little bit of a return to form

or sort of return to the races you know how to break.

We've seen him entered and just with race cancellations, things

like that should all be a go here for Saturday.

It's hammer time is obviously going to be tough if he runs

back, but he's not going to be a huge price.

He's coming in first time against older company.

We haven't seen him in a while. I think there's reason to

believe that recency could get the job done.

Frank, if we're looking outside of that inside duo of horses

there, where would you look, do you think?

Dean delivers the five horse on the outside.

He's the one horse in this group that has consistently run at

that level. You know, he won the De Francis,

he won the Rumson. He had this really nice streak.

He won the Alipocas run. He was really in good form.

This is going back to the summer of 24.

Hasn't really been able people run at that level in the last

year or so. But and and it may just be he's

past that, but he's the one horse that like, if he could

find that again, he's good enough to beat either of those.

Moving on to Race 6, this is the horse racing happy hour.

We're doing our Road to Preakness, 151 Series, Miracle

Wood and Wide Country this weekend.

We'll get into those races in just a moment.

Late pick four starts here. By the way, I didn't even

mention pick five take out of Maryland is 12%.

So if you're, if you're a pick five player, you're not going to

do any better than the Maryland. So make sure you get in there

even with shorter fields. Just play for a buck.

Do what you got to do. A 12% take out definitely makes

it worth checking out this weekend.

Race 6 late before starts here, $40,000 claimer with a $40,000

purse as well. This is for non 3 lifers,

Phillies and mares 4 and up. And Frank, we go to you.

Is this the most wide open race in the sequence?

It's pretty wide open. You got a bunch of speed horses

you got you got a New York shipper that I'm going to take a

stand against. I think Mack likes a little bit.

Sorry, Mick. I think it's an interesting

race. So the the two horses I sort of

land on one of them is and yeah, you guys are going to laugh at

me and and you're right to laugh at me.

You should laugh at me. But is SRO the two horse for

Kenny Cox? This horse I.

Knew that was coming, sorry. Fine, be like that.

No, if you if you go back, you'll kind of look at his form

go or her form rather going up. You go back about 5 starts.

She wins the 2 life for fun. They put her in the Maryland

million no good. Those horses are too good for

her. They put her in the allowance.

So so they put her in the in the in this race with a which has a

hybrid condition that that one was a four and up three life or

three-year old that race. She runs very well.

Safe trust, who's A5 time winner wins that race.

Shakara fire on 2nd. She's multiple stakes plays.

So and and maybe even stakes winner.

So she runs very well. Last time out, take your pen,

draw a line through it complete disaster area.

She was acting up before the race.

She reared, she rushed up outside, got all the way in the

second, you know, kind of hitting the head of the lane and

then was done. I think you just draw a line

through that. I think her best race is good

enough for these. My one question is, she's a

speed horse. She's going.

A bunch of others are going. Who's not going?

Who's going to be running at the end?

Like, don't fool with me a little bit with Mark Schumann

yet, said Hazelwood. Hazelwood just wins and wins and

wins everything. He rides, runs well.

I think this is a horse that's going to get a better trip.

Is she good enough? I don't know.

But the trip is going to work to her advantage.

Ought to be able to just tuck in, let about four other horses

go, come running at the end. So that's that's where I land.

20 to one there on the inside horse.

Don't with me. Real, real value there

potentially, if, if Frank is right, Mackenzie isn't right.

I I actually put a little asterisk next to that one.

And before you. Mentioned it.

I was just trying to refresh my memory on what it was that I

really thought and it is just kind of those last two, maybe a

just forgive and draw a line through.

But that is a horse who's run some very good races I think can

handle the trip from the inside. You have Hazelwood on, so that's

always a little bit of a tell for us here, especially in

recent weeks. But it is kind of a spread race

for me. And so that's why I was saying,

you know, it would be great if I can kind of single in that first

leg and then see if I need to attack the pick four or go

ahead. Now the New York shipper I do

think has an opportunity. But I hate to trust those horses

and I hate to single them. So, you know, take with that

what you will. There's going to be fair value

on the others. And Chrissy Ann is one who I

think has been steadily improving.

I didn't necessarily use her last time out, but I thought she

ran a sneaky good race, a kind of messy trip overall, but just

kept churning along. She's not going to be part of

that early pace duo and you also get a jockey change on her.

Michael Sanchez picks up them out for Chrissy and who has five

appearances in the trifecta and eight runs at the distance.

Deuce have two wins, 3 seconds and 2/3 seven times in the money

at 10 runs at Laurel Park as well.

A bit of a specialist there. A daughter of Instagram, which I

still think is the worst horse name of all time.

It's not good. Hey, I didn't want to jump in on

in awe. The the New York shipper is in

awe of Juju, the six horse for Jamie Ness and and Schwann is up

and and and sort of building on what Max said.

A lot of times, this is my own personal handicapping bias, but

when horses ship in from New York, they generally, if they're

competitive at all, they're bet like a good thing.

And a lot of times if they don't have an edge in the in the buyer

fix, they don't have an edge. And and so in my view, they

become good horses to toss because they're they're going to

bat be bat like they're better and they're not better.

And and so that's kind of where I land on in awe of Juju, who's

fine and could win is going to be part of the pace speed fix.

Give her no advantage. Toss.

All right, there you go. We'll move on to the two stakes

on the card. The Black Eyed Susan Prep is the

wide country race 7 here, running for $100,000 / 7

furlongs on the dirt. 3 year old Phillies.

Of course, in this one. Mac, we go to you first here and

I try to come up with these games that are kind of like yay

or nay based on the names of the different stakes races.

And luckily in Maryland we have fantastic stakes names.

I mean, just unbelievable. The dinner party and you know, I

mean just the Gallaurette. I mean just spectacular.

Chick Lang even has an awesome name.

So like there's just great names in Maryland as well.

I mean people named cricket and you know, it's just awesome.

It's great stuff. And so I I couldn't come up with

one here though, and that's not a good job.

I mean, how about that bad job? We're.

Just going to play by yourself today.

We're going to go through the field one at a time here in the

wide country. Moxie will break from the

inside. Jose Corrales trains.

Chavez gets them out here. 2 for two.

It went in the slop last time. Get back to 7 furlongs here,

Mac. I think 1 longer price.

This is 1 to look at. Yeah.

I agree. This is one who I don't

necessarily think we've seen her best.

I liked that she's had two sort of different trips.

And I didn't completely write her off last time out because

she was that impressive when she won.

She looks like she was just out training.

And you know, the 47 buyer is a little bit modest, I think from

the debut. How?

About for you Frank I I think she's one to definitely give a

look at you know, Corrales is a guy he's crafty.

His horses jump up at prices surprisingly often.

A horse 2 for two and and be the next out winner last time out I

mean and and Matt pointed this out and I think she's right went

right to the front first time second time ran into the pace.

Love to see that sort of versatility.

I I think there's a lot she needs to step forward here, but

there's no she's only started twice.

No reason she can't. What is the weather forecast as

far as moisture in the track this Saturday?

She's had good success back over, you know, good go and then

sloppy go last time. I truly can't tell how much

rain, if we're going to get rain.

It's been Gray for three days, so humidity is high.

You know, today's probably the good day.

Do you want me to give you an update?

Live here. No, I'm doing it right now.

It looks like you guys are just going to be partly cloudy, maybe

some rain tomorrow morning, something like that there in

Maryland. So I'm just saying because it's

been cloudy, I always try to, you know, look at the Kentucky

weather and then assume it's going to happen the next day in

Maryland kind of thing. And so the I, I did wonder if

you had the same kind of cloud cover we have.

Obviously we're running a turfway right now, so it doesn't

matter. But I did wonder if you had that

because if there's a little bit of moisture in this track, I

think at 5-6 to 1, whatever Memoxie's going to be in this

race, I, I think that's some decent value actually.

So yeah, breaking from the 2 will be.

And by the way, that's a Maximus Mischief baby.

We're here in that name a lot amongst 3 year olds this year

too. So that's kind of an interesting

one there. Another name that we heard a lot

last year, $5000 stud fee moved up to 7500 in Rock Your World.

Grade 1 winner in the San Anita Handicap or Sanity.

Jeremy, Excuse me, Velocity Girl will break from the 2 here.

You know, Madison Meyers and Ortiz combination here that

they've hooked up three exact times at Laurel Park Break.

What do you make of this one, Sacha?

I'm not loving Velocity Girl in this spot.

I mean, I, I, you know, took her five tries to break the maiden.

Did it nicely last time out, first time with Lasix.

Now the Lasix comes back off. I selling on this one.

If we're doing buy, sell, I'm selling.

I'm not. Buying You are the scientist on

the panel, young McKenzie. What makes you of losing the

LASIK here? Is it a big deal?

Look, I think with the step up income, she ran so well last

time out and I will say we've had one horse come back to win

for the maiden 20. So taking some class relief,

that was the last place finisher.

But this is a time of year where you can see those changes,

especially with Lasik's going on, this is a big step up for

me, and so I don't necessarily know if I would be spreading

wide enough to include her myself.

Warfront on the damn side as well didn't need to stretch out

to a vial to break her maiden most recently.

But as Frank pointed out, first time trying Lasix does not get

it in this spot. Of course in the listed sticks.

We're talking about the wide country.

I'm talking with Mackenzie Pfeiffer and Frank best meeting

find Frank at the at the racing Biz and of course Mackenzie on

the simulcast there at the Maryland Jockey Club.

Breaking from the three, the likely favorite in law school,

this is the nest and Hazelwood combination here.

Frank, I'll come to you in a second.

I'll go to Mackenzie first. What do we?

What do? We make her.

Favorites The The favorites chances here because.

Look, I think she's pretty likely.

I, I kind of need to see, I just don't trust the 80 buyer.

I was talking with John Piasic about this.

He really buys in because she's had two strong races.

I agree. She's had two strong races and

she's going to be in there, but I don't know if I'm singular.

And so that's where short price a user.

But I try to demand just a little bit more because, you

know, I, I think she's going to have to really be held honest

every step of the way. Very, very good.

Last two races, Frank. What do you make of her chances

here? I, I, she's got a big chance,

obviously. And, and, you know, after Mac

and John were, were talking about, you know, whether you,

whether you buy the buyer or not on the 80, I went back and

looked. This is a thing I like to do

when I'm unsure about how the horses buyer figure to look at

what the other horses had done and what they did in that race.

And it looks like that figure should be about right like the

other horses. A second third place horse, one

of them I think was slightly slower than her best prior and

the other one was slightly better.

So the horses were all sort of OK, you know, buyer wise and I

this horse, you know, this is another one she won on the front

end. She wants stalking the pace.

Kind of had a tear away leader to run out last time, but she's

got a big shot. You certainly can't leave her

off the tech. Tough to look past the even

money morning line. Favorite law school again.

Hazelwood up there. Peach tie will break from the

floor. Frank, I will not head fake you

here. If someone said to you, hey,

it's Brittany Russell. So people by muscle memory right

now are going to bet her her number is going to be low.

I'm going to avoid her in this spot.

After all, she's 2 for 25. Would you fight against them?

I wouldn't you know, the last couple years she's Brittany's

barn has been fantastic. They win at a high percentage

and not only they win when they don't win, the horses run well.

And so far this year they haven't been winning and a lot

of their horses haven't been running that well.

Now, Brittany told me that, you know, they haven't had the

horses out yet, that in general they want, we'll talk about one

that they did want to get out in the next race, but.

So that may be part of the issue, but you know, this horse

will get bad and and the value proposition may be a little bit

dicey. I also, you know, I'm not 100%

sold on that last race for this one, the gin talking was a field

of three and they basically cooked in the early part of that

race and went very fast. And then they were really

sucking wind in the last three furlongs of that race.

It was very slow coming home. I'm not.

She won by 8 lengths and I'm not sure whether that was, you know,

that I think the charts that she eagerly drew away, I'm not sure

she was so eagerly drewing away as the horses behind her were

kind of going backwards. A daughter of Preservationist

Orb on the damn side. If you wanted to feel old, that

was the first Kentucky Derby I went to.

All right, last one on the outside.

McKenzie is striker row. Second time starter Raylo

Gutierrez on the ride for the Engelhart barn here.

Broke her maiden up there in a maiden optional at Aqueduct.

I went back, watched this race. I think she's every bit the.

I think she fits very well here. McKenzie.

She does. She certainly does fit very well

here. I, I'm pretty excited to see

what we get from her next time out.

She was super professional in that debut, had a little bit to

do there, but, you know, overcame it pretty well.

And so I think that was really promising and, you know, reason

to believe that she's well placed today.

Daughter of known agenda here, Frank.

Why not? What do you make of her a second

time? Well, one, one thing I make of

her is I believe she is expected to scratch.

So I don't believe we're going to see her on Saturday.

I agree with you. She fits with these.

If if she posts I I think she fits.

And if you get the right the right number, I mean, you need a

little bit of a number because she will have to step forward.

First time gets winners but good looking at her first time.

Yeah, I think she was going to be about 5:00 to 1:00.

That's too bad because I I definitely would have try the

five to one talk about Frank Vespi from the racing business

and of course Mackenzie Pfeiffer, friend of the show

from the Maryland Jockey Club there simulcast down there at

Laurel Park. I'm Louis Riveau.

This is the horse racing happy hour.

We're doing our Preakness 151 series here.

We move on to the start of Saturday.

It is the miracle wood. We are finally all right, This

is let's let's have the debate. I feel like Frank Vespi is one

of these nerds. I could have this debate.

I am a nerd. Exact width of the two turf

courses in Maryland. So yes, I think I can do this

with you. I do not think of a one mile

race over one turn as a route. Do you think of it as a route

purely being based on 8 furlongs?

That's a good question. I, you know, here's what I, I, I

don't, I don't have a strong feeling route or not route.

I do have a strong feeling though.

And, and we're seeing this actually with a couple horses

out of the spectacular bed that are bypassing this race because

they feel like we want to start getting serious about, you know,

classic distance type. The way to get serious about

them is to go 2 terms so that I do I feel like.

I'll also say when I look at the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile and I

look at Santa Anita Del Mar, I look at it differently than I do

at Belmont or at Churchill, where I know there's one chart

for sure, for sure. I know I'm handicapping

differently. So that's the only reason I

bring it up. The Miraclewood will be the

start of the late double $100,000 on the line.

As I mentioned, a mile on the track.

There is one turn at Laurel Park as well over the one turn mile.

Frankly, Frank, they should probably keep Laurel available

for some racing just for the one turn mile, like a one turn mile

I. Just thought.

Of that, I like it. Just have that.

We'll go through the field here. We'll go to you first here.

No more calls will break from the inside.

Let me get my numbers in front of me.

A 30 to one shot. Almost certainly the least

likely winner here, Frank. Yo absolutely snake frock Jean

Brusino up. You know good for them.

They won the maiden. Broke the maiden with this

horse. Wouldn't bet them with your

money. There you go, Mackenzie.

Do you largely agree that we shouldn't use your money to bet

on this horse? I do agree.

I mean, this is a horse who I like and I think it's an

interesting claim in this race. I wouldn't necessarily be

throwing him in though. Higher sense will break from the

2 here 6 to 1 Pedalosa and Lopez combining on this one.

A son of higher power, a New Jersey bred in here.

Frank. Why not?

What play six last time you looking at him sort of

similarly. By the way, I'm a Jersey bred

myself, so I I. Don't need to know that about

your parents, Frank. That's what I don't need to.

Know I always support the Jay breds, but I I'm not using this

horse. I I the lasix wasn't the thing

so much for me and and you know, in that last race, by the way,

this horse had seen me a lot a couple times.

Me a lot is pretty nice horse based at parks.

So you know, certainly was benefiting from getting out of

that one shadow. But they go 25 for the opening

quarter. They're not going 20.

If he's if he manages to go 25 and is clear, then okay, he

probably wins. He's not going 25 and getting

clear in this spot. So I it's not going to be a use

for me. I'm obviously not asking Frank

first about the next horse GQ worthy of Virginia bread here.

Rob Barnes, Xavier Perez rides. That's a good joke.

I stand by it. This one will break from the

three Mackenzie slightly higher odds at 8:00 to 1:00 here.

One that we saw Maryland millionaire at the seven

furlongs. I I don't think he's without a

shot here. I'd agree, I thought this horse

has run well throughout the later part of the year and I

think is just kind of knocking on the door last time out.

Maybe just a little bit too much to do out wide there.

He also found a sloppy track. He's won over a sloppy track

before. So you know he's one who I might

make a note and just watch the weather if for some chance we do

end up with a ton of rain. He comes into a little bit of

stronger contention for me, but it looks like Carlos opts off of

him to ride the two higher sensor.

GQ Worthy. What do you make of him, Frank?

My old buddy Gary Quill is happy that there's a horse named GQ

Worthy. I I'm not, you know, I will say

one thing. That last race his horse ran on

January 10th on that sloppy track.

That track was really weird that day.

It was very sticky and some horses just hated it.

And they were like, there were a couple favorites that they never

picked up their feet the entire race.

I'm not going to get too overly either engaged or critical of a

horse that ran well or poorly that day.

This horse is OK. I think that my question with

this horse is what is the pace scenario going to be?

Because I think if he gets what he wants, he's going to be

running at the end and he might be hard to hold off going a

mile. He almost got there in the

Maryland juvenile going 7/8 code of silence.

Both those horses came from the back of the field.

There's no code of silence here. Question is, is he going to get

that kind of pace and that that's the part I'm not sure

about. I'll be curious to hear what you

guys think pace wise here. No, I think there are several

horses that could inherit it. Frankly, I wonder if the horse

just to his outside close the gate actually doesn't get the

lead in this race. I think that's one that could,

absolutely. Do it, Yeah.

All right, Frank best me the racing biz Mackenzie Pfeiffer

from the Maryland Jockey Club. We are going through the field

for the miracle would the Preakness prep this weekend

close The gate is going to break from the four here 6 to one out

of the Salzman barn, the Pennsylvania bread here.

So so far we've had a Maryland and Jersey of Virginia of

Pennsylvania. We will get to the Florida and

Kentucky breads the old United Nations of of stakes races here.

Mackenzie, what do you make of his chances?

I I might have closed the gate on top here.

I can't believe I'm saying. That I, I wouldn't really be

worried about saying that I thought this huge races, every

single one of them really. And he's kind of underrated the

72 buyer in that 2 back. It was pretty good group.

And you know, for me this race is a little bit of a spread race

because there is that question of the pace scenario.

I don't know if they necessarily want the lead, but they're not,

you know, probably not going to complain if they get it.

I'm kind of expecting the two to be out there in front and this

one maybe to make that first move going into the turn and

sort of round things out. I don't think he's going to go

away very easily either, though. He's been pretty game in all

these efforts. I'd love him to be able to just

sit in the pocket here. Frank, if I'm going to be

betting close the gate. What do you make his chances

here? I, I think he's very

interesting. As Mackenzie said, you know,

John Salzman junior, the trainer made a move And I, I've said

this repeatedly, I hate this move.

He had the horse come run a good race at maiden 30s.

He moved them up a level. I hate when trainers do that

with maidens that didn't win because most of the time you do

it, they run another good race, they get beat again and then all

of a sudden you have a horse that doesn't want to win races.

Instead, this horse gallops so they go all the way up into a

stake with them and man, he ran his eyeballs out that last race.

He gave Hollywood import everything he wanted.

Hollywood Import is another of those Gary Capuano horses and

those Gary Cap horses. One thing about all of them,

they are dead fit. And so I think this horse

probably an inch not as fit as Hollywood import and that was

the difference in that race because he put his head in front

and then just couldn't quite seal the deal.

I think he's got a huge chance in this spot.

This is this group is just OK and I, I think he's got a huge

shot here. A pair of Brittany Russell

runners to the outside here. Taj Mahal is listed at 5 to 1.

Balbo is listed as even money. Frank, go ahead and tell us

which of these two are either or.

Neither is going to run on Saturday.

Balbo, it's going to scratch. All right, so let's talk through

this. I'm actually fascinated by this.

So you mentioned earlier in this this show that Brittany

essentially said, look, my best runners aren't out of the barn

yet. I assume Taj Mahal is going to

be part of that conversation. Let's talk about Balboa though.

First is, is do you, do you know the next stop for Balboa?

Are they going to try the Derby trail?

That one? I I don't know the next stop,

but I you'd have to imagine they sent them up to New York to run

in the ramps and go in nine furlongs.

They they ran them in the Jerome going a mile.

I I'd assume that they he. Showed well in both of those

races by. The way, yeah, ran great.

And both of them, I'd assume that that that would be where

you'd be looking. You know, maybe you go back up

for what are we looking at? What's next is the others next?

Maybe you do, maybe you do that or maybe you look for A2 turn

race somewhere and then try the try the wood memorial.

But I I would assume that's where they're looking.

Yeah, I yeah, I, I thought maybe we'd see him in the Tampa Bay

Derby or something beginning of March, something like that.

But, yeah, whether it's the same day up in New York, if he's run

well at Aqueduct, why not go back to a spot where, you know,

you can hit the board, get Derby points to all the things.

And if it doesn't work, you run to Lexington, you end up in

Baltimore and the world's just fine.

But Frank, let's go ahead and talk about the the one that's

going to run, Son of Nyquist here in Taj Mahal.

The debut was the favorite at, you know, essentially 3 to 2

here. Frank, what did you make of that

first thing? And if we had a knock on

Britney, I guess it would be Sprint to route, right?

But I don't again think of this as a route race.

I think of this as a once or a mile.

What do you make of Taj Mahal? I thought I was very impressed

with this horse first time out. He did some stuff wrong.

He's a young horse, he's learning, did some stuff wrong,

had some issues getting out of the gate.

A bunch of the horses in the paddock before that race, we're

kind of acting up and you know, just a bunch of young horses

being young horses doing stupid stuff.

And he was fairly calm, but then he had some gait issues.

And early in the race you kind of watch it go like he might not

run, you know, he he might just kind of slog around the track.

But once he kicked it in gear, he was tons the best here.

He he kind of put on a show. It was an impressive effort.

He's got questions. Can you stretch out?

We don't know yet because he hasn't done it first time

against winners. That's always a challenge.

But a lot of talent. This horse has a lot of talent.

And if if he's the kind of horse, you know, Brittany said.

Like, this is one of the horses we've been waiting to get out

onto the track. If he's the kind of talent that

they maybe think he is. And, you know, this is a horse

that, you know, kind of had a lengthy work tab out West and it

wasn't coming together. Then they sent him E to Brittany

and now it's seen this may be a circuit where he fits a little

better than Southern Cal. This was a good effort.

If he's got the kind of talent that they think he does, this

would be a good spot for him to show that.

When I interview coaches on my radio show here, I ask them

always what's more important, your methodology, your ex's and

O's or the jimmies and Joe's. And they laugh at me and they

always say jimmies and Joe's. And I've transferred that

question, Mackenzie, to trainers and I've asked them what's more

important your training methods are having good horses in your

barn. And they all laugh at me.

It's always about the horses. And as we see more of these

Starlight SF racing kind of horses head her way, I think of

Brittany Russell as being capable of turning a son of

freaking Nyquist with a quality Rd. dam into A2 turn horse for

sure. What's the ceiling for a horse

like Taj Mahal? Do you?

Think so. I have to mention on the trip,

as Frank was hinting at, I don't think we've found the ceiling.

And that's why I want to go back to it because watching that

trip, I agree where you said, oh gosh, is this horse going to

run? And then you kind of see, I

wonder if Sheldon is putting in the four race education all in

one here today was kind of the approach that I had to it.

You know, he taught the horse to rate.

He didn't necessarily there was pace in there.

He wanted to actually get the horse into the race and

understand the whole process start to finish.

He made a nice sweeping move, looked really good doing it, but

then it wasn't a total wrap up job.

Like they actually used the race for some fitness.

He rode the horse out. I thought it was a pretty

telling tale in that, you know, this was a few races piled into

one. They're being strategic with

this and you know, obviously maybe had this weekend in mind.

So they know what they're doing when it comes to getting horses

out to this one turn mile. And that's where I I think

they're excited about the horse. They target him here.

It's a logical next step forward.

Yeah, no, I totally agree. And Frank, I mean, look, we we

joke on this show a lot about the deputed testimony of the of

the Preakness is that, I mean is, is this if we were looking

forward from this race especially is, is Taj Mahal the

most likely of the Tessio winners from this group?

Is it a close the gate? Is it a, I don't know, is it any

of these horses that have actually tried two turns Where,

where would you land in that, in that kind of?

Question. Wow, that's a good question.

Who is the likely Tessia winner out of this group?

'Cause I, I honestly after looking at everything re

watching that race, I I agree with and I had not thought about

it in the way that Mackenzie had just described with Taj Mahal,

with all of the 'cause you described even frankly like, oh,

we got to run now. Oh, we, you know, in like how

many lessons a horse can learn in a single race and actually

apply them moving forward. I'm just not doubting the

breeding here and I'm not doubting the methodology of

reversing Russell. And so I just, I think that

there's something here where if we're picking out of this race,

that's what I would go to is most likely Tessio.

Winner yeah, and, and I think that's probably right.

I I think this is the horse with the highest upside of this

group. Whether, you know, whether he's

going to want the two turns, whether whether he develops

because not all horses do, but he's got the highest upside of

this group. And so that probably points you

to most likely Tessio, winner of this group.

And of course on the outside Mac, we haven't even mentioned

the Capuano and Hazelwood combination here.

Let's go. Lando winner over this exact

course last time out five times in the money in five runs at

Laurel Park, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Did I did, I just did. I breeze over this one way too

early. No, look, we were going in

order. So I have to be honest, I like

this horse quite a bit. He's another one who he could

end up being forward in here. He of the Capuano horses, I

wouldn't say he's the one I'm most excited about.

I think there are some other ones who I'm kind of excited to

see get some more experience going the two turns.

But this is a horse who has won both going a mile and going the

two turns. So you certainly have to take

that into consideration. He's been very, very consistent

for me. I I use him in those exact as

and tries. He's in the pick 5 for me.

Would it be a surprise if he won here?

No, he has tons of routing experience.

But you know, what kind of trip does he need?

I think he has to improve a little bit here today.

If we were at Del Bar, this horse would be called Let's Go

Lindo. So shout out to my friend John

Lindo on Thoroughbred LA Frank Vespy, who does radio in

Virginia. What do you think of his chances

on the outside here? I don't love this horse.

I John Piazza, who Mac was on with on On the Radar podcast,

but he'll be on. He'll be on with me on tomorrow

ESPN Louisville Tomorrow 1020 preview with Johnny P How about?

That. Yeah.

All right, so John, who handicaps Marilyn for the

racingthis.com, loves this horse, right?

I think he's singling. I don't know.

I'm not sure what to do with that last race.

He was very, very good that race.

Was it the track? Did the track move him up?

Because it was that same day of the very sticky track.

Maybe. Maybe it was just his day.

I mean, certainly flattered. Code of Silence comes back and

runs third in the spectacular bit of, I thought, a very good

third. So certainly flattered by that.

But I guess I want to see this horse do it more than once.

I want to see like kind of another good effort before I'm

going to take that that 79 is a legitimate fig for him all.

Right, let's go ahead and do it. Mackenzie, who do you have on

top? I go with the Taj Mahal horse on

top here and you know, I'm with Frank overall, you have to use

let's go Lando. But as we mentioned, the four

and the two I think are, you know, kind of interesting for

the value in here. You got on top.

Frank I may land on close the gate with a little more

experience and just a really outstanding effort last time out

in the spectacular bid behind a a pretty seasoned horse and

already a stakes winner in Hollywood import.

Weird that Frank wouldn't go with GQ.

Very weird. All right, move on to the

closer. In race.

Race 9 at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Hanging out with Mackenzie Pfeiffer, Maryland Jockey Club

and of course Frank Vespi from the racing biz.

I'm Lou Rebeau, This is the horse racing happy hour.

We are running a maiden 40 to close 41,000 in the first mile

on the dirt there. 3 year old fillies and this one Mackenzie.

Do you take Yedzi and Trombetta and run?

That's in. My notes that's a great

question. Look, I actually don't

necessarily I really like the one and the five here.

Those are the now I I say that nothing less will do.

I thought ran a very good race velocity girl who we're

obviously going to see in stakes company earlier on in this card.

I think she's going to end up, you know, she's 5:00 to 2:00

morning line. I was hoping she'd maybe be

ignored in this group, but apparently people have gotten a

little bit clever, you know, second time off the bench.

She can go ahead and improve from there.

What? Do you think Frank?

You know who I I keep looking at a little bit is Aqua Blaze for

Trombetta and Sanchez. I think this horse, the speed

figures are, are even for this group, atrocious.

But I think that first race was pretty good.

You know, did some stuff wrong, but actually finished third in a

race where the top pair were ran 1-2 all the way around the

racetrack last time out. No good.

I think she's got a little bit of talent.

I think she can step forward here and and run a better race

and I'm I haven't seen the odds. I'm hoping for a price.

I have a thought on this one and this is a personal opinion.

I have a hard time betting these types of horses.

She's a little sharp and I say that in like, you know, you see

the comment line on the first race where.

She what is that? Hey Mackenzie, we have a lot of

people hanging out with this show that are are real amateur

kind of horse racing folks. What is a horse that looks

really sharp? What does that mean?

She's on her toes, she's a bit keen on debut.

Like over exuberant almost like anxiety ridden almost kind of

thing. Yeah, just a little silly in the

paddock on debut. And then the second start they

came back, they saddled her with the pony.

She was excused from the post parade.

So those are things you do for a horse who is on their toes.

You want to keep the marbles in order.

If you're getting a price on them, sure, go ahead because I

think I agree with you. There is some ability there.

But she's one who I'm not going to single her in any way.

Aqua Blaze. AI was not encouraging.

I'm a blaze certainly that Sanchez and traumatic

accommodation. Big sample size, 17% winners

there at Laurel Park, 5 to 1 on the morning line, 2 to one on

Honor thy cookie, 5 to 2 on nothing less will do the

Maryland bread in that one there as well.

Well, Frank, part of the reason I wanted to have you on was

because we live in a weird industry in horse racing where

everyone's very parochial and I am not good at being parochial.

And I heard that there was going to be a podcast that wasn't this

one that was going to be talking Maryland racing.

And I got excited because it always involves people that I

like because I like the people in Maryland.

I don't know how they got the weird assemblage of people that

they do there, but God bless you.

It's great. And So what did you guys get

going over at the racing Biz and why did you make Mackenzie do

it, besides the fact that she's really good at this?

Well, she's really good and you know, she I caught her at a weak

moment and she said yes. So no, it's it's it's called

Maryland racing today. And we're actually, it's going

to be part of a little family called Mid-Atlantic racing

today. We're debuting Charlestown races

today in April, but Maryland racing today kicked off we're we

dropped our second episode today, in fact.

And Mackenzie was on it. John Piazza was on it.

And we also had Vinny Peron, who used to be the Washington Post

Racing Report. He's an Eclipse Award winner.

He wrote a story for me called the Remembering both King,

Leatherberries, Remembering King and just it's the I've read like

all the obits. I wrote one of the obits.

If you got to read one piece about King, read Vinny's.

It's just funny and touching and really really good.

And Vinny knew King. Vinny started working with the

post in 79 so he knew King for like 40 plus years.

And he do his glory time in the 80s.

Yes, like when he was the king and and so just really fun to to

sit with Vinny and and talk about what racing was like back

then and what it what the king was like.

And so really fun conversation. So you can track down

Mid-Atlantic racing today anywhere you get your podcast,

pretty much. The racing bizbiz.com go check

about easy website picks every weekend.

Really good stuff. laurelpark.com/picks tons of

info every day. 12% take out on the pick fives fun headlines.

I don't know why I'm so glad people have found what Maryland

racing, including friend of the show Steve Kornacki, who came on

and I wouldn't shut up about Maryland racing on my radio

show. So there you go Good pub all

over the place. We'll enjoy the weekend.

Mackenzie, have you? I I we're not at that time of

year yet. So something you and I always

have to think about is what what's going to happen to our

hair when we're on set? It's always a big concern of

mine what's going to happen with.

I'm just going to play the. Music.

I feel you, Louis. I feel.

You. It's not good, Frank.

It's not good. Always have the worst names for

the weekend. What is what is Saturday called?

What's the theme? Do you know Mackenzie?

Is there a name? Oh, there's.

Gotta be this Saturday. Yes, Mardi.

Gras pest. Or.

Something like that somebody thing, yeah. 80 percent, 80% of

the people in Maryland gave up something for Lent and they're

going to go to Laurel Park and have it like put right in front

of. That's fantastic.

Oh, it's a good job, all right. Have a great time at Laurel

Park. This has been always crazy

happy.