Dan Illman | Saratoga & Colonial

Louie and Mike sit down with Dan Illman to talk about upcoming races. Louie & Dan give their picks for this weekend.

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Full Transcript

All right, welcome to another edition of the Horse Racing

Happy Hour of Post Indiana Derby.

Is that? What it is?

Well, post Indiana Derby, why not?

How about that, Dan? Did you watch our post Indiana?

Did you watch our Indiana Derby coverage?

It was very, very impressive, first of all, that you were able

to find the racing office. Second of all that you were able

to with the whole numbers. I thought it was really, really

good. I was very impressed.

And I'm also impressed that you happened to have credentials for

the Monmouth Haskell. Very impressed.

Yes. Do I get to meet Dan Elman again

at the Haskell next week? I notice you guys always say

that I big time you when I'm at the racetrack, but I have

something called the job. And while it's nice to say hello

to you and, and have a drink and, and, you know, and exchange

pleasantries, I'm trying to, you know, hustle quotes, etcetera.

So Oh yeah, I we don't have. Deadlines.

I get it. No, I I'm very aware of this.

Hey. Yeah.

There. You go, how about that?

Really was a nice photo. Yeah, There you go.

Yeah, I'll sign it for you guys next time if you want to come on

down. We should get Johnny P decided

to no one else, just just Piantic signature send them to

everybody. Everybody gets Johnny P now he's

a big shot. I mean, he's calling racist or

he's a big shot. I'm telling you, you come on

this show and it's either like you're, you're like Illman and

you're on the down side of your career or you're Piantic and you

are just straight to the top. Ellen is an award winner.

Now that's what I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all

right. So you know what they say, guys,

you know you always have to be nice on the way up because you

never know who you're going to meet on the way down.

And as I like to say, they're two completely different people

and screw them anyway. I think that's the right

attitude. I'm with Dan Ellen on that one.

OK, how about that? Well, thank you for watching our

coverage of the Indiana Derby. Dan, what did you take away from

Jerome Gardwin in that one? I thought it was, I thought it

was a nice performance from a colt that can take another step

forward down the road. I really think the second-half

of this season for the three-year olds is going to be a

fascinating 1 because aren't we looking for a new face?

And that's no disrespect to the horses that won the three legs

of the Triple Crown. I just think we haven't exactly

been knocked over by a superstar or a horse that has a tremendous

amount of upside that you can't wait to see take on older horses

down the road. This guy's a big, good looking

sword. He's yet to be really tested in

his career, but he beat a pretty nice horse in the Santa Anita

Derby winner Stronghold. I'm curious to see where he goes

next. I like his speed, I like his

pedigree, I like his connections.

There's a lot to like. Yeah, the running style makes

sense too, if he can be out front and stay out front.

I mean, that's going to be a winning style in a lot of spots.

And seemed very comfortable trying two turns for the first

time as well. So no, it was.

It was one of those performances where he started to pull away,

Dan. And it was like, oh, right,

yeah, Brad Cox, he's here for a reason.

Yeah. For sure.

And that's what I love about these Midsummer derbies is that

you get the three-year olds that were aimed towards the triple

crayon, then you get these late shooters that, you know, and

especially in this case, because we're not going to get to enjoy

a lot of Arrogate's offspring. And that's pretty much it,

right? So I just love to see these late

bloomers kind of come along the way that Eric did.

And let's see who can who can be a stud come November.

But it's what Dan talked about. This is AI don't want to call it

a befuddling 3 year old class, but good luck figuring out who

the best horse is. It might be Sierra Leone.

He didn't win any of the races over the Triple Crown season.

He might be the most talented, just hasn't gotten it together

over a single race and and may like the traverse or whatever it

might be, I'm not sure. But yeah, just a horse to

challenge for that second level. We've had actually a couple of

they're not. Are they blowing us away at this

point? No.

But these older male two turn dirt races, they've actually

been fun this year. And I would like for that, you

know, that category, that group of horses to get better and we,

we haven't seen that yet from a three-year old, the older.

Classic distance horses aren't bones either.

No, that's right. I mean.

There's still fun races, but yeah, there's no, there's no, I

mean, and frankly, we haven't seen, you know, like a white

Avario run back, you know, this year too much and that kind of

stuff. And so we're waiting for him to

come back if he does and he transfers Barnes again and that

kind of stuff. So I don't know, Dan, do you

think there's a potential three-year old that pushes in

the in the fall runs in the the classic, that kind of thing?

I think Forever Young wins the Classic if he comes back, the

same horse we saw in the Derby. The plan for him is to run once

in Japan in early October. I assume him to run very well in

that race, if not outright win it.

And then if he comes to Delmar for the Classic, I think he'll

still have a lot of upside. While these three-year olds and

older horses have been banging heads against tough company

through the summer and into the fall, I'm not off this horses

bandwagon. That was a tough beat in the

Derby, but he validated to me that he's good.

And then we, of course we got somebody like the city of Troy.

Yeah, just sitting out there waiting, yeah.

I mean, at what point are you like, hey, let's, let's try this

horse on the dirt? Oh, and I think they will, yeah.

Oh, I won't be surprised. I mean, this horse has all the

talent in the world and I think if they're looking at this crop

of older horses and three-year olds on the dirt, why not take a

chance? I mean, if you're looking at

potential alternatives, you're looking at a turf force

obviously from Europe with City of Troy.

I mean, if Thorpedo Anna just continues on her run, at some

point, do you think Kenny's going to try the boys?

I, I, I think it's got to be at least on his radar.

I know there were a lot of big races obviously for Phillies and

mares. The Alabama, he's probably going

to prep for that in the coaching.

There's the Cillian and of course there's the Dis staff,

but it's got to be in the back of his mind.

He she might be the best 3 year old no matter males, females,

whatever. North America, Yeah, and North

America for sure. Ain't O'Brien brings City of

Troy over, runs the Breeders Cup Classic in his first ever dirt

race and wins it? It's possible.

Do you think we could see him before that in North America?

Damn. That's a good question.

I don't think so. I think they'll stay over there.

I think they'll keep him in his comfort zone and I think if he

comes over here, he'll be locked and loaded for the Classic.

And if not, certainly you know the turf will be his for the

taking, won't it? So City of Troy wins the

Breeders Cup pass he. Gets a three-year old over here.

Yeah, right, Exactly right. I, I got to say, I forget, I

forget the name of the horse now, but he had won a grade one

at Woodbine, then won a turf race at the Breeders Cup at

Keeneland. Gosh, I'm forgetting his name

right now. Modern games, I think is who it

was as a three-year old. And he didn't win.

I mean, I voted for him, but apparently that wasn't good

enough. Was that Epicenter's year or

something? Get out of here with Epicenter.

But yeah, so, you know, it was one of those.

Dan voted for Epicenter, though. He's going to tell us why right

now. Well, I'm saying in North

America, you know, we focus on dirt racing and at the center at

a very, very good campaign. Although let's be honest, I

mean, you know, the big one sort of eluded him.

It was a a tough year for the three-year olds.

It was a tough year for anybody to be honest with you on the

dirt and the monster flight line to deal with that.

No one was beating him. Yeah, and Henry wins the Iowa

Derby. Dan, besides a Ouija board, how

would I have picked this horse? I couldn't tell you.

I I mean, you know, again, it's a wide open race.

That's a tough horse to come up with.

We've seen a lot of them over the last few days.

You know, one day the feature race at Saratoga, Skylerville,

Yeah, Skylerville is Queens MGI mean.

My goodness, talk about a horse that likes to win at big prizes

with giant odds in the debut at Keeneland winning it then just

doesn't show up as the favorite in the Sanford.

I was a little surprised it was 44 to one in here, although I

couldn't come up with them. But boy, nice looking

performance there for that feeling.

Probably see her if all goes well late in the summer in the

spin away. All right, bring up Skylerville.

Makes me think of the Skylar sisters in the play.

Hamilton are Louis is the only person I know that hates to play

Hamilton are you with? Whoa, whoa.

I didn't say hey, that's a strong word.

I would use the word never going to consume.

OK, OK. I, I, I, I'm not up on my on my

Broadway plays. Well, I mean it's.

Been around for a while, it's not like.

It's yeah, I understand that, but I'm not, you know, I again,

once again, you know, I work for a living.

I like to actually handicap races.

I like to dig into analysis. I don't watch foolish play

sports like college basketball or what you know, or what's your

team down there calls college basketball.

But, you know, I I like to work. So I have to admit, not really

up on it. I think the last Broadway play I

saw Les Miserables 1995. I I'm, I'm jealous because I've

seen a show since then and I wish I hadn't.

Yeah, no have. You been seen a show on

Broadway? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, but it.

Like cats or something terrible. Yeah, right.

Yeah, well, yeah, of course. Yeah, they're all terrible.

Oh, I don't know. I like going to plays.

No, no, no. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

We're talking about musicals. Plays are fine.

Plays are different. I like musicals are bad.

It's OK. Do you know what Hamilton

reminds me of? Dan, I don't know if you had

this, but we had these motivational speakers that would

come to our school and they would, like, wrap the periodic

tables or wrap like multiplication tables.

That's what Hamilton sounds like to me.

Yeah, I, I guess, I mean, I guess those motivational

speakers did really well for you guys.

It's. Working out great.

It's, it's working out really great for you.

It's working out great. I, I want to give you guys your,

your flowers. You, you guys have really done

very, very well. I don't know how it's been done.

The world has obviously been turned on its ear, but that you

two guys have a show is, is amazing to me.

I think I deserve a lot of thanks and credit for building

this up. But you know, other than that,

I'm amazed and well done. You and Sherva so for sure.

You know, there you go. I wouldn't put Cherva in

Illman's class, but he's listening.

So hi Dan, hi Dan and and hi John.

How about that? There you.

Go the Danes. It's Illman Cherva in Thistle.

In Thistle, that's right. Isle was a big bump for us

locally. Yeah, for sure.

No, that's right. Yeah.

And then you discarded the poor guy once, you know, once you got

too big, you basically threw him on the side of the road.

It's terrible all. Right.

I agree, I I enjoyed it too by the way, it was great.

If you've never thrown anything that's almost 7 feet tall, it's

fantastic. Let's hear we have a little

special manscape. You know, last time Dan came on,

I, I really, I fell in love and and I wanted to step up my game

as far as I fell in love with marketing.

I fell in love with advertising when Dan was on last time and

he's so passionately and so truthfully spoke about how great

of a product manscaped offers. And, and Dan understands that

because Dan is, is a person with a skin care routine, with a hair

routine. This is a man who gets up, you

know, he talks about working. That's nice, but you have to be

prepared. You have to be ready to work.

And Dan Illman's one of these people.

But I wanted to look in the camera because you might be a

little more like me and you're not as pretty as Dan Illman.

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shipping as well. Well done, I really liked it.

I did a 9 1/2 out of 10. Whoa, how about that?

I was at the PBS Voice, though. You, you need to go a little

bit. I, I, I, I, I were connected to

try that, but No 9 1/2 out of 10, it wasn't as good as mine.

A couple of weeks ago, that was. Not in here.

Dan's was like an 11. Yeah, right.

Yeah, yeah. I was trying to be sympathetic

to people who are as ugly as me, Dan, that's really all that was

do. You really want those people to

watch the show? They they already feel bad that

they're watching this show. Do you want them to even feel

worse? It's an important question.

It is. I mean, it's an important

question. Well, cheers.

There you go, little Manscape. Read again manscape.com use the

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very much. That's got video queued up and.

I'm trying to well it's a replays.

Yeah, but I thought he had no replays.

On this and put them on the show sheet, Zach.

Do you want to show your replays there?

We're good man, all right. Zach, I put a little note 4 on

the show sheet so that you can you can wow us with that.

If you if it works out, there you go.

All right, but hey, the spa opens and and you know, you

know, all jokes aside, Dan's a New York guy.

Talk to people around the country who you know, especially

we have we have we're really, we're we're really fortunate.

We got a lot of followers, St. San Diego or LA, you know,

people that are going to San Anita, they're going to the Del

Mar, that kind of stuff. Describe Saratoga to someone who

hasn't been there. Oh, it's a heaven on earth if

you're a horse racing fan. Not simply just because the

racetrack is beautiful and it's packed and crowded and there's a

buzz like there was in the old days every single Saturday.

But when you walk through the town, when you're going out at

night, everybody's talking about horse racing.

You go to the restaurants, everyone's talking about racing.

You go to the bar, everyone's talking about horse racing.

It's really somewhere that you need to go.

You have to click off your bucket list if you haven't gone

because again, just the passion is there for the entire racing

meet, no matter what the weather.

Weather was lousy, washed off the turf today.

People came 20. 1000 people. That's right.

Yeah. So what I hear Dan saying is DRS

is going to sponsor the horse racing happy hour going to the

Spa. I don't.

I didn't hear that at all. Yeah, I didn't hear that at all.

No. I just.

Want to ask you, Dan, as, as we ship to Saratoga, obviously Chad

Brown's comments the other day, you know, made some, you know,

might have ruffled feathers or whatever.

And I was lucky. I interviewed a trainer, Chris

Davis, the other day. He had the Bashford Manor winner

the other day and he talked about having Saturday horses,

which I appreciated. That was kind of a first time

I've ever heard a, a trainer actually say that out loud on

radio. Chad Brown has a lot of Saturday

horses. He also has a lot of Friday and

Sunday and Thursday horses. Are his concerns legitimate or

is he just doing something different than most trainers are

doing? I don't really think he's he's

doing much else other than he's got all the horses.

I mean, you know, Chad's going to say, well, you know, I, I

can't win all the, you know, I can only run in these great

stakes races. That's all he has.

I mean, they do ride allowance races, but if Chad runs in the

allowance races with his one to five shots, no one else is going

to enter. So you got you got part of the

problem there. I'm he's got all the horses.

I can understand his, I guess his frustration about the, the

quality of the Saratoga meet. I don't think Chad's really

going to be losing a lot of sleep over what has he got five

in the Diana. Speaking of Saturday racing.

How about that? A little Saturday racing.

You know why it's different? Because they run a stakes race

to the second race of the day. You're damn right that's what

it's all. You're damn right.

And that's the Grade 3 Kelso Mile on the Inner turf, Inner

turf, Inner turf Boo. The Grade 3 Kelso purse is

$175,000. This is the what, the 6th time

that they've run this at Saratoga?

Used to be run at Belmont. Casa Creed, the winner last year

over Annapolis and a pretty decent.

Rate by the way, shout out Casa Creed retired this week.

I think he owed us nothing. Fantastic horse ran great in New

York. Just one of those old knocking

horses. You can always count on him to

make a run at the end, you know. Interesting Dan.

It's funny, I heard I read something and I and I thought it

was totally apartment. How he ran might actually hurt

his breeding stock, right? It might actually hurt his stunt

feet, which I think is ridiculous.

I hope, I hope people breed the crap out of Casa Creeds.

I'd love to meet the kids. Well, you love to see horses

that run AB, that are Hardy, that can handle any sort of

distance, whether it be sprints or middle distances.

But again, in North America, it's just tough to breed to turf

horses, right, Especially horses that have a a strong closing

kick and may not have that blazing early speed that we're

so used to seeing because what sells speed, especially at these

two year old sales, I don't think we're going to see any

cost of creeds go nine and three at the sails, nor should they.

But I agree with you, he should at least get a fair chance.

He was a really, really good horse for a long, long time.

Who do you have here in the in the Kelso?

Well, I wish I had no one. I'm not a fan of anybody in this

race at all. I watched the poker last time

out. It was a paceless race that was

won in gate to wire fashion by a long shot.

These horses had their chance at him in the stretch.

They couldn't get there. I think if there's a little bit

more space, I think Carl Spackler might deserve one more

chance for Chad Brown. I've always liked the kick that

this horse has, but I do think Mysterious Knight is the horse

to beat for Godolphin and Pratt. He did sit a good trip in the

poker and behind the leader and he kind of just was out

finished. But I have a feeling with that

race under his belt, he's going to do better.

And again, the Godolphin, Appleby connection.

They just seem to win everything.

I wish I had a stronger opinion in this race.

I'm just not fans of this race. I'm not fans of a short field.

Let's move on. OK, there you go.

Actually curious to you guys, who you?

Guys, I have the same winner on top, but I I think if you're

going to try a longer shot, you might try northern invader here

and just hope he gets out front, stays out front.

I mean that that might be it right Is that Jose rates him

well and he he gets the lead and he wins it.

I don't know, nine to two, something like that, but I I'm

with you, even at 9:00 to 2:00, he's not worth the risk in this.

Race. My concern there was in his last

race he got the lead right and kind of back down the pace.

And you're right. He was terrible in the stretch.

Now maybe just he'll get to the lead here and back down the

fractions. We've seen it in New York and he

sprints on home. I respect these connections

greatly. I've always been a little bit of

a fan of the Source. I've tried really hard to get on

him in this race. Just I just didn't like that

last race cause similar situation didn't finish.

I'm not at all sure that the turf at Churchill is anything

like the turf at. Saratoga.

So that part I'm hoping is different.

If you're going to bet him you're looking for actual, an

actual turf course, not, not, not trying to sling arrows here,

but like a real grass course. That would be why I would try to

use them. But I'm with Dan, this is

probably a race where there's not going to be a lot of value.

Yeah, that's why I think you just take a bet and hope the

mysterious knight holds on and singles that horse and go.

Yeah, right. If you're playing multiples,

yeah, class going class with him, that's right.

But you're right, you were right to point out you got to feel

good for a small outfit like a dolphin and having a horse

integrated stakes. It is why we love this sport.

It's. I think it is.

Yeah. How about that?

Wow. It's a nice story the.

Same thing like you take a foreign guy like Charles Albee

coming over. Really nice that too.

You know, he's got like 8-9 horses in his barn.

What was that? 8-9 stalls at each place Got OK,

Sorry. Yeah, got it, Got it.

Yeah, I mean, Appleby understands that he has horses

over there that might not be Group One class over there, but

we've seen year after year after year that the European second

and third stringers come here and win major grade one races.

So why not bring the second, third string over here and

dominate? And it's worked out very well

and I won't be surprised if it continues to work out well.

He has got a slew of horses prepping for major stakes races

here, whether it's the Arlington Million, whether it's up in

Woodbine for the Woodbine Mile. He is loaded for the this summer

and fall. Well, I mean, at the same time,

I mean he's one great group 2 races over across the pond,

which is going to be better than any grade three we have.

You're talking about Yeah, Yeah. Northern Vader?

Yep. No question about it.

So, OK, I'm sorry. I'm curious tonight.

You're good. Yeah, we know.

Yeah. Northern Vader, though, would be

great for Sheree. Go, go for Sheree.

Yeah. Let's get it done.

All right? We're going to stay on the inner

turf course. We're just going to go forward a

couple races, like 8 to race. 10.

For the Diana stakes of grade 1/2 billion dollar purse for

Phillies and mares. Lily, who did you like in this?

Race, are we going to get to a point, Dan, where we just admit

that Diddy is doing the darn thing?

Like she's just this good? How how does she go off at 9:00

to 1:00 in her last race? Like how does this continue to

happen with what she has done outside of the Breeders cup,

which I don't hold against her? I mean, I I really don't

understand the disrespect on the betting line, at least that this

horse gets. I don't think anybody that

covers horse racing or watches it disrespects didda at all.

I don't know if it's connections.

I don't get it, but for me, I I I'm going to use her on top for

sure. I think there's a distance

question around chili flag the 10 interested here because I

think just the added distance here might not be ideal for that

horse going the extra 8th of a mile here.

I really think of that horse more as being maybe maxing out a

mile 16th at the very best, but more like a Miller.

So I think chili flag is interesting here, Man.

I just the one Moira, she hits the board like crazy.

Six runs last year, second and third, five times, right total.

I don't. I just wonder is the mile and an

eighth right for her? She did jump up.

Was it at Woodbine last year that she won a big race?

Yeah. And the Canadian and the Grade

2. And so I just, I don't know what

to do with Moira either because I think she's really talented,

but she's totally OK running second.

And maybe that's just a running style, just having to run late,

make your own way. But yeah, I went 410 and one

here, Dan. This is a super race.

It seems like Diana every year is a super race.

I think you can make a case for five or six horses.

Your first point about Moira is well taken.

I don't think anyone that follows this sport understands

how she goes off at a price time after time after time.

It's got to be the connections. It's got to be that there's no C

Brown next to her name because if there is considering a

lifetime record, she'd be hammered.

And Nacho Carreas knows what he's doing and proves it time

and time again with this source. She's obviously a main contender

in this race because she handles any sort of distance.

I think your points well taken about Chile flag.

I wonder if her kick will be as effective going a mile and an

eighth as it is a mile. This is a race where I think you

might just want to make your own personal betting line and then

bet the overlay on the tote board.

Your case about Moira, I mean, listen, she won the Queen's

Plate, has a three-year old in Canada and she ran third in the

Philly and Mare Turf, the best of all the North American

horses. But you have to deal with a very

long layoff coming into this race.

You also sold for something like $3,000,000 since her last race.

I want a price in this race. I'm going to be using heavy

jets. She's going to be a giant price.

She was beaten less than a length last time out.

She really had no excuse in that race.

She pressed the pace along with white beam.

White beam got the better of her, but she was something like

25 to one. She's going to be 20 to one

again in here and she's going to get close to the pace.

Is she a likely winner? No.

Can she spice up your exotics? Yes, and White Beam repeats the

third off the layoff angle that worked for her last year in the

Diana. I wonder if this race is where

the pace holds up and I think those are the two pace setters.

It's last year the white beam was coming off of a win into the

Diana. White beam had won since that

Diana last year. It seems to me the trend with

this race every year is that we have a really strong female

favorite that is going to get upset and get beat.

Hit Bleeker St. he gets beat by an Italian, then an Italian

comes back to next year and gets knocked off.

And after that it just seems like we consistently have a a

really hot female turf horse hit this race only to get upset by

not a super duper long shot, but like a mid pack.

This is a race that's can be routinely won by horses that are

like 8 to one, right? So.

By the way, that just a game that that Dan referenced also

had Gino Romantica in it. She finished 5th, right behind

EV Jets. There's a huge blanket finish in

that race. You're probably not even going

to get 12:50 on Gino Romantica. That's why EV Jets is easily

much more of a value play here, because she's as good or better

of a horse and you're just going to get 18 to 117 to one,

something like that on that horse, maybe better.

And The funny thing with Gino Romantic is going into this year

with the retirement of in Italian, you could make the

argument, OK, Gino Romantic is the best one of Chad's barn.

She won the first lady. She gets beat a length against

the boys in the Breeders Cup mile.

I won't hold the Jenny Wiley against her.

She got wired in a very slow paced race, but she didn't run

and she didn't run last time out.

Maybe this is the time I thought she was very cold on the tote

board also last time out. In the gist of game she is good

enough to win this race and while she won't be heavy Jets's

price, she could be 8 to one considering her 2023 form.

That's not bad at all. Make a value line before you

play this race and play your overlays.

That's my advice here. We go, all right, we're going.

To move on, we're going to move on to the Grade 3 Sanford.

How about that? Grade 3 Sanford 6 Furlong Sprint

on the dirt. They call this Skylerville, but

for the dudes. For two year olds.

How about that? Well.

Three-year old Sprint. Little Sprint, Sprint on the

dirt. How about that?

All right, Yeah. Little, little July.

How do you how do you? Well, you got these lightly run

horses. Yeah.

How do you cap these? How do you cap these?

Well, someone wrote a book once called I know books are out of

fashion called Betting Maidens and Two Year Olds and Analytical

Approach to Future winners. I'm sure you could find a a copy

somewhere. All sold out.

Of course the first friend, first one, of course the DRF,

but I'm sure you could find one floating around somewhere

that'll help you out. One on.

EBay for a penny? That's not bad.

No, that was a, that was a, that was actually a Dan Inman

autograph. You're not OK.

Bye bye. How?

How is your book doing? Coming on the fall betting

maidens and two year olds analytic approach to future

winners elements of handicapping by Dan Illman on Amazon right

now 23 bucks shift your house about that.

Meanwhile, the Grape 3 Sanford gentleman is you're studying my

writings and leanings. If you're gonna buy that, by the

way, also get the DVD trip handicapping.

I know DVDs aren't big things anymore, but still, the

knowledge is there. The knowledge what?

Do I play the DVD on? Do I?

Just that's a good actually an actually question I haven't

figured. That out PlayStation.

Mega Genesis getting back to the Sanford main team here.

He's fierceness, his full brother, right?

He is. He showed fierceness his speed

in his debut. Now I don't know what happened

in the final 3/16. I was going to ask you about

that, yeah. He showed brilliant early speed.

He's obviously fast. Johnny V thought he was going to

win by a million. I don't know whether he expected

that runner up to be closing as fast as he did be, but one more

stride mentee loses. He's going to be the favorite in

this race based on the connections, based on that giant

buyer speed figure. Aired an 88 buyer for a 2 year

old in June. That's exceptional.

I'm going to try to beat him though, with three echoes for

Steve Asmussen. I liked the way this horse ran

in his debut at Churchill. You don't see a lot of these two

year olds win if they're not on the lead like Mentee.

A lot of these horses are precocious, brilliantly fast.

This horse took dirt in his face down on the rail, had to really

squeeze through along the inside, show the professionalism

of an older horse and was able to get that job done.

Now last time out in the Tremont again, Flavian part was

aggressive out of the gate with this source tracked inside,

wanted to get outside. Couldn't do so because the

favorite pace setter was drifting ducks to the rail.

The minute he does so he gets herded in down inside and I just

don't think it was the the cleanest trip for three echoes

he draws outside. The speed here, I think he's a

little bit faster than he looks on paper.

He'll get a crack at Mentee turning for home.

I'm really interested in MO Plex on the outside here.

Dan, I thought looked really good at Aqueduct last time out

gets Irad again for Jeremiah Englehart here.

I I know those connections will at least keep the price up a

little bit, right? You see the name Englehart

instead of a Pletcher, but you see Irad and that number will

probably go down. But I think any number, I'd be

comfortable like 7:00 to 2:00 on that kind of horse.

I think that we're seeing horses come off that aqueduct surface

and do really well at other places.

And we've seen it in the past where the the Long Island

surfaces seem to travel to Saratoga as well.

But I thought he was really impressive on debut.

If he gets any better, I think he's got a really serious shot

here. Yeah, I'm fascinated by Mentee

as well because that, that last, I don't know, 8th of a mile or

whatever just didn't make sense. You're totally right about that.

I wonder if he's just two and he got bored.

He started looking around to do another, you know, whatever I

mean. Oh, I'm in the lead.

Cool. All right.

I'm still gonna start looking around to do that kind of stuff.

And, you know, so you can't make a ton of changes after you win a

race. So I'm sure Todd Pletcher, I

don't know. Do you think he's a blinkers

candidate or I I 'cause I don't. Only because he was so fast out

of the gate and ready to go. I I think he was so fast and if

it ain't broke, don't fix it. And Todd generally doesn't like

to put blinkers on his horses. I think it's always a bad sign

when he does, especially his younger ones.

I got like baffer he switches on off all the time.

It doesn't seem to matter. They win it wakes them up.

You might make be right with mentee.

I think that's a very good point.

We have to remember that he's a 2 year old and that he might

have started looking around in the stretch and getting a little

bit bored. But as much as you didn't like

that last eighth of a mile from Mentee, you had to love what you

saw from Moplex because he's cruised into the stretch about a

length of head and in the blink of an eye he's 10 in front.

That's very, very impressive. I love these outside posts and

these Sprint races for two year olds.

They don't get the dirt kicked in their faces and he proved

that he's fast enough that he's going to get out there.

He'll probably be sitting second or third and he won't be getting

that dirt. I think it's a a good

opportunity for Moplex and you're right, the price will be

there, probably third choice. Jeremiah Englehart hitting at

28% of his two year olds and they don't team up a lot. 7

times, but 71%. Right, five of his last seven

with IRAD. What's interesting actually is

everyone in this race is good with two year olds.

As far as training, yes, all the numbers are are probably 1819

percent or better. I mean, it's really remarkable,

frankly. So there you go.

I mean, I guess I read choosing the spots though with

Engelharden when they when they when they team up, it's usually

pretty good. I think that's a pretty good

sign there. All right, we're going to.

Let's see, are we got we got any?

More Do I do a quick place? No, let's do a quick race, a

quick pick on the last race, just so people can.

Think pick here on the race since Dan doesn't like he likes

big fields and we got to start an optional flaming race here.

Massive full field on the turf, 5 1/2 furlongs on that turf.

And this is the the special Turf Force, right?

What? Do they call the surfboards

again? The melon melon.

Melon baby, listen. Listen, people.

Orton. Melon, Orton.

Melon, please listen. I don't.

Understand me, people. I mean, Ronnie Dangerfield joke

about back to school the other day to some people who worked

younger than me and they said, who's Rodney Dangerous?

Oh no. Respect one.

Of the most underrated 80s movies of all time is Back to

School, Thornton Mellon, The Triple Lindy.

It's good, it is, it's good, it's fantastic.

It's good. Let's add handicap.

It's a great, great movie. You know, listen, people have to

watch that. We'll hold more kids.

Yeah, well anyway, last race, big field, Gimme King Moon racer

#11 George Weaver. This is the horse.

He did not have a good trip in his last race.

I this horse doesn't win very often, but he wouldn't mind a

little bit of giving the ground. I think he's going to kick late.

I wish he had a little bit more early speed.

I hate placing one run closers. Sugar Gray Leonard is an awesome

name for a horse. Little bit very disappointed

he's not a son of Graydar, but we'll move on from that.

I think dropping in class he'll be really nice.

He's actually run well at Saratoga before.

That might be something to watch.

And final Verdict. Tried turf last time, first time

ever. DQD to 2nd place.

Look for that horse again. I know it's a barn switch, but

still. I think they may have found

something by switching to turf with the one Final Verdict.

Got that picture of sugar? Ray Leonard?

Yes, you do. He was just in town, right?

He was in town for the third festival.

How about that? All right, we're going to switch

over to colonial dams. We don't see that much on this

show, but it is Arlington Million preview day, 12% takeout

on that pick five. How about it?

Man, doing some Maryland stuff in Virginia, how about that?

I like. To see.

Pick six. What's that, Dan?

I like to see that 12%. Pick five.

Let me tell you something. That's a great, great wager.

I know a lot of folks are going to be focusing on Saratoga.

You got to shop around in this business.

Takeout can be a killer. Take advantage of the 12%.

By the way, Colonial first three or first two races, dirt, rest

of the card Turf, turf. What's?

It like Richmond to have a real turf course in your town.

What's that like? Go ahead and go ahead and e-mail

me. I'd love to know.

That would be fantastic. How about that?

All right. Must be nice.

The first race we're going to talk about here kicks off

actually a pick four here with the Boston.

It's a one mile for three-year olds on the turf, $125,000

purse. Louis, who did.

You like in this one look, I I didn't even write down multiple

options on this one it's a single no, but I I think this is

actually a more interesting race than I I thought it was going to

be in a jam is 9:00 to 5:00. I'm not mad about that.

Mark Cassie's one of the few guys that goes synthetic to turf

all the time because of his experience both at Gulfstream

and at Woodbine, right? Mostly at Woodbine, of course,

but this is a guy that can have a horse that runs in a listed

stakes on on synthetic. He's able to get them back on

the dirt no problem in a jam is going to be part of the equation

at the end. Fulmanos very talented.

We've seen it won the the Murphy last time when we were all a

Pimlico together and so he's obviously very, very talented.

I'm looking at other spots though.

I am really interested if class photo can do anything here and

that's a horse coming off of that Presque Isle surface before

that was in maiden claiming company in Tampa.

The times all makes sense, but he's going to need a he's he's

done it sprinting before. So I wonder if in the mile

they're not going to try to just go with him and he might be the

kind of horse that gets out front, stays out front in

three-year old company. He seems to be on the improve

that buyer's getting better and better.

I know the last one was on synthetic, but if In the Jam's

going to get credit for coming off a synthetic then I don't

know why he can't. And so I'm looking at the three

class photo day and maybe as an upset here.

I I really like that opinion because he has a lot of upside

potential. We've probably seen in a jams

best race. He's already run 9 or 10 times.

I'm not sure. We've seen class photos.

He's run only three times. And you're right, I think he's

the speed of this race. And if he goes to the front,

he's going to back down the fractions.

Fulmaneo is very logical on paper, but I do want to warn

folks. The Murphy was contested over an

extremely soft turf course. A lot of horses didn't like it.

Fulmano ran just fine and winning that race.

I wonder if he is a little bit dressed up by the ground and

he's going to take a lot of money in here.

I'm also looking for a bit of a long shot.

I wonder if the Seven Oishi is a tasty alternative to the top two

favourites. He tried in a jam last time out

but it was synthetic and I'm just not sure that's going to be

his surface. His race two starts back at

Gulfstream was OK. These are really low profile

connections so you know you're going to get a price.

Maybe we can get Oishi into the numbers somewhere.

He's six to one on the morning line and I think that's fair.

He's only run five times. There's like when you order

Chinese food, OK? You just, you know, they do

something that you know what you're going to get, right?

Yes. So why not just call stakes race

the Beverly D preview? You know what this reminds me of

Whenever these previews happen? So they're about to do to sell

at Ells Park. They call it the Kentucky Down

preview or whatever. This reminds me of, of quarter

Horse Trials. It really does.

I got nothing else. Like it's just, it's just the

trial for the, the, the future 30 millionaire, you know,

whatever. It's called the Beverly D.

Preview, whatever. You think there have been some

good horses that have worked Colonial over the years that you

could name and that would go to the But hey, it's the Beverly D

preview and it's actually not a bad race this year, gentlemen.

I went there. It is a mile and a 16th on the

turf. Billionaire 3 year olds up

$125,000 purse. And Dan, tell us about this.

An incredible field. I'm sure Nadette's going to take

a little bit more money even than it hurt. 2 to one morning

line. She has all the buyer's speech

figures. She has all the class lines.

I guess a concern could be she doesn't have a lot of early

speed. She might be last or thereabouts

in the early part of this race and she's going to have to make

up a ton of ground. I think she's simply the horse

to beat in here if you if you want to beat her.

I think 5 Towns is somewhat interesting for Graham Motion

because she really put it all together her in her starts two

and three back that race at Laurel, two starts back.

I mean she was just buried in behind horses till about the

three sixteenths and once she got clear, she breezed past

those horses and while she ran well last time out, she was

overmatched against fluffy socks.

Who's going to run in the Diana for Chad Brown?

And I think that ground again was just way too soft for her

grand motions. Got a lot of quiet confidence

talking about 5 towns when I was talking to him about this horse

before The Dallion into the Gallaurette.

Maybe she's the kind of horse with more tactical speed that

gets the jump on the debt. But yeah, and the debt's going

to be tough in here. Well I mean, and to your point

about this fielding all jokes aside, like we've seen grade 3

races with way worse fields. Oh, no question for sure.

This has got a couple horses that are running grade ones,

couple of running grade twos. I mean, this is this is a, this

is a grade three, maybe a grade 3 plus field.

So. Yeah, I agree about Nadette, by

the way. I think the other Grand Motion's

worth watching and I kind of remind people when you get to

Virginia, Maryland, pay attention to Grand Motion for

sure. He'll pick off some races and

ruined your card if you don't. Gave this horse a little bit of

time off after trying her in the Latonia at Turfway Park.

Ships her up to Canada for a mile and a 16th on that Woodbine

surface. She runs a really good second.

I thought she was really competitive in that race, just

kind of ran out of gas at the end.

Second in the form cycle here. I'm interested to see if

Marksman Queen is good and the numbers on Keynes all make sense

to the six year for Arnold Delacour.

I just don't know if that horse is going to get there.

She's certainly not as talented as an Adette, for example, and

so anything less than five to one on that horse, I probably

wouldn't play there. You go, all right.

So we're going to move on then to a million.

Preview. For some reason, you know, mile

and 8th on the inner turf. The 1,000,000 preview here for

three-year olds in up $125,000 like we said so.

By the way, I think Dan and I are both on record that while it

sucks that Arlington's not around, it's better that they

kept the race than getting rid of the race.

Absolutely. OK.

Absolutely. One, 100% when you have a race

with that sort of history, yes, you have to keep it around.

You have to keep it in, in, in in people's memories.

Now I'm hoping that the Million ends up with a bigger field in

the 1,000,000 preview because I think there's a very good chance

that both the Three Forever Super and one of the motion

horses, Highland Chief, are both going to run at Laurel on

Sunday, which would knock us down to what, 4?

And if it's four, I mean, integration is the worst to be

anyway. I mean, he's even money on the

toe. He'll be two to five at post

time in this race. I mean, yeah, I don't know.

His race in the Turf Classic, last time I was very, very good.

He had a terrible trip in the Pegasus World Cup in the Makers

Mark, he caught a race with no pace against Master of the Seas,

the best turf Miller in the country.

So I mean, he's just a very logical horse.

Is Caesar Boston got a shot here?

I thought he ran really well in the Monmouth last out wasn't as

good in that Turf Classic, but that was First off the layoff,

or at least first in that cycle here.

Third in the cycle here, you give him much of a chance.

I'm not sure he can beat Integration.

I'd like maybe for him to get up for second in here.

He's a horse that doesn't win very often, but he always is

honest. I've always been a fan of this

guy and who has been a fan of his trainer, Jimmy Toner, who

knows what he's doing with these surf horses.

You're right about his last race.

I think it's a little bit better than it looks on paper.

I know he was the beaten favorite that day, but I think a

mile and an eighth is really his distance and he's another horse

that's kind of tactical. I wonder if Integration is more

of a one run type. But Integration sure proved his

medal over this surface last year when he won the Virginia

Derby. I mean, that was a A super

performance for only his second start.

He might be one of the top 15 turf forces in the country and

he wins here. He goes on to the million.

All right, there you go. That's fantastic.

Oh, what? There you go.

A little integration 2 for two. By the way, Dan mentioned 2 for

two lifetime at Colonial as well.

Let's see. Let's get this quick pick in.

I'm getting notice that Mike Peters, Kent Dyson.

So what a classy show this is. Race 9 Quick pick on that one in

the car and it's allowance. Race $70,000 Allowance 5 1/2 for

a long Sprint on the turf. Dan.

I'm going to let Louis go first because I want to remember who I

picked. OK, I think Marion Cross is a

worthy favorite here. She ran last in soft go at or a

good go excuse me at Delaware Park in a maiden special sat

just off the pace didn't break well.

Still came back and won that race first in the form cycle

here at the end of May gets a little bit of time off here for

grand motion. I think grand motion potential

to have an interesting and good day as well.

Apropos isn't here has been right there the last two times

running. This might be where they get

where Apropos gets over the hump here, the four year old daughter

of Mendelssohn. So I'll go 32 in the final race

here, Dan. Keep a look on keep an eye on a

horse on the outside. I usually don't like horses

cutting back drastically to this shorter distance but share the

blessing the number 11. I think it's just slowly getting

better. Tried to stretch out around two

turns last time out at Delaware and just got tired in the

stretch. I think this horse is going to

cut back in distance. For Stidham, it's all about

working out a trip and whether this whether her speed was sort

of sacked by going long last time and now she's got to turn

back. But I think she has a chance, an

alternative. I think the horses you mentioned

are very logical. Logical.

There you go. Logical Louis.

That's what they call me. How about that?

Yeah, yeah. Among other things.

Other than us throwing Thistle to the to the trash, he he was

very nice to us. Yeah, yeah.

No, no, listen, I appreciate, you know, the, the hard work you

guys are putting into the program, this I see the sweat,

you know, literally coming off of your brow, the, the hard

work. I think of all the great names

in this business, you know, buyer Kristen Privman.

I see you guys and I, I, I, I, I feel, I feel like we're in good

hands. The future's bright people.

That's what he's saying. The future's bright and.

If I don't see you before time before it comes out, I'll make

sure it's in you. Top of my book that comes out in

the ball. Yeah, please, please.

I I will mention the acknowledgements would be nice

as well. Mentor, you know, role model.

Dad gets a page in chapter 6. It's.

About real estate, not about horseback.

So Dan told me to buy land. They ain't making it anymore.

Thank you, Dan. Thank you.

That's true. They ain't making it anymore.

All right, guys, we we're going to wrap up the show today.

Louie, any party words? I actually am.

I going to see you at the. I assume you're going to be at

the Haskell. I will be at the Haskell.

I will be working and you know something, I will make time.

I've decided that this I'm going to work. 2024 will be a kinder,

gentler Danielman, a man. I don't like this at all.

I don't like this at all. So to speak, a glad hander.

So we can look you in the eye now.

I well listen, if you feel like you've reached that status in

your career, good luck. I just want to make sure I.

Don't want to. I'm definitely not doing that

next. I don't.

Want to have? No.

All right, all right, we will. We're going to pay the chat help

get out of here the horse racing happy.

Eye bye everybody. Do we get music?

Do we get to do that tonight? Was that music?

Horse Racing Happy Hour