Keeneland Opening Weekend | Anthony Pascale

We welcome in Anthony Pascal at FanDuel.

Anthony on the socials from a FanDuel, of course.

It is opening day for the fall meet at Keeneland.

This is your chance, Anthony. Just tell these people how much

better Monmouth is than Keeneland.

Good morning. How are you?

Are you doing all right? You're doing all right.

Good. Go ahead.

Just send everything on fire. Here, I don't know if I could go

that far, but let's say they're they're neck and neck.

It's a photo finish. They're very similar to me for

very good reasons, by the way. I enjoy both of them for very

similar reasons, frankly. But Anthony, of course, from

FanDuel joining us this morning, really appreciate it.

Are you on site at Keeneland this weekend?

Are you busy? Not I will be on site, but I'm

not yet. I'm still home.

I'm, I'm waiting to finish up with you and then I'm hopping in

the car and taking the drive to Lexington.

I don't need to be on until race #3 but I'm really looking

forward to, I mean, if I woke up this morning, I felt like a kid

on Christmas Day, you know, waiting to open my presents.

But the presents are, are hopefully, you know, some nice

scores at Keeneland this weekend because I love the racing.

The cards look great. The weekend in the fall is

always one of the very best weekends of the year.

Today, of course, there's a set of three great at stakes.

It will be anchored by the Alcibiades in Race 9, of course,

which is a grade one for 2 year old Phillies ahead of the

Breeders Cup Juvenile on the Philly side of things.

Look, Tommy Joe comes into this one.

She's 2 to 5, Anthony. And I'm always a little hesitant

to bet Eddie 2 year old, two to five, let alone one in a race of

this quality that's never gone two turns, etcetera.

Were you surprised to see the two to five number?

No, I, I wouldn't be surprised if she went off 1 to 9.

I, I she's, she's clearly, you know, the, the, the, the

probably the, the most likely winner of the whole weekend.

I just don't see anybody in there that can touch her.

The only other horse that I think would have a shot is the

horse that that that she beat by 6 lengths last time and that's

Percy's Barr who we've seen run really well at Keeneland early

on in her career. But I mean, this race just looks

like Tommy Joe I, I had no interest in trying to beat her

and she's going to be a single in all my multi race wagers.

That's interesting. Is there one though that you

think can get up for second if we're just trying to play a cold

exact here? I mean, I thought Percy's bar

was going to be the other horse, and I don't think there's,

there's really, you know, a lot of money to take out of this

race. I you know, sometimes these

Philly races can surprise you. And you're right.

Taking a short price on a horse who's never gone two turns

before. Yeah, but in, in this race, in

this field, from what we've seen from Tommy Joe so far, I she's

buying into mischief. I, I I don't see any reason why

why she wouldn't handle the two turns easily.

Plus, the mile on a 16th at Keeneland, of course, involves

the first of the finish lines there and so a very, very short

stretch after that second turn for Tommy Joe.

Of course, as Anthony just pointed out, a daughter of Into

Mischief should be the favorite in that one by Leafs Bounds and

probably should win by Leafs and Bounds earlier.

The card, though, is the Phoenix today, Race 7.

This one feels a little bit more wide open.

I like kind of a longer shot in here.

Did you land on somebody here? I thought Nakatomi was going to

be really tough. She he's got a really good

record at Keeneland and I thought with the speed signed on

in this race I thought it will finally set up for him.

He in this race last year, remember last year opening day

at Keeneland, the opening weekend really, the track was

really speed biased. I thought you had to be on or

near the lead to have a chance in any of the dirt races.

I'm hoping not. That's not the case again this

week. I hope we get a fair race track

because I don't think we did last last fall.

But Nakatomi was up against it. Federal judge walked around the

racetrack. I don't want to say walk because

he went quick, but it was a speed bias track and federal

judge went gate to wire. Nakatomi had no chance that day

and then came closing late. I think on a fair race track in

this field with the speed that signed on, Nakatomi is the horse

I want that's going to be closing late.

Rudy per SE, has world record. He's already said he doesn't

think that he'll be on the lead. He's not a horse that

necessarily needs the lead, but he's got a good amount of early

speed, so he was the other horse for me.

I'm not getting too creative in here.

I don't want Skelly. I've seen enough of Skelly

outside of Oakland Park. I think he'll go to the lead,

but he just hasn't hung around in his last couple and he just

hasn't performed like he does at Oaklawn at other race tracks.

I'm throwing into every exact a trifecta I play in this race.

What you're talking about the two horse here.

There's something about Wesley Ward at at Keeneland and frankly

this one just worked at Keeneland.

They moved this horse down from Saratoga.

If we take out the muddy run up there and in the Morrissey I

this horse has been running very well.

Yes, against State Bread Company, but most recently got

into open company and and yes, did get caught at the six

furlong marker, but I'm interested to see that one as

part of maybe a second or third spot there.

Anthony the Jessamine is race 8 today and these are the races

that can make you money at Keeneland buddy.

You can get two turns, you get 2 year old Phillies here.

I am right with you going mile on his 16th.

You do have a 2 to one favorite in time to Dream and and setting

aside the two to five on Tommy Joe, this one seems even shorter

to me just given the size of the field.

You think she'll be shorter? No, I just, I think like 2 to

one is such a such favoritism in such a big field.

You know what I mean? Like I'll tell.

You what? I've already thrown out

favorites in the first two legs, so I've got to get a price

somewhere. And I have no problem trying to

beat Time to Dream at a short price from the 12 post and a

horse with no early speed. So I think was Time to Dream

impressive last time out at Saratoga?

Yes. In fact, she was so visually

impressive that that's why so many people have been, you know,

owing and eyeing over her. And yes, it was.

She had a nice turn of foot through the stretch, but we

still don't know exactly who she beat.

The speed figure came back OK. It was nothing that was, you

know, that was crazy fast. And so I think there's enough

other horses in here that that are unexposed as of yet that are

only making their second or third starts.

I think we're going to see another horse jump up big in

here. And I, I think with the right

trip, they're going to beat Time to Dream today because I just, I

don't see how Time to Dream doesn't save the ground and, and

I don't even know how hot the pace is going to be early on

that if it sets up for a closer. So, yeah, I'm trying to beat

Time to Dream because I like shorter prices in the other

races. This is probably a race I'm

going to go all in and, and hope that we get like a repeat of a

couple years ago. And when who was the horse that

won this race? California Angel won it like 17

to one. Yeah.

George Leonard. Yeah, and I'm hoping it's that

kind of year so I can get a price somewhere in this late

sequence. Oh God, I.

Haven't said the name Cowboy George in a while.

What a guy. I like that.

I like him a lot. I'll tell you a sign of the time

in this race, Anthony. Sign of the times.

Every horse except for Time to Dream last ran at Kentucky

Downs. Yeah, and then that, that makes

this race even harder to handicap because you don't

always know how the Kentucky Downs form is going to hold up.

I was going to ask you about that.

You have been down to Kentucky downs like me a couple of times.

I thought this year easily was the most manicured, the greenest

the track has ever looked, frankly the least amount of

clumpy kickback that I've seen on the track this year.

Any chance that we see these horses come out of Kentucky

Downs better than we have in previous years?

Absolutely. Those, a lot of them were

loaded. I think you're going to see a

lot of horses come back out of there.

You know, we already saw saw a horse at Churchill the other

night on the turf who was so impressive at Kentucky Downs,

just missed winning an allowance race.

But yeah, I wouldn't discount the Kentucky Downs Forum at all.

The question is, I don't know how much I trust the speed

figures. That's the problem.

So you know, when horses run well, I like to watch those

replays and more, see how they did it, how they closed, how

they came home. And and and that's more of a

judge for me. The numbers.

There were issues with timing at Kentucky Downs this year.

So I don't know how much I'm putting into the speed figure

stock from there. Woodford is on Saturday, it'll

be Race 6. We're talking with Anthony

Pascal from FanDuel at FanDuel. Anthony on the social, so if you

want to go find him there, it'll be on TV today.

Start with Race 3 down there at Keeneland.

The Woodford is one of those sprints.

How do you what's your what's your essential number one thing

about handicapping turf sprints trip?

I try to figure out, you know, is, is there a ton of speed in

the race? Is it going to set up

foreclosures? Who's going to be, is there

anybody that's going to have an easy lead?

And and that's the thing in here is I think there's a good amount

of speed. You have Joe Scheiste and you

have Doncho, who are two of the fastest sprinters in in America

and I think that they're going to go out and and knock heads

early and I don't see either of them giving an inch.

So I felt like it's set up for a horse from behind and and isn't

arrest me red going to be in the perfect spot for Wesley Ward

right behind the speed on the rail.

I I thought, you know, this horse has a win at Keeneland

before he's 4 for 11 at the distance on the turf and I just

think he sits the right trip. I think he's fast enough on his

good days. Yeah, he's seven years old now,

but I think he's still got some good but good ones in him for

Wesley. And and I think from that inside

post, he's going to he's going to get a nice trip.

And in that race, World per SE has already said that world

records not going to run in there.

He's going to run in the other race on Friday.

Yep, he'll be staying on the dirt for that one.

The TCA is a Grade 237 tomorrow. Six furlongs on the dirt here.

Grade 2. It's Philly mayor's side of

things here. We get horses like Long Neck

Paula, but a seven to five favorite in Vava.

A little surprised to see 7 to 5 on Vava here.

Yeah, I think that's too short. I'm going to try to beat her.

I tried to beat her at Churchill 2 back in the Chicago and and it

didn't go too well. But but I'm I'm going to try to

beat her in this race. I love a horse in this race,

Louie. I am so happy that they're

putting Zaidos back on the dirt. This is the race that she won

last year. And remember I mentioned that

the track was a little speed favoring last fall.

Well, she closed and I thought those two turf races, they were

OK. She was just missed.

The Futures now is one of the best turf sprinters we have, but

I like her much better on the dirt and considering she's the

defending champion, she's never been worse than second at

Keeneland Zeitlos. I'm all in on in that race on

Saturday. Just missed in the caress at

Saratoga on the turf as Anthony mentioned before that we did see

her over in July at Churchill Downs in the Chicago under

Flavian Pratt. Who keeps them out here on

Zeitlos. It is Anthony Pascal talking

with us here on Bo called ESPN 680 at 1:05 A7.

The first lady's a grade one tomorrow.

It's race 8 going a mile on the turf and that one lots of Ford

invaders this time of year and this is no different in this

spot. You leaning on an American based

horse here or on a foreign based horse?

Well, I'm going to play a foreign horse that has run in

America. Recently.

That's Choicia, the one horse for Simon Crisford.

This horse won the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, so you've got form

over this grass course. Those last two races at

Saratoga, I'm putting a line through.

They were yielding and good. Those turf courses were soft.

The reason they brought this horse here to the US was to get

a firm grass course. They're certainly going to get

it this weekend. So Choiceia, back on a firm

grass course, is who I'm going to be going with in the first

lady there. You go so Choiceia will break

from the one. Of course, Frankie Victoria gets

them out on that one. Dynamic pricing, other thing?

Louis, I think Frankie, Frankie is poised to have a huge couple

of days. He's on a few horses that I like

and from that inside post, all Frankie needs to do.

This horse has some early speed. I think just try to settle in

behind that early pack, get a nice ground saving trip.

And that's the other thing from the inside with with Frankie on,

Frankie's going to have a big weekend.

Our usual contingent of New York shippers are in as well.

Miguel Clement sending sending Ozara, Chad Brown sending both

Suggesta and dynamic pricing. Of those three, who do you like

the most? I would probably say Ozara.

I agree because she she hasn't, she hasn't lost in the last

couple weeks. She's had good setups though and

she's been in short fields. This is this is going to be a

test for her because she's got the outside post.

She's got a much bigger field and I don't think the the race

is going to set up for her like the others have.

So she's going to have to prove how good she is.

But she has been very good. She's got that that real turn of

foot through the stretch, which you need to win these turf

races. And and you also get Irad Ortiz,

the other horse you mentioned that I don't want is dynamic

pricing. Dynamic pricing is a horse who I

think loves the off turf, the the yielding softer turf course.

That's what she got in the grade one, just a game, and I don't

think she gets that again there. You go the other grade one on

the card is the Breeders fruit or there's two more. the

Breeders attorney, that's where was the other two year old race

at least. Of course they went in in for

the Breeders Cup Juvenile. In this case, the favorite in

the Juvenile came out of this hilarious last year before

slipping in the gate at the beginning and having no shot.

Ted Noffy comes in as a favorite.

Are we going to make it 2 straight days with odds on

winners in the 2 year old races at Keeneland?

I'm going to try to beat Ted Noffy.

I feel like that hopeful was so impressive.

The speed figure came back so fast.

I wonder if if he's able to repeat that effort.

I wonder if we get a little bounce from Ted Nafi tomorrow

and then that sets him up well for for a run in the Breeders

Cup where he can get back to a a good race.

I want the one blackout time Kenny Mcpeak, Kristen Torres

going to sub for Brian Hernandez junior.

We just don't know how good this horse was.

Is blackout time finished second on debut to a horse named Dazzle

Doro, who unfortunately broke down after that race for Tom

Amos. But that was a very, very

talented horse and blackout time was second right behind that

horse. Next time out in Ellis this

horse aired going a mile so so you already have the distance

question answered on the one blackout time.

He's by one of the top siders in the game.

Not this time and I think the Sky's the limit with this horse.

I like that he hasn't run incredibly fast yet.

I wonder if we get that breakout performance, and I don't know,

we're going to get 10 to one, but there are a couple other

horses in there. They're going to take some

serious money, like Big Dom, the backward horse going to take

money, and Ted Noppe is going to be your favorite.

So I think there's going to be some value with blackout time.

I'm going to try to get him home.

I think Ewing on the outside is going to get a bunch of money

too. The thing about blackout time,

Anthony, that I'm not ready for is I we had Kenny on a blood

horse Monday, on Monday, and he told us this is the most

talented horse he's ever had. Wow.

That's the guy who by the way is is training Thor Pedo Anna

currently. That's a crazy.

That's a crazy thing to say. It's unbelievable, the most

talented. Ewing.

I mean, I don't know who he does Ewing want to go two turns?

The damn side pedigree is all Sprint.

Not for me. Well, and frankly, until his

until he developed and got much older, Nick's go didn't want to

go two turns right. I mean like he was a one turn

mile that kind of time it took till you know, he was late 4

year old, 5 year old a year till he started doing those things as

well. So who knows in that?

Case He won the Breeders. He won the Breeders Futurity at

2:00. Oh, that's right, he did go

mile. He.

Was 7 to 1. That's right, that's right,

that's right. But the Turf Mile will be race

10 on Saturday. It is a grade one.

We're going a mile on the turf. Obviously $1.25 million on the

line, which means we get shippers from all over the

place. I didn't think this year that I

would see Mercanti at a race at 20 to one, but here we are.

Anthony, where did you land in this one tomorrow?

And, and I, we've talked about Merconti before.

I really like this horse. He's a game horse.

I just don't think he gets the right setup in this race.

There's a good amount of speed in here.

You have some sprinters stretching out.

I don't know what to do with Howard Wolowitz stretching out

to to two turns at a shorter price.

I'd I'd be inclined to try to beat him.

But Quattrocento, the 2 has some early speed epic ride who I

loved last time at 14 to one. We got him home.

Is is another horse who likes to be upfront.

So I think there's some some early gas in here and I wonder,

you know, their Conti is going to be right up there or right

off the lead. I wonder if this doesn't set up

for a closer and I mean Diego Velasquez coming in for Aidan

O'Brien. I I just feel like this horse is

going to be super tough. This horse be great.

You know, Group One company in France last time out beat

notable speech who came right back to win what the Woodbine

mile a couple weeks ago. So I mean Diego Velasquez, how

many times have we seen these Europeans come in time and time

again and just kind of just prove that they're they're

better than the US contingent in these kinds of races.

So I thought he was going to be tough, but I thought Brilliant

Birdie has run well at Keeneland, has won well at the

distance as a horse who should be coming late.

I thought that was a horse who he just always seems to show up

and and I'm going to be rooting for my girl.

Andy being Cohen got Beach Gold in that race and this horse just

keeps getting better and better. I don't know how good Beach Gold

is and I wouldn't be shocked if this horse hits the number.

Yeah, I think that's there. I'm interested in Wood Shawna as

well. You talk about horses that have

won group ones and Francis won one the pre Jean Pratt 2 back at

Deauville. We're you know where, excuse me,

where Diego Velasquez also won his last race.

And so yeah, interesting. I mean, it just sets up like a

classic Grade 1 turf racing key. About that horse.

And the reason that I didn't really consider him was because

he's never gone around 2 terms. And you know, and my feeling is

in Europe, those, those guys, they know where their horses

belong. They know the right distances

where their horses are supposed to be.

So the fact that they haven't tried this horse going longer

kind of gave me pause overseas. But you never know.

Yeah, I don't, I don't often root for horses, but I think

Epic Rides switch to Turf has been not just good, it's been

great. And I'm, I hope that horse hits

the board here because I would love for John Dennis to get one

done. Yeah, I mean, the last race that

the mint million set up perfectly for on the others, the

goalie ad would never I thought that would be the speed.

He never he never got out of the gate well, and that left epic

ride on an on an easy lead and they just couldn't they couldn't

touch him. And that race was kind of a a

merry go round race too. Yeah.

No, God, it turned out that way. Well, he's got to get to

Keeneland, so we'll let him go. I've never asked.

Are you a Yankees guy or a Mets guy?

I'm. More of a Yankees guy.

OK, so last night was pretty unbelievable.

Anthony, I'm not going to lie to you.

That's pretty cool. My nephew was there.

My nephew's actually. He plays, he plays AAA for the

Saint Louis Cardinals. So he plays in Memphis.

Yeah. And he, he got to go to the game

last night. So I was a little jealous, but

yeah. Fantastic.

Well, good. All right.

Well, he's Anthony Pascal F Andal Anthony on the socials.

I'm sure we'll catch up soon, but enjoy, Caitlin.

I'll be out there tomorrow. I'll come find you.

All right, look, sounds good. Look forward to seeing it.

Good luck, everybody. Yeah.

Thank you. There you go.

Anthony Pascal joins us here. Audra Boko on ESPN 680-1057.

Appreciate him jumping in. They've got tons of coverage

over there. Zach FanDuel, by the way, and

and Keeneland keeping that, that breakfast at Keeneland show, the

mornings at Keeneland show going with Gabby Gaudet and with Scott

Hazleton as well. So those are going on.

You should listen to us. But those are still going on for

sure. 437-9680 is our UPS jobs tax slide.

On the other end, I have something play.

Oh, NFL do NFL talk.