BloodHorse Monday 9/8/25 | Steve Cauthen

Hi, yes, welcome in September 8th edition of Blood Horse

Monday. Amazing.

We have been flying through the year here.

Del Mar summer come and God, Saratoga come and gone one more

day. Kentucky Downs buddy, it is

Breeders' Cup season. How are you, Sean?

I'm doing very well back from Kentucky Downs after a great

weekend down there and I had AI had a pretty successful meet

with some of my features going into it.

I wrote about six horses total and four features for the

Kentucky Downs meet. Got three wins and 2 runner up

finishes by less than a length. And then on top of that, one of

the yearlings that I previewed Sale just sold for $900,000.

So I'm I'm on a hot streak right now.

If you're following along on bloodhorse.com.

So this is a good and bad situation.

Let me explain why we thought it was this show.

What if it's just you? I don't know, maybe it is I.

Mean this is bad news for I don't like the start of this

show. I don't like this at all.

I know 'cause. You're pushing me aside, I.

Know they're gonna cut you at some.

Point, just look at my features. I'm Sean the rainmaker college.

Like I don't need this in my life, Sean.

I'm busy enough. I got stuff going on.

I got a bunch of kids. Like I don't need you shoving me

out of the industry this quickly into the show.

It's a minute 13 and what are we doing?

I know and I'm already kind of pushing you out here.

But yeah, I'm, I'm hot right now.

I guess I don't know. Hopefully that carries over to

whoever I talk to for the Churchill Downs meet and the

Keeneland meet and Breeders' Cup coming up.

Hopefully if you're watching this and you heard that, answer

my phone calls if I'm wanting to, if I wanted to speak to you,

stop. Stop for those couple minutes.

At the bar 900 Sean's picks for all of his picks this coming

weekend as well. He's our favorite town to.

The key secret is I haven't, I haven't bet any of these horses,

so that's the key secret. I haven't had time to place any

bets, so that's why they're all winning.

Once I start betting on them then they'll start losing.

How about you tell me who you've interviewed and then I'll just

go ahead. And, well, you know how you can

find out who I interviewed? Where are those, Sean?

You can just look at blood horse stuff.

Blood Horse that. Speaking of Kentucky Downs, you

were down there these Saturdays at Kentucky Downs.

Now we're turning into must watch Cavalcades of grade graded

stakes, essentially millions of dollars underway, 18 stakes by

the way, $14 million alone in KTDF money.

So just thoroughbred development money here in the state of

Kentucky. And so they are able to give

away massive, massive purses down there.

You're down there yesterday. I want to start with the good

stuff. And one of the good things was

that Foley barn, they gave us Bango, right?

They gave us so many great wins at Churchill Downs.

A, a family to watch, obviously involved in the, you know, the,

the HPA in Kentucky as well. Family's been at it forever.

You know where the Foley barn is?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Just do, right.

And it's a reminder in our sport how hard it is to win a freaking

Grade 1. Oh, I know.

I couldn't. When he won, when he won the

Franklin Simpson on Saturday and I heard somebody down there say,

oh, that's his first grade woodwind.

I stopped and I was like, what? No, it's not.

That's his first grade woodwind that it was.

Yeah, So congratulations to the Foley's, one of the, you know,

the the families of Kentucky racing.

Frankly, you're there. What was that, that celebration

like? I can only imagine.

Oh, yeah, It was great. He was getting, you know, hugs

and congratulations all around. Now the great part I thought

about it was how humble he was afterwards, you know, defaulting

the credit to the owners and the Breeders of the horse and, you

know, the the whole team around him.

So he he didn't really want to take credit to himself for

getting his first grade one win. But you can see a big smile on

his face the whole time they were standing around long after

the race was over, long after the next race was over, just

kind of still celebrating over by alongside the paddock behind

the behind the tower there. So it was a great reaction for

them. So happy for that team.

I know they work, work very hard.

I see them a lot on the Churchill Downs backstretch.

So it's good to see them breakthrough and get that grade.

One for all the talk about how unusual Kentucky downs and it

is, I get it. Yeah, the great one's still a

great one, brother. Exactly.

And it's still a great one and there's probably going to be

more grade ones here in the future with some of these fields

and some of these horses that have been.

Winning, that's the thing too, right?

And people I've I've, you know, you hear some of the rumblings

of oh, the payouts and blah, blah, blah.

And these payouts are still insane.

They're great, but that's largely because of big fields,

not necessarily because of anything else.

And the good news there, Sean, like you said is they're they

are really getting top, top and not just American horses, but we

talked with Adrian Beaumont last week.

They're getting tons of good shippers from Europe as well.

And frankly Adrian's eye for those things for those shippers

has been really good. I would love to we should go

back through of his eight European shippers how they

hitting the board those kinds of several winners last week yes

and so. A couple of them ran decent this

time they didn't get a win, but they they didn't they did run

well on the weekend. The three that were over here

this past week. She's so spicy, gets the win

kill when was in that race take away from her.

Oh, she's so spicy. It's just she's phenomenal.

And talking to Jose D'Angelo the morning after the race, it

sounds like, yeah, nicest person in horse racing.

He and I had the lucky spot. He there were three races that

we watched. He just happened to be up

standing by where he's next to me.

And two of those three races, he hit the exacta in both races.

So now we have the running joke that that's his lucky spot and

that we have. To see I don't like this again,

I don't like this at all. I don't like any.

We're 5 minutes and you've essentially removed me from

horse racing. I don't like any part of this.

But he he told me the day after the race, I mean, they're

thinking Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with. 3 year old.

One then against older, older Colts and and and horses there

and and the older mares like AG Bullet in that race.

I'm surprised that we don't have a Breeders' Cup Philly mare Turf

Sprint at this point. But the cool thing about that is

that we get to see she's so spicy.

AG Bullet and against the boys in that race.

You saw Caravel do that a couple of years ago.

And already beating the boys this year.

Already beating the boys this year, but it's it's a she's an

exciting, quick prospect. She's really, she's been

phenomenal on the turf here in America.

Her only bad race on the turf was the the one race they went

out to Ascot and they really didn't have an excuse for and

they think she just didn't really like the the training

leading up to it and the difference in, you know, the

locations and all that. But I mean, she she was very

quick. Kilwin, I'm going to give a pass

to on this race. She got kind of, from what I

could see where I was, it looked like she kind of got cut off a

little bit when she was trying to make her run.

Couldn't really find any open, open ground.

So I'll give her a pass and wait to see her on the dirt here

again coming up here. Yeah, that I the horse won a

Kentucky Downs thing doesn't always mean they're just going

to run back and do it again. Yes, it doesn't always.

And, you know, she could have ran better if she got got a

little clear trip as if they were coming down the stretch.

There was one point where it looked like she was finally

starting to kick in and then you had to kind of shift to a

different spot. And so that impacted her a

little bit. But yeah, she's so spicy.

Was phenomenal. D'Angelo getting the exacta.

They were Chloe running second. I know he was very happy and

relieved with that as well and just kind of helped to build on

that. We had old Crazy Bones, a former

claim, come in and win the Turf Cup, get his Breeders' Cup spot

for the Breeders Cup Turf as well.

It's a good weekend down there at Kentucky down some great

racing. Having a lot of fun with that

meet. Of course, the Kentucky circuit

returns to Churchill Downs this Thursday.

I've always questioned the Wednesday before Thursday when

you have an alter. Of course, a lot of room for for

for oopsies on that one for sure.

But hopefully a dry day down there in Franklin on Wednesday,

Del Mar over the weekend running.

It's two big 2 year old races as well and upset on or excuse me

on Saturday in the debutant, but we got the return in the win of

Brandt on on Sunday. Excuse me, a a bit workmanlike

frankly didn't do a lot and if desert gate doesn't desert a

good chance at the race at the gate.

I think he's in it right away. And so I I'm not out on desert

gate yet, especially as we add the distance for the juvenile,

but Brandt stands out of me. Look, he's there's a

baffertraining at Del Mar and that's where the Breeders cup is

going to be. He's going to be almost include

right. I mean it just.

Is one, yeah. I mean, you're going to have to

look at those horses when you think about the Breeders Cup

Juvenile, you saw Citizen Bowl last year.

He kind of got a little overlooked going into the race.

And then as did some of the other Bafferts and they run 124

because, I mean, it's Baffert running at Del Mar with two year

olds. What else do you expect like?

All the other other Baffert wins on Saturday for sure.

I think the debutante is going to be more wide open than we've

had in recent years as far as the two year old Philly or the

the juvenile Philly, excuse me, out of Del Mar.

I think that that field is just going to be pretty wide open.

We're kind of used to having that superstar affiliate too.

We're just used to it. I think we're going to have more

of an open field feeling that way.

Last year we were all over the East avenues of the world and

that sort of thing heading into the Breeders Cup.

And I do wonder if Brandt's going to be that horse, if he's

going to be the one that we lean on a little bit too hard.

But look, speed figures went down facing winners for the

first time, right? He didn't just get the paid

workout like he did on debut, but $3,000,000 purchase for sure

for the Zadad folks. So obviously they have thoughts.

Yes, yes, they do. They do.

And as far as him being kind of that clear horse on the East

Coast, I think right now you would think Ted Nafi is

probably, would you say the horse, the 2 year old on the

East Coast that's kind of the head and shoulders above the

rest will be kind of at, at this point.

We'll see what happens in the Iroquois and the Breeders

Futurity and the Champagne. But right now he looks like kind

of that big threat on the East Coast that would be kind of

pulling a lot of the attention. There you go.

All right, well, we're going to talk with Steve Cawthon today.

No need to introduce him, but we'll get caught up on what he's

working on currently. We'll get caught up on things

happening up at Horseshoe Indianapolis as well.

They are presenting sponsors of this show.

Great mistakes, mistakes, action.

Excuse me there on Wednesday. Try to catch Rachel toward the

end of this episode as well. All right, I'm really pleased to

Welcome to BLOOD HORSE Monday. His name is Steve Coffin.

Needs very little introduction for our audience, I'm sure, but

he joins us here on BLOOD HORSE Monday.

Steve, how are you? I'm great.

Thanks for having me. So good to be talking to you

guys. Yeah, no problem.

Yeah, The way I know you had a very exciting weekend last

weekend with Bear River, a horse that you bred.

Obviously, we all know you as the jockey of Affirmed as well,

the 1978 Triple Crown winner. So a lot, a lot of different

things that you've done in this business.

But let's go ahead and start with Bear River.

What was it like watching him storm down the stretch there at

Kentucky Downs and win that race?

Yeah, it was great. I mean, you know, I've been

watching him. He's obviously, you know, been

improving his last race in the at Ellis when he beat Coppola,

Coppola or in a couple, you know, another good horse in that

race. You know, I could see that he

was, you know, improving. And of course, you know, I think

that they were, you know, taking a shot.

You know, they're running there Kentucky Downs, but he'd run

there last year and and run pretty good.

You know, he broke out of the gate great and I know that's how

he likes to run. And I could tell, you know,

James rides him a lot and so I could see he would seem to be

pretty happy on him and you know, he just kept going.

So I was, I was excited. Obviously it's, it's, it's hard

to breed a good horse, you know, a decent horse and even a decent

1. So you know, to breed a horse

it's you know, can win A2 and $2,000,000 race is pretty

exciting. Yeah, I know.

I talked to James Graham after the race and he was very, he

praised this horse a lot, said he was probably one of the best

Sprint turf sprinters that he's ever been aboard.

And he's been, he's been, he's been riding for a while.

He's been on some good horses. He might know a little.

Yeah, he might know a little, yeah.

Tell us just a little bit about Dreams Dreamfield's farm that

you have and your partnership that you had breeding this horse

and what was he like as you guys were raising him?

You know, I, I've had this, I bought this farm in 1977 when I

turned 17 and my dad, you know, basically I needed to invest in

some something and I decided to buy a piece of property over

here not too far from my dad's farm in Walton.

And yeah, you know, I, I mean, I never knew what I would do, but

you know, I at some point we started, I started, you know,

deciding, you know, that I wanted to breed some horses.

And, and even when I was still riding my dad, you know,

obviously I owned a few mares and we bred some.

And so we started quietly developing this farm.

At that time, I, my, all my horses were at my dad's farm.

But, you know, it just kind of developed.

And when I got back, I think I played golf for a couple years

just to, you know, kind of unwind from from racing and

stuff. And then I kind of realized, you

know, I need more than that to do, you know, so I started, you

know, getting some of my own mares and, and started breeding.

And, you know, it's a process. It's you know, you learn a lot

how you realize how little you really do know about it, even

though you think you know a lot about breeding and stuff when

you know, being a jockey and all that stuff.

But you know, it's a it's been a it's been a very interesting,

you know, learning experience, learning better how to take care

of, you know, be AI mean. I've always thought of myself as

a good horseman. But you realize, you know,

there's always more to it. Like my dad always said, you

could live 5 lifetimes and never know it all, you know, So it,

and it's been fun, you know, doing it and I've bred some

decent horses, I've bred some nice, you know, I mean, I don't,

I'd never have had, you know, I don't have the best mares.

I can't breed, I can't afford to breed to the very best

stallions. You know, once in a while I get

a chance to do a full share or something like that.

But but, you know, that's what kind of makes it challenging and

exciting when you can come up with a good horse.

Steve Coffin with us here on Blood Horse.

Monday 6th at the Fairgrounds, 8th at Horseshoe before winning

at Ellis. Did you think after that race at

Horseshoe you'd be headed to the Breeders Cup?

Tell us the truth. I mean, you know, no, I was, you

know, the, the, the horse kind of like he said, he kind of, I

sold him as a weanling. They tried to resell him as a

yearling. He didn't.

They didn't get him sold and they took him to a 2 year old

sale and they finally sold him. They've obviously lost money on

him, you know. So I feel sorry for the, you

know, the guys that pinnocked him from me.

But still, at least they chose them that they pinnocked a good

horse, you know. And he he's done, you know, he's

like you said, he's taking time. He was kind of he kind of he

grew a lot from a weanling to a yearling and he was kind of a

big and lanky and, you know, maybe that was part of what, you

know, made it hard for him to sell.

But but I think his time's gone on.

He's developed and, you know, mentally he was, you know, his

first few races you could see he kind of was raced a little bit

green and he didn't seem to know exactly what he was doing.

But but his time went on. You know, he, he got better and

better and, and like in that last race when, you know, I

mean, he he laid down and ran down Coppola, who's a pretty

nice horse. So, you know, he's been learning

and improving. And yeah, I mean, it would be

amazing for him to win the Breeders Cup, but you know, just

to be in, it's kind of cool. Well, you bred this horse with

Don Brady and Brendan Burke. You mentioned, though you don't

always have, you know, maybe not necessarily the top mayors, but

let's give 65 N some credit here.

Just tell us a little bit. Tell us a little bit about her.

You know, she was a a mayor that was in the tailor made

consignment and I just thought she was gorgeous.

You know, she was a mid midshipman and she you know who

I like and she you know, she was in fold and not this time.

So that was another thing I liked.

Of course, you know, the fold I got out of her with not This

time was just a small, you know, kind of very average Philly and

turned out to not be any good. We ended up I did a partnership

with her and we tried, you know, we tried to race her, but you

know, she she didn't do any good.

And so that was that didn't really that part of it didn't

work out, but I'd rather to flame away and you know, I like

flame away. I bought a share and him at the

time and just thought it was a good physical match up.

And you know, you just kind of, I mean, I, you know, I I study a

lot. I'm I'm very into, you know, in

breeding to quality, you know, mayors, half sisters, you know,

full sisters, you know, good families.

But, you know, I need to be quite honest.

You know, I have to look back and try to remind myself why I

have bred, you know, other than just, you know, that I I had

bought a a share in in flame away and I wanted to, you know,

support him. So I wanted to bring him to a

mayor that I liked and I I did like 65 N you know, so, you

know, it's breeding's kind of like you say, it's far.

It's there's a million reasons to and to not do something, you

know, and and connect, you know, breeding two horses together and

you know it this time, you know, it worked out.

The cult was, you know, he was, he was a very kind of, you know,

he was a big kind of strong body colt and that's why I sold him

as a weanling. But you know, he, he, he looked

like he could be fast. But you know, as I said, as he

grew, he turned kind of lanky. And you know, I mean, I, I

would, you know, I, I haven't seen him in person recently, but

I would be, you know, he doesn't look like the average, you know,

sprinter type, you know, body, you know, but you know, he can

run. You mentioned there's a million

reasons. Well, there were 2,000,000

reasons to be running at Kentucky Downs last weekend.

Yeah, when you're looking at it from a breeders perspective, the

purse money that's on offer there, all the money for the

Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund as well.

How, how is that really benefited the breeding industry

in Kentucky and how, how, how much does that really kind of

help support, especially if you're looking for breeding a

nice grass horse? Right.

Well, I mean, it's huge. You know, just the fact that,

you know, the Kentucky program is so strong is why the sales

going to be strong this week coming up.

You know, I mean, people are in the market for Kentucky breads

because there's so much money to run for.

So, yeah, it's been a huge plus. And you know, I thank Damon

Thayer every time you know, I see him because he yeah, he had

a lot to do with it. So.

But you know, it it, I think everybody, you know, anybody

that breeds in Kentucky should be, you know, grateful that we

have such a great program at the moment.

And yeah, long may it last. Yeah.

And you mentioned that sale that's starting up today, the

Keeneland September Yearling sale.

I know you're going to have a couple of horses later on in the

sale next week. Just tell us a little bit about

the the string that you're bringing into the sale.

Well, I've got a modernist Philly.

I like her. He's gotten off to a pretty good

start. You know, kind of obviously

better than most people seem to be expecting because, you know,

you kind of was like a one of the bottom of the but he kind of

stallions. But he's started off really

well. Big strong Philly out of the

kerlin mare that I like. And so I've got her.

I've got a real nice flame away Philly out of a mayor called

channel victory. Channel victory is out of a full

sister to the dam of Liam's map and obviously the she's also the

grand am of gun runner. So it's a really good family.

You know, I this is a real nice Philly.

She's you know, she's she's beautiful, good Walker and all

that. You know, obviously, you know.

You get back in back back in book 5, but that's it.

You know, I think, I think I'm hoping, you know, that the sales

going to be strong enough that everybody's going to still be

here, you know, at book 5, you know, and still looking for

quality horses. So hopefully that will help her.

And then I've got a a higher power colt that is out of a

young mare that I like a lot rough stuff.

And you know, I've done, I've done well with rough stuff.

Damn, I sold a lot of nice horses out of her, out of her.

So that's a family I know. And you know, obviously higher

power is kind of quiet at the moment, but you know, a big good

looking horse. So you know, they their X-rays

and scopes are good. So just got to see, hopefully

people are around to see them. You're also the racing manager

at Dixie and a Farm and I wanted to ask you about Forever for All

or Forever After all. Excuse me, We've seen this year

when a couple of graded stakes, frankly last seen running 4th in

New York Stakes up there at Saratoga.

Any updates on her? We last saw her in June.

How's she doing? Yeah, she's in full to flight

line and doing great. She actually won her the race.

She won at the Keeneland the which was the what the

bewitched. I believe she was in full.

We brought her in between the race in Florida and that race.

And yeah, so she carried her her full to a grade whatever, grade

two, grade three win, whatever it was.

So yeah, that was exciting. And, you know, it's it's one of

those, you know, she's the mayor that Mister Shively bred out of

Julia Tuttle, who, you know, is the mayor that, you know, he had

a few other, you know, real nice horses.

Tom's Day top came out of him. I think that Tom's Day top was

before Mr. Shively under. But, you know, we had a couple

nice Phillies and we had a little bad luck and a little

good luck. But this Philly was all fun and

good luck. And yeah, Mr. Shively chose not

to sit. He took her to the sale.

But he, you know, he backed her up and he didn't let her go.

You know, I think you are in aid her for 300,000 or whatever it

was, but it proved that, you know, he proved to be right.

You know, she she took some time to kind of come together and

then of course, we tried her on eventually tried her on the turf

and the turf was obviously, you know, big time, you know,

positive for her. But yeah, she just was one of

those continually improving Phillies and she's big and good

looking and I think she's going to, you know, she should make a

a really good broodmare. Does the full get credit for the

grade three win when he goes to the?

Sales team. Also I'm calling you for not

asking why flight line? That's a good job, not asking.

Exactly. That'd be nice if you could get

the credit for that when you go to the sales and get you a

couple extra dollars. And three in the womb, yeah.

Yeah, exactly. Well, obviously you know we

can't have you here without asking you to take us back to

1978. Eighteen year old kid getting on

the back of a firm through probably.

Farm owner by then though as well, yeah.

Farm owner, 18 year old kid farm owner getting on the back of a

firm. You know, obviously we we all

remember that you're for the great rivalry between a firm

than Ali Dar. But what do you Remember

Remember most looking back on a Firm's not just his Triple Crown

run, but his legendary career? Yeah, he was just, he was the

Michael Jordan of horses from, you know, for me, you know, I

mean, he was one of those horses that could do it all.

And he, you know, we won from 2 fur, sorry, from 5 fur lungs to

a mile and 1/2. You know, he was a champion at

2-3 and four. He was just so consistent and he

was a, you know, a joy to ride. He was like, he really was, you

know, push button. You know, once I got to know

him, you know, he, he just, you know, he just we had this

connection and he, you know, was one of those horses that had

lots of gears, but you know, you could downshift him and kind of,

you know, they hang on and then, you know, kicking back into full

gear again, which, you know, most horses haven't got that

that talent to make more than one running in a race, you know,

and, you know, tactically that's, you know, was a huge

advantage for me against Aladar, you know, was having, you know,

the tactical ability to, you know, do different things.

Aladar was kind of A1 style, you know, one run horse and you

know, he didn't like the inside and he didn't like a lot of

things. So yeah, he's very talented and

he was a great horse in his own right.

But you know, we were that much better, at least on the right

days. Well, you know, obviously you're

ahead of most 18 year olds at that point already have owning

some property and stuff like that.

But what was it like just, you know, as a young kid getting

thrown into the national spotlight like like that, When

you look back on that, just what do you what do you think from

that that standpoint? Yeah, it was, it was crazy.

I mean, I, I, you know, all I really wanted to be was a good

jockey. I didn't, you know, even have a

clue about all the other, you know, what was going to come

with it. But, you know, I did my best to

kind of do, you know, do what I was supposed to do and, you

know, obviously try to put racing in a good light.

I mean, you know, do my bit for racing, you know, and promote

the sports that I loved. And, you know, I think that

that's probably one of the great things that I felt I, you know,

that I got out of winning the Triple Crown on the firm was

that I thought it really attracted so many new people to

the game, you know, and that at that time, you know, from around

the world. And I constantly get fan mail.

And I've heard, you know, from people that that was, you know,

part of why they got involved in racing.

Steve, I have to ask because you rode a Triple Crown winner.

You rode in all three races in 2025.

When you hear that sovereignty is not going to Baltimore, does

the Triple Crown part of your heart die a little?

Hello. Yeah, for sure.

But, you know, I mean, that just shows, you know, Bill Mott, he

did what he thought was right for the horse.

And he's so far, he's definitely been proved right.

Yeah. It's kind of, you know, So I

mean, I say, you know, he probably could have won the

Triple Crown and maybe still done what he did.

But. But, you know, you got to do

what you think is right. You know, whenever anybody says

I'm doing this because I think it's the best thing for the

horse, I, you know, I, it's hard for me to argue with anybody,

you know, that's trying to do that.

So although, as you say, it was kind of shocking to realize that

they weren't going to go and but, but good dolphin, you know,

they're, they're all, you know, they've done it all before.

You know, they, they obviously, you know, the Triple Crown's

not, you know, not the only thing out there.

So, but, but yeah, it was, it was a little shock to the system

when I first heard it, no doubt. Well, the Triple Crown is

obviously the for the Triple Crown winner is a very tight

knit community. There's not a lot of you out

there that could say that they've been connected to a

Triple Crown winner, especially in the saddle of a Triple Crown

winner. I know we just recently lost one

of those members and Ron Turcot a few weeks ago.

I know you went to a lot of events with him over the years,

especially when they kept calling you out every year at

the Belmont when we didn't have a winner for all those years, as

well as your relationship like with Ron.

Ronnie was a great guy. Really when I went to New York

as a 16 year old and you know, I look like I was about 10.

Ronnie was one of the first guys to come, you know, basically

welcome me and you know, try to help me.

Took me out and got help me find a suit and, you know, took me to

dinner a few times, you know, that winter because he was up

there by himself as well. And, you know, we've been, we

just became great friends. I, I'm, unfortunately, I, I was

unfortunate enough to be in the stall right next to him in the

race when he went down and, you know, got, you know, got hurt.

And but, you know, after a short while, you know, he basically

just, you know, did made the best of it and, you know, did a

lot of great work, you know, supporting injured jockeys and

promoting that and, you know, just basically promoting the

sport. You know, being the writer of

Secretariat, which you know, I, you know, we, we sat many times

and he would tell us, you know what, you know, all the great

things about him. You know, the, the inside story

of, you know, what the horse, the horse himself and, you know,

everything that was going on around him.

Obviously, you know, before the Derby and through the Triple

Crown. And, you know, it was just, it's

just cool to sit there and hang out with him.

And it was always fun to be with him at events.

And he was always a very positive, upbeat, you know, guy

and loved his family. And so, yeah, he'll be sorely

missed. One final thing before you get

out of here, we get to the Breeders Cup at Del Mar and

James Graham comes up sick a few days before the race.

Are you ready to hop in the saddle on Bear River if if the

call comes if needed? Well, I don't know.

I don't know if Bear River can handle Karen.

Karen and me. He'd be a little overweight

these days, unfortunately. But but mentally, I could do it

in the heartbeat. Yeah, let's go.

I've already been riding him lots of times already so I love.

It well Steve thanks so much for joining us here on blood horse

Monday continued success in the yeah ever wandering career that

you've had good for you man it's spectacular and enjoy that farm

you bought as a 17 year old we're very.

Jealous. I appreciate it.

I I do. I was out.

I just came out from Dunn, from batwing in one of my fields when

you called and reminded me. Oh yeah.

I got to get on my podcast. That's why I was probably a

little bit late. Oh.

You're good, Steve. We appreciate you great much.

Thank you, Sir. Pleasure.

Thanks. Great talking to you guys.

Thanks for having me. Very much, of course.

Yeah. Steve Cotham with us.

You know, it's interesting when you talk 70s Triple Crown

winners. And have you gone back?

It's something I'm so glad I did, Sean.

I went back and read the articles in 1978.

Triple Crown's too easy. I so big going back and looking

in the moment and I and I'm sure Steve will go back and watch

this and kind of smile at it. How freaking hard it is to win a

triple. Crown period, right?

But the fact that there were three after that kind of layoff

in the coming into the 70s, you could see people saying, hey,

new era of horse racing here in the 70s, maybe this needs to

change, whatever else. But reading those articles back

in the day, man, it, it's so worth it to go back and look at

it because how people thought of a firm was that he was just

another horse. Yeah.

And as Steve points out, he was champion at 2-3 and four like

that. He's not just another horse.

Yeah. He goes down as one of the all

time. Greats, all time greats and you

need to be an all time great to be a Triple Crown.

Yeah, that's exactly, that's exactly.

And everybody always, everybody always flatters spectacular bit

a lot of the times too, for how great, great he was, a firm

handled him as well. So you think of all the great

horses he had to run against, not just in the Triple Crown but

throughout his career. He, I mean, he was really in

that golden age in the 70s of all those, you know, top horses.

But he had 25 years between Citation and Secretariat.

Then a few years later, Seattle Slew comes along the very next

year, affirmed. And then everybody's saying it's

too easy, 37 years go by, let's change it.

It's too hard. American Pharaoh wins, Justify

comes in right after. And they always seem to come in

those little strings. And we're back on one of those.

You know, it's too difficult. We need to switch things around

right now, probably. Usually when we get to that

point, it seems like there's probably someone right around

the corner who's about to win all three of these things, isn't

there? Let's go ahead and bring him in.

His name is Frank Angst. He's from Blood Horse and

bloodhorse.com. Frank is doing Keeneland things

today. How are you, Frank?

You're doing all right. Pretty good.

Thanks for having me on after Steve.

I'm sure heading to the exits now.

The half. Price takes the rest of the

night. That's right.

Yes. Big takes, of course, from Blood

Horse, bloodhorse.com and of course the magazine as well.

I'm going to embarrass Frank just a little bit.

I saw him on Friday very dressed up.

It was very disorienting. Very disorienting.

Frank, you look good, man. How was Friday?

Jeff on. Yeah, that was the of course the

Tobo awards were this weekend. They always host those awards

the weekend before the sale get started because a lot of people

are coming to Lexington already. So that timing makes sense.

And yeah, that that afternoon is always a a great day and

celebrates the leading state breeders from each state.

And then the following night they celebrate some of the

national award winners and all the state breeders attend that

as well. So yeah, terrific weekend of

celebrating racing and people that are important to racing.

That starts with the Breeders for sure.

It's a nice get together this year they moved it from

Keeneland because of the construction to Godolphin.

Can you imagine how nice that was?

You know who was on the Mike for that?

Frank Hanks. How about that MC?

They saw him on Blood horse Monday.

See blood horse Monday. Bump is real it.

Is yeah, is that, is that what's?

Cool. But now we got Frank getting

jobs like this, we're well, good.

I'm so glad you got to work on that.

Keeneland sale does kick off a couple of hours ago.

We've already had $1,000,000 sale there.

Frank, anything, any trend that you're watching here following

up on, say the sales of Saratoga?

Yeah. You know, I mean Keeneland was a

record sale last year and it was a record year for yearlings

overall last year sales yearlings and then just to see

Saratoga, just really it was not only a record, but just really

sore to to another level there. So now that's a boutique sale.

So to, you know, two nights, very select horses.

Keeneland is really very much the backbone of the, of the

sales season, the largest sale. So it'll be interesting to see.

I, I'm very confident the front end will do as well as all these

other horses do that they're early books.

But I, I actually, what Steve just said, the purses are so

good in Kentucky right now. I, I think it's going to drive

it right through the sale and we're already seeing great

support. They have 300 additional horses.

They had to split book 5 into a 5A and 5B to accommodate that.

So, yeah, I mean it's really positive things going on right

now and with, you know, it's we'll see how it plays out.

It's just going in though, but that that's the feeling I have

going in well. Are there, I know we saw at the

sale at Fasic Tipton, you know kind of the first first group of

flight lines going through the sale pretty well received.

What can we expect from him and from any of the other first crop

sires here at Kingwood? Yeah, you know, there's so much

excitement about the stallions right now.

I did. So many of them have really just

hit their stride in terms of not freshman stallions, But Sires

said they've already done the job over and over.

You know, your gun runners, your curlings, you're into mischiefs,

you're not this times. I'm leaving many off, but

there's so many and they're just right in that wheelhouse.

It just gives the buyers so much confidence.

And then you throw in the freshman sire that these are his

first yearlings. This is his first crop of

yearlings and there's just so much anticipation about about

the his progeny there. The very early in today's

opening session he had a half brother to to Golden Powell that

went from $1.5 million to to Jon Stewart's Resolute Racing.

So yeah, there's excitement there and and it is not taking

any time to show itself. Yeah.

We saw a $3,000,000 purchase when the the Del Mar featurity

yesterday, so you never know what you're going to get, but

certainly if you invest that kind of money, you're hoping

it'll be a great one win in a race like that for sure, Frank.

Yeah, and you know, I, I know we have, we have diehards that

listen to this show, but also maybe some more newbies and and

that kind of money. It's there's so much excitement

about the breeding that if you purchase a horse like that and

it has success on the track and proves itself there, then you

really have something you know, with, with that breeding to go

along with it. So it's, so it's a little bit of

both is what generates that type of excitement.

And it's going to be a it's always a big few weeks at blood

horse for us and we're looking forward to covering it.

We have a preview of the sale posted yesterday and it's still

up on the site prominent, and then we have news alerts

throughout the day and then we'll have it all wrapped up at

the end of the day, both online and our and in our free daily

newsletter, Blood Horse Daily. Well, one of the other I think

really unique things here at the Kingman sale.

Obviously you get this in a lot of sales, but just the amount of

yearlings on offer that are siblings to some of these great

graded winners, grade one winners.

I know I myself wrote a preview about the full sister of Seismic

Beauty and the half brother of Hope Road, and I know the

Seismic Beauty sold for 900,000 right before we got on here.

Just what is the excitement level for a lot of these kind of

pedigrees, not just from the racing perspective, but people

also thinking ahead toward, you know, broodmare and stallion

prospects already. Yeah, it's kind of what I was

saying earlier is the right now we have these sires that are

just so well established, it's already taking a big chance

buying a horse for this kind of money.

So you just like to see some clues.

You see it like to see the family has already had success.

The family is what's on the broodmare side, the female side,

and all those wins are marked with black type, that type of

success, graded stakes, placings and wins.

And just the more you see of that in general, there's a

better chance. I mean, you know, there's, it's

just, it's, it's something to kind of hang your hat on for

sure. You got to speak with Greg

Justice. I want to set this video up.

Can you tell people a little bit about Greg?

That's the name we know for it certainly will come up later,

I'm sure. When our interview with Racing

Rachel up at Horseshoe Indianapolis, who's presenting

this episode, You caught up with Greg What?

What we look forward to. Yeah, so as I mentioned, all the

leading state breeders were celebrated over the weekend and

Greg has Justice Farm in Indiana was he did his breeder is

Justice Farm breeder was celebrated as leading breeder of

Indiana. And I just wanted to talk with

him about their program. You know, he's he breeds a lot

of horses and and that's all part of his business plan

because he has confidence in the Indiana bonus program for

breeders and he's just found this plan that works for him.

And it's interesting what he had to say too, is.

You know, a horse that in Indiana bred 10 years ago might

not want to be on the same track right now as in Indiana bred

today. He really feels like the level

of competition in Indiana has improved because of that strong

program. So that's really what you want

is the breed. That's what you take the most

pride in is that that's really the whole ultimate goal is to

advance the breed and have stronger horses, faster horses,

sturdier horses. So he takes a lot of pride in

that. I think you can see.

Yeah, all. Right.

Well, here's Craig Justice. They spoke at Kentucky Downs.

Is this Kentucky Downs or at Keeneland?

I'm sorry. I'm.

Looking Actually, this is like a dolphin.

Yeah, right after the excuse. Me from Friday.

There you go. Even better, there you go.

So hack A. Dolphin.

Yeah, right after the. Ceremony.

Looking at backgrounds than that, Come on I.

Was going to say once we click it up I'm sure it'll be

beautiful. So here's the beautiful backdrop

of the dolphin. Here with Craig Justice of

Justice Farms, recently honored is the Indiana State Breeder of

the Year. Congratulations on that, Greg.

Well, thank you. What are some of the things that

you like about the Indiana Bread program?

Well, they're getting better all the time.

They got a good program. I stand two stallions up there

and you get a mayor award and you get a stallion award.

The mayor award is 20% and it's 20% of the whole purse and the

stallion award is 10%. So actually you're getting 30%

and that's of that's the whole purse.

That's not just first place money.

So your mayor award's usually about $7700 and and your your

stallion award would be $3800 if they're running in the maiden

special way. So you know, it's about $11,500.

Some of them old horses you run, you know, 5-6 years.

You just never know. So it adds up.

They run four or five Indiana breaded races a day and course

the Meats runs from middle of April to about the middle of

November and and then they shut the track down.

But it's they could have several grass races and dirt races.

So it's just it's a good fit for me and I think I think they're

there to stay for a while too. What What keeps you coming back

to breeding horses year after year?

Well, of course the money you got to have an income coming in.

I run a lot of horses on my farm, which means it's a lot of

work, you know, seven days a week.

But it's just like going to Vegas.

More time you pull that slot machine, more chances you are

winning. So the more horses I can have in

a race more often, more chance of me making more money and get

more breeders awards. So that's a lot I do.

What do you see going on with the breed in general in Indiana?

Are the horses getting better, staying the same?

Kind of Where's that at? The quality, yeah, they're

definitely getting better. I've probably been doing that

program at least 30 years and, and, and you know, years ago you

didn't have to have that great a horse, but nowadays you got to

have a good horse to win. And, and competition's getting

better because, because people's knows more about the Indiana

breds and stuff. So they're bringing better

horses all the time. And yeah, you definitely got to

have a better horse than what you used to have.

You mentioned that you like that there's bonuses available for

the breeder and for the the person that stands to stallion.

Who are some of the exciting stallions at Justin Farms?

He's at Justice Farm these days. Yeah, I've got my horse Harry's

Holiday and he's been there several years and he's a very

consistent horse. He's one of the leading horse

stallions up there. And and then I've got a new

horse coming this year. He Thorough Rd.

He's by Quality Rd. He won a little over 500 and

some $1000, placed second in a in $1,000,000 race.

So very good looking horse. I can't fault him too much at

all. Kind of excited about about him

coming and I'll support him with several mayors too.

But yeah, come and see me there at breakaway farms where they'll

be standing there. Sounds good.

Thanks so much, Greg all. Right.

Many thanks to Greg Justice and the beautiful backdrop that is

Godolphin. How about that?

There we go, Frank. Good stuff there for sure.

It's interesting that you say what you thought stood out to

you there, because I agree with you.

The you got to be better entering the gate in Indiana

than you used to be. And that's really good for the

sport, frankly, if all of our circuits can get better, yeah.

Yeah, it's really nice when you see the racing program and the

breeding program all come together and and accomplish that

where each each year, each crop, it gets a little bit better,

better for those horses when they're at sale, more value for

them, more value for everyone that participates.

So I I really think Indiana's got a good thing going here,

that's for sure. Of course, we always ask you for

what's going on with Blood Horse magazine.

We encourage you to go check that out.

If you happen to be watching on YouTube or Spotify, easy QR code

at the bottom of the screen there.

By the way, give us a like a follow, a five star review.

All those things would be really great on the podcast.

You can start doing that for us, get us moved up in that

algorithm. We want to thank the 1600 or so

of you that have joined the Blood Horse family on YouTube

since this show started. So we appreciate that very much.

But Frank, what should we be looking for?

What are you guys working on for the magazine?

You know, we have a story coming up that I kind of that I had Co

wrote. We just kind of looked at one

farm and the economic impact of that farm.

In this case, we used Mill Ridge.

Mill Ridge. They were gracious enough to

talk with James Gazelle, who's my Co writer and and myself for

over several days. And you just really, it really

puts into perspective just how many different businesses are

tied to tied to the industry, tied to this, tied to Mill

Ridge. And really then you obviously

you just take it to the next level and you realize there's so

many farms like that and so many businesses tied to this

industry. I mean, when you're driving by

and in Lexington or Ocala or any of the other big horse farm

areas in this country and you see these big, beautiful farms,

you almost have to remind yourself it's not just a

postcard. There's people working there.

There's a lot of people that have their jobs tied to those

farms. And you know, we don't need a

big ugly smokestack to pull it off.

It's can still be an important economic driver for those areas.

So we thought we would just put that all in one place.

I mean, I think a lot of the people that are already in the

industry are well aware of this, but it it provides a reminder

and hopefully that, you know, is racing and breeding keeps coming

up politically. Hopefully this can be an article

that people can point to and and show what why it's important

for. I mean, we don't need extra

support. We just need a level playing

field. This is probably where I'd put

it. Yeah, Yeah, that's right.

It's it, it stands out to me, Frank, when you talk about horse

racing, the one place where it is very different than other

sports is it's not just an entertainment option.

It's an industry for sure. That's right.

And so getting down to that farm level I think is really

important too. And we see racing frankly

flourishing in more agrarian areas right now.

And so we see the interest in, you know, Kentucky places like

Ocala, like you mentioned, right, where there's a real

agrarian base. So it's nice to see those places

still flourishing. Well, Frank, thank you so much.

We encourage people check out the magazine and of course,

bloodhorse.com. Check out the magazine tab at

the top of the home page. And if you haven't signed up for

it, get the daily straight to your e-mail.

They'll cost you every single day.

Start your day with Blood Horse as well.

Thank you, Frank. Thanks, Louie.

Thanks, Sean. No problem all right catch up

with Frank down the line. Want to get to our friend racing

Rachel here from Horseshoe Indianapolis as well.

Couple of steaks coming up on Wednesdays of people are betting

in the middle of the week and haven't found horseshoe yet

somehow great take out rates. And frankly, they've got those

steaks programs on Wednesday. And I thought that was, you

know, Eric Hallstrom's the the racing manager up there, a guy

that I'm sure you've gotten to meet and just how he thinks

about Indiana racing is just different than other tracks that

we consider to be sort of regional tracks, if you will,

around the country. The experience up there really,

really a good one. And boy, how many times you've

been to the Derby now up there. Before 55 now OK, 5 Indiana

derbies. Yeah, and obviously the mixed

breed program you just heard from Greg Justice about, you

know, it's, it's not just full field, it's good racing too,

which is what it. So it does fill up that way.

And as you mentioned, I mean, it's 4-5 races a day.

I mean, they're filling their own gates with horses from

Indiana. So if people are watching from

around the country about how to run a breeding program, Indiana

might be right up there. Well, here's racing Rachel.

I, I think Sean's in the beginning of this interview, but

nod and then I am and then nod and all these things.

But she's awesome. So just listen.

Watch the Watch the shuffling of chairs as this interview goes if

you're watching on YouTube and Spotify.

Oh, here's racing Rachel up there.

And where's your Indianapolis? All right, Speaking of horseshoe

Indianapolis, really glad to welcome back Rachel McLaughlin

up there at racing. Rachel M, of course, on all of

the social. She bailed on Quarter Horse Day

and made me work so she could go to Saratoga.

It's a heck of a thing for Rachel to do to me, but it

turned out I'm really good at horse.

You're really good at Spanish. Stuff and and doing post race

interviews in Spanish a heck of a thing.

Everyone was talking about that. I literally was like, they were

like Rachel who Louis did an interview in Spanish.

Like you got so shown up. I was like, oh, that's fine,

that's fine. I am so glad because Louis

crushed it. So yeah, fun.

Thank you so much. This is why I love having so

many friends in the horse riding industry because without it I

would never get to go to Dakota Saratoga.

It is a random thing in our sport what people are great at,

right? Like we just you meet someone

and all of a sudden you're like wait, you you juggle 8 at a time

or something Like random things that people are into for sure.

But you do now. Too, I am a juggler, but you

know, speaking languages is, is for sure part of it.

But you know, I, I wanted to talk to you about Wednesday for

sure up there. But how is your race meet going?

You guys have one of the longest race meets in the country,

frankly from April until November.

Obviously that those quarter horse days mixed and you guys

have a mixed breed meet throughout the year.

Wednesday though, these Wednesday steaks days.

What do you guys run on Wednesdays?

Yeah, we run. We run on Wednesday in the

middle of the week because it's just such a sweet spot.

This weekend or this week we're having the Hoosier Heartland and

also that's in Race 7 and they're full fields too.

And the Empire. But yeah, it's a really long

meet. We've got, you know, these and

then a one more in the end of November or September and then

we just got a couple in October and then we're pretty much done.

I mean, it's just such a, we were going all the way till mid

November. So it's nice to have them kind

of spaced out here at the end and it's it's kind of downhill

from that from here. We don't have as many, many

events, but a lot of really good racing events, more than the the

fun retail kind of stuff. You know, we just talked with

Greg Justice on this program, and he's one, yeah.

He's one of those guys moving the breeding program there in

Indiana way ahead. I mean, since when you started

to where you are now, Rachel? I mean, that state program is

really, really flourished. I know it really has.

And I actually have to reach out to him as well.

He wants to advertise a little bit the track next year.

So he's on my my list. But yeah, I saw him at the at

the races with his son. He doesn't come a whole lot

often. He he watches obviously, but he,

his farm is kind of far away. So him and his son were there

and they are just great people. And I always tell people like

when I'm on FanDuel and talking to people in California and

they're like, Hey, you know, for people who don't always watch,

you know, tell us some names. And I'm like, like, look, you

see a horse in an Indiana bred race that has the name Justice

in it. Just bet it.

Just remember the name just. Definitely an angle that's.

Exactly right. But yeah, that that that program

up there, Rachel, as we watch around the country and and

certainly, you know, here in Kentucky, we have our own, our

our own frankly, as we wrap up Kentucky downs, our own, you

know, treasure of riches around here for sure.

How important is the the Indiana bred program though for what you

do in horseshoe? It is, yeah.

It's really important. I mean, honestly, it's, it's not

only important, but it pays really, really well.

I mean, I've got sponsorships with I TOBA and HBPA, which, you

know, the Horseman's benevolence is more for, you know, the

people side of it. But you know, the Indiana

Thoroughbred and, you know, Owners and Breeders Association

here in Indiana is amazing. I mean, you get like a 40%

supplement for Indiana breads. We've got great purse structure

here. You know, the Indiana maidens go

for, you know, 38,000 and it's just really, really pays and

they're not expensive. Like watch the September sale.

You know, I mean, you, it's I'm, I'm not trying.

I'm, I'm just saying you could get a decent Indiana bread and

make a lot of money. Not, you know, Kentucky Derby

money, but you can make good money breeding and and owning in

the state. We have an amazing program.

So I don't think people kind of really realize that they are

starting to, I think since we've been advertising a lot more.

Oh, frankly, if your horse is good enough, you got Kentucky

right next door. You can get down to yeah.

You can still go down there. Anywhere you want, frankly, if

you have a great Indiana bread for sure.

So no, I'm, I'm with you on that, you know, just watching

the development, you know, I've been, this was my fifth Indiana

Derby as a media member this year, Rachel, and watching the

development of that program. It used to be, oh man, there's a

state bred stakes out at the end of the day.

Not anymore. We get excited about those,

those good prices now for sure. So it's been nice.

It's been nice. Not just the quantity like you

talk about where the, the gates are full, like we're getting,

you know, full gates of, of horses and we, you know, in

other places with, oh, this is a grade 2 for $300,000.

Why are there only five horses? We never have to worry about

that at Horseshoe. Yeah.

You know, I think when we ran it in the fall, it made sense.

But then things for a while and then things kind of changed and

we really didn't change with the times.

And then Eric came in and, you know, call him the Wiz kid.

He's like, why we're running here?

Why can't we run in July where there's a couple derbies that

have moved around a little bit like I think Iowa derbies on us

now, but it's just a much better spot and it's a really nice spot

given the states races that are coming up later for the for the

three-year old. So definitely a smart move by

Eric. I mean, not just 'cause he's my

boss and I want brownie points, but I think that's really helped

because we've gotten huge names picking our race instead of in

the fall when they, you know, this season's almost over for

these three-year olds or whatever.

Money talks, but so do great at stakes, right?

And so having a Grade 3 on the Derby and on the Oaks is super

important for your program for sure.

But looking forward to Wednesday, what should people

expect if they haven't spent enough time?

Because shame on you if you haven't.

I haven't checked out most of Indianapolis and want to check

it out on Wednesday. Well, we're here for the

degenerates because it's you if you are craving betting on some

good nice races and big fields from the weekend and it's the

middle of the week, we got your back.

And so yeah, Wednesday, I think the seventh race goes off at

around 5:15. We start at 2:10.

An amazing card. We got the late in the early

pick five. We put the dollar pick fours on

and these two are included in in those late pick fives and pick

fours. But these are our land.

It's a full field. As of right now, it's a mile 6

on the dirt, $100,000 guarantee. These are Indians fired, but the

morning line went to the three. Imagine the Moon, who just won

an allowance, won the Shelby County Handicap as well.

Good numbers. Molly's potion.

I don't know what happened to her.

Last year she was just winning stakes races and races left and

right. And this year she's not doing

that well. I think she'll be my long shot

because the Sean's back C PS up on her tomorrow or Wednesday.

So I'm really excited about that.

And then in the interest of time, I think the eighth race,

you know, for the guys, it looks pretty interesting as well.

Tiana's got a nice long shot in there.

Forever greedy, who I really like who is second in the

Sagamore back in May. And but the favorite is the

four. Who's your daddy now?

Marcelina is up for John Langmeyer just ran the Caro, but

last year was had a couple of really close ones, a second

unreachable star. So I think that horse has some

nice chance to kind of push the pace.

Probably spit back. Not a whole lot of early speed

in this one for sure. We'll be watching Who's Your

Daddy now for sure on Wednesday. It is what it is.

But Rachel, we appreciate again, Horseshoe Indianapolis running

Monday through Thursday this week.

Certainly check them out on that stakes day on Wednesday.

And they have those pick fives if you haven't checked them out,

just as coach under 12% take out and a $1.00 pick 4, which with

the size of fields in Indiana can be pretty challenging, but

also has made the payouts really awesome as well.

Have you gotten good returns on the $1.00 pick 4?

Yeah, we have that. I literally have only hired one

random person with no profile picture and four followers

complain about it. Everyone else.

Everyone else, sorry I'm. Against the $1.00, pick four and

I'll get more followers later, OK?

Rachel Exactly, exactly. $1.00 pick 4 is much, much more

important. But I do want to tell you guys

we're racing Monday through Thursday for the rest of the

month. Nice.

So that way it's been jumping around a lot.

So I've been, I just told everybody, I just want to tell

you guys that and I put it on our signal too because it's nice

when it's have to announce the different days.

So I'm glad to have a Monday through Thursday block for the

next few weeks, guys, and no Saturdays.

No Saturdays at all, which means I don't get to work.

Her name? Her name is Rachel.

I'm there to be at racing Rachel M if you want to find her on the

socials. Thank you, Rachel.

Bye, guys. Have a good day.

Yeah. There you go raching Rachel M

here with us on blood horse Monday appreciate her jumping on

it is a really fun day of racing on those Wednesdays so stay

Wednesday. So if you're looking for a spot

to bet this Wednesday, certainly check out our friends up there

in Shelbyville, outside of Indianapolis, of course, at

Horseshoe Indianapolis. All right, thanks to Rachel for

joining us from Horseshoe Indianapolis for presenting the

show today. Great partners of ours here on

Blood Horse Monday, a place that you and I very much enjoy going.

It's about the same drive for us to there as it is to say a

little less actually than like in Ellis or something like.

That, yeah, a little bit less, a little bit less than what I was

doing at Kentucky Downs. Also that right, we don't mind

when they call us and say, hey, we want to hang out for sure.

But I, I hate to do this, Sean, because there's a chance you're

going to spontaneously combust. The Churchill opens on Thursday

and there's a Derby prep on Saturday.

Go ahead, go ahead. Let's just say, let's just say

this is the beginning of the greatest time of the year where

it's Kentucky Derby season as far as I'm concerned.

We've got some runners in this that we expect, We expected to

see a comportion here. I just want to point out,

everybody watching entries just came out as we're doing this

show and we're already on top of things.

So that's how excited that we both are apparently for the

Kentucky Derby prep season. Of course I.

Don't know but like. Here you are showing me the

e-mail like, oh look, we just got all the entries in the

middle of the show. Called being a professional.

Thank you on this show, very professional.

Spice Runner, Comport both going to be in here, obviously Comport

out of the Kennealy barn. We're going to have Spice Runner

out of that Asmussen barn. He has won this race three

times. So even though we don't

affiliate associate Steve Asmussen yet with the Kentucky

Derby, we saw Greg Foley this weekend.

It's never too late to win your first grade One or your first

Derby, right? So exactly those things.

But he does have Spice Runner in here.

Jose Ortiz is going to be real live on.

Saturday, yeah, he's going to be real live on Saturday.

This is always an exciting one. I mean, we saw the Iroquois.

I feel like a lot of times gets a bad rap just because, you

know, you don't know a horse has not won the Kentucky Derby yet

that has run in this race. And a lot of times you don't

always see the horses make it to the Derby, but we had several

horses from this race last year that made it to the Derby.

Oh, and Almighty Sandman was in this race.

I want to think, what's testic in this?

No, he had just run a Kentucky down.

So it was the street sensor he came in.

But yeah, it was. Don't read that out loud.

There are three errors in that. No, I'm not going to be reading

that. I knew that was an error right

off the bat, but but yeah, so this is a this is a race that,

you know, it kicks off the season and it's always, it

always is an exciting race, especially since they turned it

back to A1 turn mile. I think it definitely kind of

makes it a little bit more interesting because you have

horses that are going to either be stretching out down the line

or, you know, some of these horses that can run well and,

you know, become good sprinters out of this.

So you even know it might be too early for everyone except myself

to start thinking about the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

This is a good group of two year olds that are running this

weekend and hopefully one of them is going to turn into

something down the line. A couple of years ago a man

named a horse named W Ohio or West Saratoga, excuse me, won

this race and named Larry Demeritt won it and eventually

navigated that horse all the way through his two or three-year

old seasons and got into the starting gate for the Kentucky

Derby. I have to tell you, when I think

of the Iroquois, I think of him and that is always a good thing.

But when he won that race, it is the biggest smile in the history

of Churchill now, because it already was to start with.

And then when he won that race, it was an even bigger smile.

And so that's what I think of what I think of the Earth.

Yes. And it's it's funny that you

mentioned that because as I was listing the horses that were in

the last year, W Saratoga did pop into my mind, but that was

two years ago now that he was in that race.

But yeah, that kind of for a lot of people in the industry.

I think that was the introduction to Larry 1 W

Saratoga came in. So, yeah, but he'll definitely

be, I know, on both of our minds when we're at Churchill this

weekend having, you know, he just passed away a couple months

ago. So we'll definitely be thinking

of you, Larry, while we're out there at Churchill.

Dazzling Dame, almost certainly the the favorite in the Grade 3

Pocahontas, of course, the beginning of the the road to the

Kentucky Oaks to be run a day before the Derby in the spring.

We'll look ahead, we'll have the Turf Cup winning in excuse me,

that was last week. I'm sorry, but we'll have a.

We'll start. We'll continue to look ahead.

We'll have a. Weekend at Woodbine.

Yeah, it is. Woodbine Mile WE.

Will And that's a Breeders' Cup winning and of course, so we

will have Breeders' Cup winning into it's a recap, not the Turf

Cup, but the wood five mile. Thank you.

We'll have that for sure. And then of course, Iroquois and

the Poconos will do those as well.

I'm Louis Ribow, he's Sean Collins again, check out the

magazine at bloodhorse.com. Go click on that on that tab at

the top of the page and get signed up for the daily as well

for Sean Collins. I'm Louis Ribow.

This has been another rendition of Blood Horse Monday.

Have a great week. We'll see you next one.

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