Pacific Classic 2025 | SoCal Saturdays

No 16 funders on that show. It's it's on Cal Saturdays

hanging out with Barry Spears. My name's Louie Ramo.

I'm live in blind squirrel. I don't think anyone cares about

that, but we are presented by AM wager, am wager.com.

Of course, go check them out live in California.

They've got all of the great bets available for you there in

Southern California. Go check out our friends at AM

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right now at amway.com. We will talk Pacific Classic

later in the show. We will tell you if a horse is

sweet or if they are sour. We'll also tell you why we're

playing sweet or sour once we get there.

Up Barry, there were a couple races on this card that I am

legitimately like, I don't have any damned idea who's going to

win this thing, which makes me very excited.

So it's that sort of thing. But welcome in, buddy.

How are you? Happy Pacific class.

Yeah, I'm excited for that race to see what happens there with

fierceness and and company, but I never would have thought that

I would be doing a live stream with a guy from Louisville, KY,

with a palm tree behind him. Damn right.

Meanwhile me in Orlando, FL talking about races in

California. So a lot going on.

It's a Flat Earth, you understand me, Me and Kyrie

Irving, It's a Flat Earth. Old mind of Spears there.

Barry Spears, Lou Urbo, we are with you every week around this

time, previewing the Saturday card in Southern California.

Wherever they are running, entries are out now, they're

taking them, at least I should say, for Santa Anita.

So we are starting to wrap up this Del Mar thing, but Pacific

Classic on Saturday and Barry, just before we get into it,

obviously Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday at at Saratoga as

well. We've got a bunch of really nice

steaks at Kentucky Downs, you know, for a down time of year,

man, we've got a nice little weekend, don't we?

Yeah, especially, you know, this close to, I say this close now,

this close to Breeders' Cup, we, we kind of see horses kind of go

away and they train up. So it's good to see some of them

out there getting in their last little workouts and preps for

the Breeders Cup. I know this show is catching on

my friend because I got a text about it on my radio show this

morning, so people are obviously starting to pay attention.

You are certainly welcome to hang out with us.

All of the programming that I do available on that Horse Racing

Happy Hour Podcast network. You can certainly check that

out. Catch Barry most days, by the

way, on the notorious OTB as well.

What you interrupted me for? What you mean?

I was going to say after, after the week we had last week, I I

would expect we should have a million viewers.

Repeat business after you and I, we spend enough time on this

circuit we have we have come to some conclusions and some good

ones about what to do with these races.

But let's go ahead and get into the card.

If you are unfamiliar with the program again, we go through the

entire card. You can also read my follow up

to this episode at the Sporting tribune.com.

I'll preview the Pacific Classic in that article this week.

And a random, random thing to throw in.

I'm on the simulcast. I'm hosting the simulcast of

Horseshoe Indy for the Quarter Horse day tomorrow.

We start at 10:45. Let's make a bunch of money

before you bet on all these races in different spots.

But Del Mar opens with a maiden special on the turf there,

$80,000 on the line going a mile.

This is for maidens 3 and up in this spot here.

Barry and I thought a really fun way to start this card.

You and I agree on two of the horses here.

A different order for sure. But you landed on Tempest Volat

the two on top. Yeah, I like horses like Tempest

Volat, who, you know, have a a short little break of, you know,

60 to 90 days and then they come back running.

And that's exactly what Tempest Vola did last time.

Paired up numbers or buyer speed figures from the race at

Keeneland in April to the July 2025 Del Mar race last time.

I think there's a a jump up in there.

This horses some little bit of recency is learning the game out

and I think this horse will have a good shot to win this one.

I'm on to capo here. Second time starter stretching

out from 6 1/2 last out at Santa Anita.

That was a bit ago, Barry, in March.

And so a little bit of time off here.

But I do love that we get a bullet work in here.

John Sadler really good off of these kinds of layoffs as well.

So hopeful that frankly, I, I think we can get a little bit of

a price here. Interesting to see Paco Lopez

out West. But frankly, when you've got so

many guys at Kentucky Downs and then you've got that crew at at

Saratoga, where else could Paco go and get these kinds of races?

Certainly I think he'll be I, I think he's an important player

on tomorrow at Del Mar, Man, I think Paco could have a lot to

do with a lot to say. How the go the day goes, Barry.

I I've always said about Paco that his riding style fits very

well in California. I, I wish he would make the move

out there, but you know, there's a lot of things preventing him

from doing that. But I, I think he would fit very

well in this circuit. I expect him to to guide in at

least a couple winners. Right, Yeah, You have a you have

the first race 27 and 8. So I just talked about Dacapo.

What do you like about the first time in North America?

Starter. Never Emily.

Honestly, the race that this horse comes out of there was 13

horses in that race and this horse just missed.

That's got to count for something in a race like this

where there's not much to go off of.

You have this horse that was running overseas.

Even though it was a synthetic race.

I I don't see why this horse wouldn't be able to take to the

turf out of no name never kind of the best of the rest.

I I I see that this horse is the morning line favorite.

OK, that won't hold up in your mind.

Yeah, I have that horse. Third of my handicapping.

So Barry went 2-7 and eight. I went 8-5 and seven here.

So I'll talk about Arctic power. This is the Phil Demato that's

already started in the United States, right?

So this is essentially second start here.

Tried the five furlongs last time.

I think this is just not a sprinter.

And so we're going to see this, this gelded son of Tomayus.

How about that? In this spot, Antonio Frezio

gets them out here in place of Vinny Chamineau.

And so I do think that's a step up as well.

I also just love the price here, Barry.

I think 12 to one is completely fair.

And as you said, not a ton of information to go on in this

race. I'll just take one that's

already been at Del Mar's, been training at Del Mar as well.

I think the works are are good enough.

And frankly, Phil D'amato on this kind of break should play

well. So again, Barry here 27 and

eight. I went 857 in race one.

We do have a comment from our guy Steve who who has a request

for Barry. OK, go karts.

I gotta wear my I gotta wear my, my Miami stuff again.

See, I wear Miami. The cards win.

I don't they lose. That's actually a fairpoint.

A $16,000 Claber awaits betters in Race 2.

We're going 6 furlongs on the dirt.

There's for three and up non 2 lifers essentially in this spot.

Barry, Speaking of races that we think will have a lot of value,

if you're new here, by the way, I tend to go first on the even

numbered races. This is Race 2 and I've got the

number 2IN wild recruit. I was surprised to see Barry not

on this horse at all, but we're second off the layoff here.

I'm going to go ahead, just draw a line through the last effort

under Abel Lezcano. Not a great one.

Herrera gets them out here for Brian Corner and I think it's

the right move. This horse 2 back did break its

maiden guess where at Delmar. That was back in November of 24.

I think this horse just needed to get on the track last time

out Barry and if he got acclaimed they would have been

totally fine with it. But you know, avoided claim with

this one. Been running in concert with

these non 2 lifers. I like the speed when that horse

broke its maiden. Kazushi was aboard that day.

But I think it's one where if Herrera is able to get this one

out of the gate and this one doesn't have to see other horses

in front of him, I think he could definitely win here.

And I think he's easily, if not the fastest horse in here.

He's one of the very fastest and so I think he'll get a good

start. So I rated on the 2 on top and

race 2IN wild recruit. You went outside though to the

10 horse here in Jaguar, John. Yeah, my notes for this race in

Jaguar John is this horse should get the trip of a lifetime from

the outside, clocking all the speed inside.

There's plenty of it. Should get a nice stalking trip.

Has the speed figures to to compete here.

Probably towers over this field, maybe slightly.

So I I think Jaguar John is the goods in this spot.

Jaguar John's, as he mentioned, will break from the 10.

I have that horse. Third in my handicapping.

I went 2-4 and 10. Barry, talk about Mr. Machu

Picchu. Have you ever been to Machu

Picchu? Barry?

No, never. OK.

Do you know where it is? Have no clue.

OK. It's in Peru.

It is outside of a town called Cusco, and it's one of those to

get up there, Barry, it's way up in the mountains.

It's like 15,000 feet. I'm not exaggerating, by the

way. So we think of Denver as being

really high up at 5200 feet. This is 15,000 we're talking

about. We're talking about real

elevation, real man stuff. You understand me?

So I went with my wife and it's outside of Cusco.

It was discovered by Hiram Bingham as far as the Europeans

are are concerned. But yes, there you go, the old.

The only thing I know about Cusco is The Emperor's New

Groove. So there you go.

That's it. See.

You're like Jerry Seinfeld in that all of your classical music

knowledge comes from Looney Tunes, right?

I mean your tunes, right? Exactly.

Mr. Vatsuki will break from the four here.

Jeff Bondi trains this one. Almost won in a 16 claimer last

time, Barry. Guess what we're running for

here, 16. That race, by the way, was at

six furlongs. This one.

What distance are we at? Barry?

6, We're at six furlongs. So I think this one just on

value, just on everything else makes a ton of sense here.

Jeff Bondi, this is his this is his where his realm, right?

20K claimers in down. This is what Jeff Bondy does.

He lives in this world. So give me that horse.

Second on on my handicapping here.

So I've been a long shot here, 24 and 10.

You laid a 10/3 and seven here. Coach Cronin.

Hopefully not the one from UCLA, but we'll be wonder.

Armando, I used a lot better. It certainly is, but yeah, the

galloping. Bruin you can buy a college

basketball coach for 16 G's people the.

Galloping Bruin racing is the tip off, but this horse is kind

of running at A at a higher class pretty much for the whole

career gets back to doing, you know, gets with the friends and

and I think this horse can close into a fast pace and and get

maybe the run of the race. I I, I really think this horse

can win. The only question mark is the

layoff hasn't been out since October.

Yep yeah, the the the layoff is the reason that I stayed away.

But to be fair, I Kelly Biden the last two times out or the

last five times out is 1/2 of these right off these kinds of

layoffs. So I not a not a ridiculous pick

in the least. You also have the seven in your

handicapping here. So just a reminder I went 2410

you went 10-3 and seven here breaking from the seven is

kitten in charge. I think the least seasoned of

all the horses here is only run three times.

But frankly, if we get back to dirt, we get that form that we

had at Emerald Downs. This might be your winner.

Exactly. I, you know, there's not much to

go on here. You know these these horses

aren't the greatest at the track, so I figured Kitten in

Charge could actually pick up some pieces late and get into

the picture at a decent price. There you go.

We'll move on to race 3 on at Delmar tomorrow.

It is Pacific Classic Day. This is Socal Saturdays on the

Horse Racing Happy Hour Podcast Network.

I'm Lou Rebeau hanging out with Barry Spears.

We're presented by Amwager and amwager.com.

Go check them out right now. Get your sign up bonus up to

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Race 3, as I mentioned, is up next on the card.

We get to State Bread Company here.

We're on the turf going a mile, $81,000 on the line here

essentially for non 2 lifers at this level here.

Barry seven to two in Brazenly who is largely a dirt horse and

is O for 9:00 this year will be the favorite.

I sent you a text earlier with just race 3 and a fire emoji

because I love this freaking race.

Good luck Barry, where did you land in this one?

I know you like a long shot that I also like.

Oh yeah, I'm licking my chops with a a favorite, basically.

Who's O for 10 on the lawn? I mean, make it make sense.

But I'm I'm OK with that because I like betting against horses

like brazenly, who is really like a dead closer in a race

that doesn't have a whole lot of speed.

I would be hard pressed to see that horse's favorite, but I

hope it happens. I went to the 5 Prince Dolce.

I think this horse is on the rise.

I love horses like this in races like this in particular because

of the fact that they started out on the dirt.

You can see the horse just improve as soon as they get to

the lawn and then improve even further once they stretch this

horse out. I like the comeback race from a

layoff from December 1st to August 2nd.

Didn't run all that poorly. Got Lasix for the first time,

getting it second time. A steady stream of works going

into this this this horse looks fit and ready.

Yeah, he's a son of Sir Prince a lot as well.

So obviously made for the turf that way.

I have the horse right next time on top.

Vodka. Vodka one last time out in a

maiden special at Del Mar. And if you just look at this

horse's general progression was always right there at Santa

Anita. Back to backgrounds in May,

excuse me. March and April finishing second

right there under Kyle Frey. Moved to Cape Disarmo for the

last ride. Who by the way, not a ton of

mounts, but is hitting at 15% this year and frankly at Del Mar

has been pretty good has hit the board in six of his 11 rides at

Del Mar so far this meet. I think this one coming out of

that maiden when I think the light went on and frankly, I get

this one second off the layoff was off for more than a year

last out before breaking its maiden and got better in the

middle of the cycle last year. So I'm going to lean on on vodka

vodka for Aggie Ordonez here. Great work the other day as

well. So I'm wondering if this isn't

the horse that can continue its breakthrough in this spot.

So I went, we've got a bunch of horses in here.

I want you to talk about the ten though, as well, because I've

got Annan third of my handicapping.

You have him second. What do you like about Annan in

the Spot? Well, I I like a lot of things

about this horse. I I just don't like the post

position. I, I think this horse is is

really coming into this race pretty good.

This is certainly a level that this horse can win and excel at.

Honestly, if I was their connections, I'd be afraid of

somebody claiming this horse out of this race.

That being said, I think the post position really hurts this

horse as far as being a win candidate, but being competitive

in these sort of spots goes a long way.

That California Dreaming race was pretty good.

It was 38 to 1 and again, the post position really, really

takes the steam out of this one I think and should probably come

flying late. An interesting one in there.

Like I said, I have the 10 later in my handicapping.

Barry went 5-10 and two, we'll get to the two in a second here.

I went 65310 and so I'll talk about Brazenly here at some

point, Barry, once in a while, the best horse just wins the

race. And so I think putting Brazenly

into a multi is a good idea here.

I think eventually that horse is going to win a race.

I don't know if it's going to be on the grass, I'm not sure where

it's going to be, but eventually that horse is going to go from

second to first. Hit the board 8 times in nine

runs with no wins this year. It's an incredible thing to say

out loud. 16 times in his 35 race career.

Finishing second or third with only four wins is a pretty

remarkable thing to say. But like you said, over 10 on

the turf, OK through, I'm not sure, but at least dropping into

state company I think makes sense for him.

But you do have the two in your handicapping here in winning

Patriot. Carla Gaines trains here.

I really like this play here. Yeah, you know it.

It kind of fits the same mold as Carla Gaines other horse, Prince

Dolce, the one I talked about earlier.

I think fits vodka vodka really well, except that this one's

actually coming second off the layoff here.

Right. And and that's the key is the

second off the layoff. This horse came back running in

this sort of spot. The only reason I didn't use

this horse higher in in the handicapping is because of the

fact that they came back in this level.

It wasn't like they were running, you know, at a higher

level then drop down into this level.

They're starting at this point, which doesn't really say too

much about their confidence, especially with these other

horses dropping into this spot. But I think this horse fits

here. Probably needed that race.

Was stuck on the rail, has a second run at it.

I I think this horse will improve.

A fascinating one, almost certainly the openest race of

the early pick. Five races there.

Race 3 state bred on the grass again.

I went 65310. Barry went 5-2 and 5:10 and

2:00. Excuse me in race three.

We move on to race 4 as we roll along on Socal.

Saturdays on the Horse Racing Happy Hour Podcast Network were

presented by Amwager and amwager.com News.

Barry. I'm Louis, thanks for hanging

out with us. Happy Pacific Classic weekend to

you and yours. Maiden special in race 4.

This is for Phillies that are two years old.

Six furlongs on the dirt here, Barry, One start amongst the six

that are running here in this one even race means I get to go

first. I think we're very similar here.

We will get to Barry's boring play of the day in just a

second. I have reversed order with you

and I'm going to lean on the Richard Baltus trained Heaven's

Bolt. We talked about it before.

Mistrials going to be in here and with Bob Baffert, you're

actually better off betting on debut than you are second time

out as far as percentages and different things.

Now as far as value mistrial because of a 25 buyer first time

out might not get a ton of money sent her way.

Barry, you might actually get a Bob Baffert at Del Mar in a main

special weight for a cheap price.

That might actually happen. Or a good price, I should say,

not cheap, but a good price. But I'm going to lean on

Heaven's Bolt here, obviously a son of Bolt Doro.

And we have seen these Bolt Doro babies come along in a very

serious way this summer. And I learned this from Barry

doing this show. Those gate works the last couple

of times out give me a lot of hope that this one's going to

break well. And since he does get to, excuse

me, gets to break from the six, I think she's going to have open

go. And I think the Flavian Pratt is

the best jockey in California this weekend.

And so I'll lean on him to do just that.

I'm also not putting the four in my second spot.

I'm new in Santa Monica Beach here.

Who? Because Doug O'Neill wins way

more of these races than we want to admit, right?

I just gave you Richard Bolton who I think is a first time

starter kind of guru and he wins at 12%.

Doug O'Neill wins this at 15% and frankly Doug doesn't do

anything at 15%. This is his best angle is with

first time starters believe it or not.

Maybe sprinting is his other best angle, but for a 10%

trainer this is what he does well.

This one has a work from the gate the last two times out that

are both very good. Breeze from the gate for the

first time at Keeneland and if you watch the progression of

those times, Barry the Horse got better and faster out of the

gate each time. So I like watching that

progression along as well. So give me Doug O'Neill and his

trainee here in Santa Monica Beach. 2nd up.

So in race four I am 6, two and four.

You are four and six. Why do you have mistrial?

Yeah, I, I, I tend to disagree with you on the point that

mistrial might be a decent price.

I think they're going to absolutely destroy this horse at

the windows. I mean, the 25 buyer, you can

just put a line through that race.

Just the fact that the horse was actually on the track might give

this horse even a bigger advantage over these.

And I just think this horse is the goods.

He's just faster. He's going to be faster.

And I don't think it's going to be close either, but we'll see.

And then I thought, Heaven, Heaven's bolt.

Like you exclaimed, I like those longer gate works closer to the

race and this horse fits the bill.

Everybody else's. You know, Santa Monica Beach I

did take a second look at because of Doug O'Neill, but I

would think that horse might be better once they put that horse

on the grass. And then Molly E does have some

fast works, but MM Michael McCarthy really doesn't get his

horses cranked up to win first out.

Wouldn't surprise me if that one won, but I'm I just think

mistrials is too too much for these.

There you go. All right, let's move on to Race

5. It'll close out the early pick

five and of course you can play the rolling pick threes here as

well, $0.50 down there at Del Mar.

Race 5 is the Grade 2 Del Mar mile.

We got a surprise guest in this one on Saturday, $300,000 on the

line, 3 and up. Obviously we're going a mile and

we're doing it on the turf there.

Horses that you have definitely heard of.

Cabo Spirit is in here in the 2 hole.

Almondaris is in here in the three hole.

Formidable man, he is in the four.

Zio Joe in the 6th and oh hello King of Gosford 7.

Full Serrano lands in the 8 here.

And I talked with our guy Danny Brewer earlier today on my radio

show and he had talked with the connections of full Serrano,

including John Sadler. And I said why the heck is this

horse on the grass? Said he needs a race and his

form was OK on the grass in Argentina, so they're going to

give him a try in this spot. I will admit to you Barry, I

know you do not have that horse on top.

I don't hate it. I actually think this is a good

idea. I don't hate this at all.

And so I think this spot is totally fine.

I know you're a play against here and you landed on the three

in Almendaris who gets filled the bottle gets Antonio Frazier

and gosh, I think you're going to get every bit of that five to

one man. I hope so, because I think

Almendaris gets a little bit of a setup.

There's enough speed in here with Formidable.

I mean, I'm sorry, full Serrano outside will have to try to get

position. You got Nessos last hurrah Cabo

Spirit. I think things might get a

little heated upfront and that will open it up for a horse like

Almendaris who's very consistent and and closes well pretty much

every time he's on the track. I'm going to give him a shot

here at a decent price at 5:00 to 1:00.

I think Vol Serrano wins here. I really do.

I think he's just the best horse of these horses here.

I think he's just the most talented.

I think he's the fastest. I think the miles not going to

be too much. Obviously he's 3 for five at the

excuse me, He's never won at the distance on the turf, but those

were all races in in Argentina. And I just, I don't know what to

make of it. And you know, obviously he's

been a very good dirt horse since he got here.

That win in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile you know it it is what

it is it stands on its own there's no reason to make

excuses about it and frankly he was really good in the Pacific

classic last year right he probably should have won the

Pacific classic as well and so I I I just I think this is a spot

where he'll be totally fine. I do think you you look pack

king king of Gosford at your own risk for sure 3 for five

lifetime you get Flavian in town just won the Shoemaker mile.

I think he stands out as far as being the class of the race

alongside full Serrano, except if he tries to run like he did

in the Shoemaker where he's got to make up a bunch of ground, I

don't think he's going to be able to do it Barry.

I think it's going to be hard, dude.

He's played too far fine, like a full Serrano or something.

He's done. He's just done though.

There's. Some horses that finish and and

King Gosford's going to have to be right there or else it's

going to be curtains. That's why I didn't have this

horse at the top because I think the running style is just going

to be a little out of sorts because of the fact there's

enough speed in here. Horses can come over the top and

finish out finish this horse I think, and that's what I think

Almendarz is going to do. And you and I both have

formidable man in our handicapping.

Do you agree with me largely that the Eddie Reed just a

little bit too long? If that had been a mile, he's

got a shot. Yeah, I, I believe so.

I I don't think this is this horse's best distance.

Cutting back to a mile from a mile and 8th is tough and I, I

think this horse is going to have to work out a trip at 5 to

2 short price. I would like it to be a little

bit easier. Yeah, he is your winner of the

Hollywood Derby and of course the Kill Real Mile before

winning in the Eddie Reed last out at Del Mar.

He is 5 for five, this formidable man on the turf

course at Del Mar in his career. Grade 3 Torrey Pines.

It is race 6. This is kind of the end of

Summer Oaks out in Southern California, $150,000 on the

line. 3 year old Phillies in this one, a mile on the dirt.

There have been some really good winners of this race in the

past. Barry, it is race 6, so I will

go first here and I am much. If there were a Louise boring

play of the day, this race would qualify for sure.

I'm just going to include both Bafferts in my handicapping and

that's essentially how I'm going to look at the race.

I think Howen is faster than Tenma and I think it sets her up

to perhaps win this race. And frankly, that could she can

be. And I was on with the guys on

the on the Wrong Lead podcast last night.

They have a cool segment called the OR the cool sounder called

the the takeout reducer. I think there's a world in which

10 was the takeout reducer here. And and I think that's not

because she can't be part of the lead and do all those things.

I just think how it might be funny, it might be faster and

and so I'm interested to see how she does in that race because

remember, Tenmo was right there in the Kentucky Oaks and you can

blame the wet surface for that, but frankly, every other horse

that wanted to make up ground in the stretch did.

Now getting back to a mile from the mile and an eighth, I think

is a big positive for her. And so I'm not going to hold

that against her. We saw in the lost Virginis at a

mile at Santa Anita do just fine in that race.

But there's some better horses in here and I think she's going

to have to deal with her right next to her and how and but I'll

use the two baffirts on the inside and be done with it. 2/1

for me in Race 6. You've got Almond Joy on top

here. The sixth horse in Race 6.

Yeah, this horse earned earned its way into this race.

I think ever since that race on, well, since the horse broke the

maiden March 14th has been on an absolute tear and stretching out

is probably what this horse really wants to do.

I think this horse is a stone cold Miller and should get a

great trip on the way up. They really handled those horses

easily in the fleet treat and coming into this race in

exceptional form. Now, as far as Tenma goes, I

want to say that she probably doesn't want the lead.

She wants a target and they're going to probably let Howen take

it. The key would be 1000 miles.

If that horse gets into it with Howen, that really sets it up

for Almond Joy. I I think Almond Joy is a better

finisher than Tenma and we'll probably show it if if the pace

really heats up. Otherwise she's going to have

her work cut out for her. That's why the price, you got to

watch the price because you don't want to bet I'm enjoy it.

3 to one. You probably would want this

horse more. 9 to 2, four to 1/5 to 1:00-ish.

You are 615 here. So there she was.

You're going to give her a try. Ontario Fraser, who gets the

mound for Doug O'Neill. Almost certainly her best race

was her maiden special win at Delmar, but she did try the

misses the the Delmar debutante excuse me in in September wasn't

quite up for it. Then of course, 10 will won that

race but did come back. This is second off the layoff

here. We're going to go the mile

instead of the six furlongs. She is bread.

I mean, look, take charge Indy on the damn side.

Munning's on the on the on the excuse me on the sire side.

What do you what do you see here with So there she was.

I like to stretch out and honestly this horse does or can

finish off races. I mean those first three races

were pretty decent. Got into the Grade 1 and

finished behind 10 but after a pretty terrible start came back

August 3rd. Ran OK but I I think this might

set up in their favor. I think the the way the race

shapes up this horse could get in the picture late.

She did start her career at Santa Anita and one of those

little baby 4 1/2 furlong races ran second.

O'Neill thought enough of her debut to ship her to Churchill

Downs for the debutant, which she ran second in.

So obviously he thought a lot about her for many years, but

would have to take a step forward for sure in the Torrey

Pines to win against the two Baffert Tradies hanging out with

Barry Spears. My name's Lou Rabo, we are

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Race 7, an optional claimer here, $100,000 claiming price,

$82,000 person going a mile on the turf course at Del Mar as

well. And Barry Race 7 means it's time

for you to go first. Another long shot for you if

you're right. By the way, you're going to be

able to pay off your house on Saturday.

Granny Budgie, what a what a freaking name I feel like.

What does Granny Budgie bring to the potluck?

Like what is her? Is she a sweet potato person?

Like what is? What is Granny Budgie doing?

Granny Budgie's bringing Mac and cheese to the thing.

Yeah, it's. Not wrong.

Yeah, a little breadcrumb on that, yeah.

Something. Yeah.

You know, baked. You know that?

Yeah. Phil the bottle, Gio Franco What

do you like about Granny Bud? Well, this race is a little all

over the place and I I think it's wide open and ripe for a

price. There really isn't a whole heck

of a lot of speed and I think Granny Budgie could get a good

trip or fall into a good trip on the stretch out.

There's really not much speed. I mean, you got a horse and

spicy bug that that's probably going to stretch out, but

really, does that horse want to go a mile?

I don't think so. I would be hard pressed to think

that horse is going to run a mile.

You have vibes. Who's another one that will

probably be slightly close to the pace but doesn't want to

finish late? Sneakers in that same category,

and so is running a mile in my shoes.

So with those horses in those post positions, Granny Budget

could slide right in behind those horses and get first run

and I think that might be the winning trip.

Interesting. You and I have four in one

second and third here. It's interesting.

We both landed on Hannah, Hannah Buckle, excuse me, in the third

spot. We'll get it to the four in a

second. I have the five on top here.

First mention, shout out. Kazushi Kimura gets them out

here for sneaker. A son.

Excuse me, a daughter in this case of Oscar performance on the

turf almost won the Solana Beach last out did win before that in

the Frankie Valentine at Santa Anita in Cal bred company.

This is not Cal bred company, but I do think of high level

allowances essentially being on the kind of same level as that.

And this is a horse Barry. The four runs this year has

never been out of the trifecta, right.

And so for me, this is one in open company in the Royal Heroin

under drain. Drain Van Dyke was right there

at the end of the race, had Frankie Dattori up, but Kazushi

has had them out the last two out.

We're second in the form cycle here.

I think sneaker makes all the sense in the world here.

So I'm 541 in race 7. I'll let you talk about Hannah

Buckle in this spot. Our guy Armando Ayuso gets them

out. This one, one last out off of a

long layoff, gets to go. Second time up here for Leonard

Powell. The two of them right now

hitting at 15% at Del Mar. It's another lightly race. 4

year old that came off the bench running was laid off from

October 12th to July 19th. Won that race pretty handily.

I know this is a bit of a step up, but I think this horse can

handle this rising class. Should get a great trip.

Forced to get into the race a little sooner because of being

on the rail and that might put this horse in a great position

to win this race. Yep, horses 2 for three lifetime

at Del Mar, including a maiden win and then of course last out

in optional claiming company. This is a big step from 40 to

100 for that horse, but certainly the 136 and change can

be a winning time in that one. We move on to Race 8.

We can start getting into the meat of the card here toward the

later part. Race 7 of course did start the

late pick five. Race 8 will start the late pick

4. So again in Race 7, I'm 5, four

and one. Barry is 9, four and one in race

7. Race 8's an even number means I

go 1st and it is a maiden special.

It is a state bread and we're going for $100,000 on the dirt

course there. 6 furlongs. This is for two year olds on the

Philly side of things. Like I said, 100K in the Kitty

for this one. Solid field by the way, overflow

field frankly of a twelve horses final table lady.

The 11 will not run this weekend.

Just an FYII landed on the five in Miss Kona.

Trying not to overthink this one.

Barry I thought was good on debut.

Was willing to pass horses in the stretch on debut.

Always loved that when I see that Antonio Fraser keeps them

out here for Peter Urton who hits at 22nd 22% with second

timers. And so I'm going to lean on Miss

Kona in this spot. I think she's very much set up

for that. You like the horse right next to

her, and God bless her. Yeah, I think God Bless Her has

a lot of speed. That last work on August 23rd

I'd like a lot 1 minute and one Handley from the gate and then

the August 3rd work 47 Handley from the gate.

These longer fast gate works are real key.

Not much going on in this race to be honest with you and the

damn for God Bless Her one on debut.

I'll be on turf, but I'll take it in a race like this, six to

one. God bless her on top.

You got 6 on top there Barry. You have three and five.

Following Cecilia St's going to be a price drain Van Dyke for

Leonard Powell. Blinker's on for this one.

What do you like about the second time starter in Cecilia

St. Comes out of that same race as

Miss Kona and actually had some trouble.

I didn't really see too much trouble from Miss Kona.

She was just kind of lazy and and in the back for a long time

and just flew home. If that sort of situation

happens again, I think Cecilia St. could get the jump and and

be right there in the mix at the end.

OK, so Barry 635 I went 5-2 and eight Umberto Rispoli.

Will be aboard Cash the two horse here for Doug O'Neill I

thought looked OK last time. Needs to take a step forward.

Is now out of the Chris Mitchell barn and look, Doug O'Neill we I

made fun of percentages earlier, but 17% with two year olds.

This is something he does really, really well frankly.

And so this is one that began its life in Wyoming of all

things and has made its way to Del Mar.

But like I said was was pretty good last time out under Umberto

Rispoli, this daughter of I'll have another.

I should be interesting in here as well.

And like I said, I'm 528. The 8 horse is Shady Stripes,

Aguilar gets the gets them out here for Jeff Bondi.

I'm put a line through the last race because it was on turf, but

I don't think the horse looked bad last out and it's a daughter

of Smiling Tiger. We know on the Cal bred side of

things that those Smiling Tigers, we tend to see them on

turf, but that doesn't mean that that horse can't win here as

well. So look much better going to the

4 1/2 on the dirt at Santa Anita.

Can we get that form again? We did see this horse break well

enough last time. It's not like the horse wasn't

competitive, but second in the form cycle here I do think

matters for shady Stripes. So again in the race here, I'm

5, two and eight. Barry, you're 6, three and five

in this one. So as the maiden specials wear

out here is the late pick 3 again at Delmar involves a $3

minimum pick three. And it's interesting, Barry, I

was at Kentucky Downs yesterday and I talked with Ken Kirschner.

I almost called him Kirk Kirschner and that's not his

name. Ken Kirschner, who's the

developer, the the director of wagering development for

Kentucky Downs and the Breeders Cup.

OK, so his job is to put together the here's how many

pick fives we're going to have and here's the rolling pick

threes and we're going to have a high 5 in this race, but not in

this race, that kind of stuff. And he made a comment about the

$3 pick three, which is when you you don't have to do it at a

Kentucky Downs because there's twelve horses in every field,

essentially, was what he said, OK, So for their meet, because

it's seven days and everybody's entering, they don't have to

worry about minimums on bets, essentially.

OK. And he said, look, if you're

running with five and six horses all the time, raising the

minimum on bets makes sense. What's fascinating though about

Del Mar Berry is that it makes sense for the $3 pick three at

some place like Los Al or on a bad day at Santa Anita or

something, whatever. But on a big day in Del Mar with

these fields, you could spend a lot of damn money on this pick

three. I, I was thinking about that

this morning about how freaking expensive you could make this.

Because frankly, if you told me you had you wanted to go 3 wide

in all these races, at least Barry, I would believe you,

right? I I think it's that competitive

at the end of the card here. Yeah, absolutely.

That that that pool should get run up a little bit and it it

could be a real lucrative venture.

On it might be the bet of the weekend.

It might end up being. It could be just because I think

people are excited about this Pacific Classic and I think, you

know, once people get reminded that there's a three dollar pick

3 here, they could take a couple shots.

People love that turf racing stuff too with Del Mar.

I mean, like, I think there's a chance here, man.

And, and by the way, part of the equation here is the Green Flash

Handicap. This is a $150,000 grade 35

furlongs on the turf here. Barry, you get to go first here.

I think a lot of different spots.

A horse that you and I both have in our handicapping is the Brian

Coroner trained #7 Boss Sully, obviously a son of St.

Boss here. Our guy Armando Ayuso gets them

out here. Talk me into him.

Well, it's very clear that this horse really doesn't

particularly like the downhill turf.

This horse is 1 on the downhill turf, but his speed figures are

significantly lower. Definitely likes Del Mar

definitely likes the the five furlong turf.

Should get a great trip. The last race was a nice

tightener in a optional claimer, $100,000 at Del Mar on July

31st. Should spring out of that into a

nice little race here, especially with the favorite

motorists hung out on the outside.

Although that horse does like to run from the outside better than

he does from the inside. But I think it might be a little

bit too much. I mean the times of this horse

is out wide at Delmar has been real hard pressed to get up.

Has won motorists at that trip doing the same thing.

But as far as a gamble goes, I would rather not take 2 to one

on a horse like Motorius and eight to one on a horse like

Boss Celli in this spot. What do you think Notorius goes

off at? Motorius probably goes off 9:00

to 5:00. 9:00 to 5:00 sounds right to me.

I totally agree with you. Just under 2 to one deserve it,

though. Yes, Yeah, absolutely.

It's a class of this race, right?

It's Notorius, and I don't think anybody's going to fight on

that. I have Notorius on top because I

do think he's a class of the race.

I'm fascinated by the inclusion of Queen Maxima here and I.

I like the idea of her moving from the Ocinitas, which is

running a mile, to this race run at 5 furlongs because if you

look at her running style in general, Barry, she's not afraid

to be part of that early pace scenario.

We watched her in the Unbridled Sydney here in the Grade 3 at

Churchill Downs on Oak Stage. She wasn't just the best horse,

Barry. She was.

I mean, she might have been the best sprinter on that day,

right? And that that's a saying

something on Oaks Day where there are many, many very good

horses running on that card. She might have been it.

They bring her back in that state.

You know, that restricted company in the Osanita, She just

runs out of gas by the time she gets to the end.

We're second in the form cycle here.

Look at that most recent work around the dummies at Del Mar.

I think she's really, really ready to go.

I'm interested to see with Juan Hernandez keeping them out here

what he decides to do with her. But I think she's got a really

legitimate shot here, man. And maybe I'm just biased

because I saw her on Oaks Day, and maybe that's just stuck in

my head, but another horse that I saw recently who didn't win

but is getting back to five furlongs as Coppola, and that's

the three horse here, Barry. And at the distance he is 6 for

11. Now, if you ask him to go 5 1/2,

you ask him to go 6, you're dumb.

He doesn't do that. Dale Romans who by the way,

shout out, we need to pause the show, Dale Tour.

We need a pause. Not only is Dale Romans going

into the Cigar Hall of Fame, my man's on the cover of Scarfish

You not a magazine. Oh, I saw that.

Yeah, I saw that. Everybody else's bombs.

Everybody. Everybody's bombs.

Except for Dale Romans. That's how this works.

Is my Joyce on that too? Was he?

Oh, that's awesome. I thought he was at one point.

Yeah. At least speech it, I'm sure.

Yeah, Mikes all over it. But when we talk about Race 9

and we talk about Coppola, Barry, this is what he does,

right. And this is a horse, given the

fact that this race is going to be the Breeders Cup, I should

say is going to be back at Del Mar.

I think this is Dale trying to figure out, do I have one more

big run with this six year old son of Into Mischief who

whenever I ask, whenever I see Dale, I ask him about this horse

because he has such an affinity for him.

He really loves Coppola. This is not an accident shipping

him out there. Mixed feelings about Vinny

Chimineau. But it's it's a turf spread at

the end of the day, I think he'll be fine.

So I landed, man. I went to 10:11 and 3:00.

I also have your seven in my handicapping as well.

There's something about Boss Sully and another one, that turf

Sprint that we saw on Derby day here at Churchill Downs.

We're seeing horses leave Churchill now and run well,

other places. I agree with you.

He's got a serious shot here as well.

After the seven you have Notorious, but then you also

have the two No Nay Hudson, which by the way, could not

agree more that that horse. Very, very serious shot.

Maybe not to win, but certainly exact to trifect to play.

No, nay, Hudson's going to be right there.

Yeah, this source got nailed last year in this race late by

motorists and Johnny Padres should sit sort of the same trip

as they got last year and should be coming late.

You know, the only problem is the layoff, but should get the

set up. I I wish we were getting at

12:50 the 2024 version of Coppola, but we're not So no,

Nate Hudson is probably the second best alternative there.

I think this horse likes this distance.

Seems to like Del Mar. I I know they just had that one

run, but it was an awfully good one and just missed so so at 12

to one, it's definitely worth a shot in a race like this.

Yeah. And frankly, if you look at that

turf Sprint, you go back and look at Pimlico, go watch the

replay. You tell me if you think that

was a good turf course or it was a bog.

OK. Like, I I think that horse ran

in a bog in Baltimore and we're holding against him.

And I I'm not doing that. You wouldn't allow it to

Keeneland in a Sprint. That's a serious thing.

I've made the joke already. It was under Luan Machado, who

doesn't even know where the finish line is at, at at

Keeneland. But we're not gonna don't need

to make that right joke again. I don't need to make it again,

Barry. I'm not gonna make that joke

again. We're done.

I I made it yesterday. I've.

I've repeated it like 3 times today.

I don't need to do it again. That's it.

No, that's it. That's it.

That's enough times a horse that I heard about last night that I

didn't hate the argument in favor of, and now I'm totally

blanking on it is. Yeah, never mind.

I think it was Boss Sully actually, so I'll move on from

that. But if in terms of the late pick

3, Barry, how many horses from this field would you include in

your handicapping in that ticket?

In the ninth race, I would use the horses I I have.

I'd use the 7:10 and 2:00. All right, 2/7/10 for Barry in

race 9. I would use the 3:10 and 11:00

in that race to start the pick three.

We continue now with the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.

You know, Barry, I've I've become friends and I know it's a

guy that you I don't think you've met, but you'll, you'll,

you'll get to meet him at, at at the Breeders Cup.

But John Lindo Thoroughbred LA and and just a decades of great

work in Southern California owner all the things a real

horseman. He really is.

I really like John John talks about, you know, it's circuits

change over time. Barry, you know, you're you

know, you grew up around the New York circuit and people are very

quick to tell you the story about, oh, they almost closed

Saratoga in the 70s. You know, that kind of stuff.

And you know, the big A was like the spot Equestras, that

restaurant that we did our show in for the wood this year was

the largest restaurant in New York City by square footage for

a long time, right. And now they're going to RIP

aqueduct down and and how these things change, how these, you

know, how these circuits change over time.

The Pacific classic, I'm not saying it was an afterthought,

Barry, but it wasn't the biggest race in Southern California in

this group. It was big cap day right at

Santa Anita. That was the day.

But the Pacific classic is blown past it in in popularity in

where trainers want to send their horses in purse money in

all kinds of things, right. And so this is this has become

their race in Southern California.

And Barry, on top of that, you know, for years, guys like you

and me who follow this thing every day lamented this handicap

division. We lamented the older dirt

horses that stuck around because so many of them ran off to the

breeding shed. The idea that we get fiercest

niceos in journalism in the Pacific Classic and we get mine

Frame Sierra Leone and others in the Jockey Go Gold Cup in the

same weekend was not even on our radar five years ago.

This wasn't even a thought. We just assumed this era of

horse racing had gone away. And I share all of that, Barry,

to say all the pessimistic people out there once in a

while, it just takes a couple of people to move pieces around and

we're good to go. And who cares if it's Mike

Ripoli? Just send fierceness to the West

Coast. Just run mine frame.

I don't care who owns these horses.

Just send them to the gate for me, please, so that I can bet on

them. Infuse cash into the sport and

keep it going. That's all I want in this spot.

We're going to play a game the fastest Pacific classic ever

was. Candy Ride 159.11159 flat.

Barry, how about that? What you like, what you know

about 159 flat? Nothing all.

Right, so. In honor of Candy Ride, if a

horse has a chance to win, we're going to call him sweet.

If not, we'll call him Sour Barry.

Better candy sweet or sour sweet.

Yeah, I'm a sour guy. All right, so another one that

Barry got wrong. We start with fierceness on the

inside. He's the one horse here.

So Barry, you do not have him on top, but do you give him a sweet

chance to win or a sour chance to lose?

Sweet chance to win. What happens if he wins this

race? How does it?

How does it shake out? Well, I think he actually is has

the whole race in his hands, to be honest.

I, I, I don't believe that Nisos really wants to be on the

engine. They would rather have the

target and it's a precarious position because fierceness gets

bowled on the lead and gets bowled at Delmar.

We saw that happen in the Breeders Cup Classic last year

where this horse ran his eyeballs out in that race.

This is a much easier race because of the field and because

this horse should really essentially be lone speed now if

he can carry it the mile and 1/4, which he's done before but

against three-year olds. Almost did it in the classic

last year. Well, that's what I'm leaning

on, yeah. But still hasn't been himself

this year yet. So it's it's really up in the

air and I don't know if I'm really questioned whether if

Nice was pushing this horse, we'll kind of tire him out.

Fierceness will break from the one.

I was actually very happy to see him in the one because guess

what they're going to have to do Go.

The way John Velasquez going to win this race is just go.

I'm absolutely sweet on fierceness.

I would be 0% surprised if he wins and frankly I wouldn't be

surprised if he's impressive in winning.

How about that would not surprise me because I do think

that much of him. Your second place finisher in

the Gold Cup, The Grade 2 Gold Cup is back here.

Frankly, almost picked off Skippy in that one and was right

alongside him for much of the stretch in Midnight Mammoth, a

son of Midnight Luth. They bred this one for 10 grand.

He's earned over $400,000 in his life.

Barry, interesting race last out he wins over Wet Fast.

Go to back before that was nowhere to be found sweet or

sour on him. Can he repeat that performance?

Well, there's versions of this race where Fearsus kind of lets

him go. Yeah, I agree.

But I just don't think he has the chops to win a race like

this at not not at this point in time.

So I'm very sour here. I will say I'm I think if he

win, if he runs the race last year, he's probably the betting

favorite. That's how bad the Pacific class

was last year. Just like the field was not done

and Mixto goes ahead and picks up the field.

He'd come out of the Pleasanton Mile running second.

Did Mixto last year before winning this thing.

So certainly Midnight Mammoth would be less of a surprise than

that. Ultimate gamble, the three horse

here, Mark Glatt and Kazushi Kimura.

We sweet or sour on this one? Super sour.

That is the ultimate gamble though, if you bet that horse.

And we move on to Nice O. So we'll break from the four for

Bob Baffer, Flavi and Pratt obviously in town to ride this

one. Last time we saw him blow out

the field, Barry was in the Robert B Lewis last February.

We thought, Oh my God, we've got our Derby winner on our hands.

And of course he goes to the bench.

We don't see him until the Churchill Downs this year, where

we're like, wow, that's a very advantageous spot for them to

sit. And then it rains for the whole

week. We built an arc to make sure we

could get to the to the track. And then he runs his eyeballs

out and he's been perfect since he got back to California.

Nice. So sweet or sour.

Sweet, but there's questions with the distance.

No doubt about it. Yeah, I think the distance is

the question. No doubt he is the summit

Nyquist. So we've seen stranger things

than that. But I'm with you.

He is sweet. And I have Nisos on top in my

handicapping, in case anyone's wondering.

I think they've been setting it up for this.

I also, I'm kind of rooting for that because then we just add

another classic distance horse to the Breeders Cup Classic and

we could have like 7 or 8 legitimate contenders in that

race between the two three-year olds that we've got a Sierra

Leone fierceness an Isos. Obviously a mind frame is going

to fit into that. That's half a dozen right there.

Immunize those to add to that group would be ideal this

weekend. Indispensable.

Paco Lopez, This is his mount in this race.

This one last out under Hector Barrios.

Won an optional claimer over a mile before that, ran second in

the Zia Park Derby. I'm sour on this one, Barry.

Where'd you land? Super Sour hasn't run fast

enough to win a race like. This I agree.

Journalism will break from the 6th.

This is the horse you have on top.

Barry, tell us about journalism. I think journalism might get the

setup here with fierceness. Kind of wing it and even if the

Midnight Mammoth kind of gets involved early, I still think as

long as Journalism keeps in touch and doesn't do the

weirdness where this horse likes to get pinned in under other

horses on the rail for some reason.

If they don't do that, I I think journalism actually gets the run

of the race here on his homecourt, the whole 9.

I think he just is a really, really, really good finisher and

should run these horses down. More of a concern running

against older horses for journalism or the distance for

Nisos. Distance for Nisos.

More of a concern. Travel for fierceness, distance

for Nisos. Distance for Nisos.

More of a concern. Nisos is awesome.

Or lure him in is only 20 to 1. Lure him in is only 20 to 1.

Yeah, we'll take Sauer on that one and then Tarantino will

break from the outside. Is this the long shot with the

best shot to hit the board? No.

Definitely not. Who's the long shot with the

best shot to hit the board? I'd say probably Midnight

Mammoth. I agree, Yup, Midnight Mammoth

seems to have put it together the last couple races going

multiple. But are we both sour on the

outside horse in Tarantino for Peter?

Super sour. All right, so you keep saying

super sour and I get mega sour like the forehead salivating

because I like those things. So stop doing that.

All right, you're on journalism on top.

You went 6 1/4, I went 41A6. And so we are the same in the

second spot and our first and third are flipped around.

Let's talk this through. Let's say journalism wins the

Pacific Classic like you predict.

He will then have won the San Anita Derby Grade One, the

Preakness, a grade one, second in the Derby, second in the

Belmont, wins the Haskell, wins the Pacific Classic against

older horses including last year's second place finisher in

the Classic and Nisos. Does that draw him on equal

footing with the Sovereignty for three-year old of the year?

I think it does it. Should it does to be?

I want to be. Clear it should, but I think

popularity comes into play and sovereignty is is just a more

popular and I think that might be the difference.

It's not for the fact that sovereignty is a much better or

just even better horse. I I think they're pretty equal

talent wise and and sovereignty just got the best of them twice

I think. Sovereignty is the better horse.

I want to be really clear, but I think ownership gets credit for

shipping to Kentucky, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, back to

California, running this horse against all comers in all these

races, taking on older horses in this spot.

If he wins here, man, I, I, I think I would lean toward

journalism as 3 year old of the year.

And I think he gets credit for running in all three legs of the

Triple Crown for that too. All kinds of things.

Just an interesting little little headline to watch as we

move through the card. Again, we are presented by AM

Wager and Am wager.com. We'll move on to the closer here

at Del Mar. It is the Del Mar Handicap.

We're back on the turf going a mile and 3/8 Grade two, $300,000

on the line here. This is a fun, fun, fun race,

Barry, and it is an odd numbered race, which means you get to go

1st. And that breaks my heart because

we have two horses in common, but I feel really strongly about

the one I have on top that you do not.

And so let's go inside the mind of Spears, who you got in this

one. I took #7 truly quality.

I think this horse really likes this distance.

I, I think the distance is the the equalizer here and puts this

one in the winner's circle. All the trips that this horse

has had at, at shorter distances have not been all that good.

And as soon as they stretch this horse out, you could just see

the improvement. This race, February 8th was

good. The San Marcos was kind of hung

out wide and probably needed that race.

I know it was February and we're in August, almost September,

which is a little bit of a concern, but the horses training

really well coming into this. A lot of turf works, longer type

works on the turf and it kind of sets up.

I think this horse can just run all day.

The other part of this is Jonathan Thomas is one for 13

right now with seven other finishes on the board in his

13th raises. He's just due to breakthrough on

one of these. I got to ask you, do you know

what Jonathan Thomas looks like and sounds like?

I assumed that he was British of some sort.

Like dude, I like, I think he's the most anonymous good trainer

in in America. Like it's unbelievable.

And this horse, by the way, classic Jonathan Thomas stuff,

Belmont, Kentucky Downs, Keeneland, Santa Anita,

aqueducts, Saratoga, Colonial Woodbine, Delmar and all in this

horse's past just on the screen. Just just just just not PBS.

Take them anywhere, run them anywhere.

That's a good stuff, man. I have the seven, I think third

of my handicapping. Let me get there.

I do, but I have the five on top here.

I am stunned not to see this horse in your handicapping.

Coming out of the Shoemaker Mile is Atitlan and I just think

getting back to this distance makes all the difference in the

world. The San Luis Rey, he won that

race. After that he runs in the

winning him and at a mile and 1/4 at Santa Anita, doesn't have

to cross over a dirt course here at Delmar.

He just has to run on grass. He is 1 for four with three, two

third place finishes at Del Mar. But that was in the Del Mar

Derby where he finished a very good third under Hector Berrios.

Gets back to Hector Berrios here.

I've been singing his praises on the grass to anyone who will

listen. I love the five to one number.

He and Sheriff's hitting at 21% this meet at Del Mar as well.

So I've got AT LON getting back to the distance.

I think he'll be really good. The five horse on top here in my

handicapping. We both have Gold Phoenix in in

our handicapping here. Barry the 11 horse on the

outside. How much of this for you like it

was for me, is more of a connections play than anything

else? It's more of AI like the track

play than anything else. You know, I was really

disappointed in this horse on August 9th.

Really should have won that race.

Didn't get over the hump, now gets into this spot.

Lasix off or no Lasix on the way outside.

I really don't like any of this for goals but the horse is good

enough to show up in the picture you know and consistent with

with his closing and and how he finishes races.

I just don't like this post for this horse to win.

Only six horses in this field last year gold Phoenix broke

from the five and won it last year.

So is the defending champion here in this one I'm 511 and

seven. You have the seven on top so

I'll let you you've already talked about your quality excuse

me, but you also have the 9 in your handicapping.

That's what I meant to get to and this is one that I was

really fascinated with Barry and one that I looked at pretty hard

about about inclusion here and that is endlessly my one of my

favorites coming into the Derby last year, obviously the

Ammermans getting up there in years decided that they wanted

to try to get in the Kentucky Derby with endlessly Barry

finished in the top half. It's not like he showed his ass

in that race by any stretch of the imagination.

I thought frankly, he was pretty good all things considered on

the dirt there in the Kentucky Derby.

But he gets back here to the turf.

He wasn't great in the Wicker last out.

What gives you hope that he's going to hit the board here at

least? Well, his Wicker wasn't as bad

as it looks on paper. He was caught way wide.

He was in the 10 spot, really didn't have an an extended or

great chance to win that race. So I could put a line right

through that one. And, and I think that distance

is a little bit short for him too.

I I really think he wants to go longer and he'll be better on

the stretch out. He'll be closer up to the pace

and get a better trip for that. His first three races were were

very, very good on the turf. Going a mile and stretching him

out makes a lot of sense. He really didn't have a chance

in either of his races prior to his last one.

So his three races this year, he really didn't have a shot.

The deterministic race, that horse went wire to wire and

really had no shot. The setup just wasn't there.

Same thing for the April 20th race, the setup wasn't there.

It was a short race going a mile, just not this horse's bag.

But I I think the stretch out makes a lot of sense and the

price makes a lot of sense. Yeah, the price certainly makes

sense. The son of Oxcar Performance, of

course, on the Jeff Ruby sticks to qualify last year after

winning the El Camino Real Derby, the last one there at

Golden Gate Fields. There is your there is your

trivia question for the day. Who won the last ECECR Derby?

I was texting with Dinnerman this morning because oh gosh,

what's his name? There's a horse running in an

earlier turf race that used to run a billion races at Golden

Green. Freeport, Joe.

Freeport Joe is on the card. There it is.

I sent a picture of Freeport Joe's past performances to our

guy Matt Dinnerman, and there you go.

So this has been another rendition of SoCal Saturdays.

We're going to get out of here of a Berry.

Who is your pick in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga?

Sierra Leone to the hoop. Already go against I'll go with

mine frame just to go against. I believe we were about he's

very serious to spend another edition of a SoCal Saturdays on

the horse racing happy hour network.

If you have not found us yet in any other spot.

I had a horse happy hour and certainly wherever you get your

podcast and definitely on Spotify.

We do a lot of our video stuff over there on Spotify as well.

Would love to have you as one of our listeners.

You can join the hundreds of Polish people who download this

show every week. I don't understand why either.

But you know what? Shout out to Poland.

That's right, shout out. Happy Pacific Classic, Poland.