Preakness 151 Preview | Live from Laurel Park

Alright, welcome in trackside here, Laurel Park ahead of

Preakness 1 of 51 alongside Barry Spears.

My name is Louie Brothers, the horse racing happy hours.

Continuing coverage. Frankly, been here for a couple

days now. Barry.

Yeah, I'll Preakness 151. Of course I won off this year

here at Laurel Park, but Barry, fun day yesterday.

Super fun. You and I hit the pick 6.

That makes it very fun. Yeah, yes, right.

Yeah, No, we had a pretty good day.

Yeah, turned out really well. I would really, frankly enjoy

getting to explore more of this part of the state, some of the

restaurants around here, some of the small town sort of charm of

Laurel as well. Some good, really great here in

the area as well. Once we found, you know, proper

accommodations, we were quite good to go.

Yeah. No, this has been great start to

finish. Yesterday was it was a great

day. It kind of warmed up.

It was ended up being a nice day weather wise.

The racing was great. We saw some great performances.

Miss My Miss MO was really, really good yesterday and couple

others, so I'm expecting a lot more of that today.

Saffy's sweeping, the late picks, the late double, They're

essentially the integrated stakes between the Pimlico

Special with Navajo Warrior in the Grade 2, or excuse me, the

Grade 3 Pimlico Special and then the Grade 2 Black Eyed Swings

and Miss Volleyball. What do you make of her?

What she turned into this summer?

She's Saratoga type horse to you.

Yes, she definitely. I mean, that was a tough trip

she got and she stuck it out. Yeah.

I mean, it's a shame that she didn't run in the Oaks, but I'm

sure she's going to end up meeting those rivals down the

line here. I think that's right second in

the Gulfstream Park Oaks goes ahead and wins the Grade 2 here

at Lowell Park. And I thought, frankly in the

exact kind of style that she needed to do it.

And that is where I wanted to go early in the conversation here,

Barry. Track biases, all those kinds of

things that we saw yesterday. I think the turf course here, if

you have something that you do well, this turf course will

allow you to do it. You can close well, you can

close here. We saw Sama go ahead and just go

gate to wire in a turf Sprint yesterday for Trader Kent

Sweezey, you haven't seen that. Photo shout out so my man Kent

Sweezey and company. Take Barry anywhere with us.

But yeah, it's a, you know, I think it's turf course.

It's playing as fair as possible.

It's a lot of great turf races today, Certainly sparse, yeah.

You know, the thing about Laurel, and I've always said

this, is that it plays really a lot like Belmont Park where the

the best horse usually wins. Because the the way this setup

in the layout is of this track, you get your opportunities, you

don't really get a compromise, especially on the turns.

And, and we saw a lot of that yesterday, horses that could win

on the lead, one on the lead, horses that could come off the

pace did and everything was pretty fair.

On the dirt though, not a lot of front running wins yesterday,

but I don't think we also had super strong front running

horses yesterday either. Your take on the dirt course

yesterday, I mean, we saw some last of first, we saw a little

bit of stalking, that kind of thing.

I'll change. How you feel about the

Preakness? Though, No, no, I mean, if it's

like yesterday, I think it's it's a very, very fair track.

You can do whatever you need to do.

If you're the best, 480, frankly.

Nope. Which is no.

Yeah, usually. Because we get used to those

parking. Lots on big days they they get

souped up and and it's a highway out there, but not not

yesterday. So hopefully that trend

continues and we get some great racing.

Yeah, no. Really, really good stuff.

Appreciate, appreciate your insights there.

I you know, it's was such an interesting day as well because

you always on these, you know, these kinds of trips, especially

when it's a one off like this. Very well.

We're not at Pimlico. So this isn't a, you know, a

course where, you know, if you're Jose Ortiz or something,

you know, and you win a grand stakes yesterday or you win a

stakes yesterday. Excuse me, man, you had to

figure out that timing on your own because you're probably not

riding Little Park very often. And but the local horse showed

up well too. I mean, Brittany Russell had a

nice day yesterday. Sheldon Russell frankly won a

stake yesterday as well. I'm looking for more of that

today as well. Yeah, yeah, the local

contingent, they have some strong horses in today, just

like they did yesterday. A few of them won.

Yeah, on the dirt here. The the 8th pole is, is on the

stretch. So it's, it's hard to to kind of

for the jockeys to find out where they need to push the

button. But once they figure it out, you

know, I read, got used to it really quickly yesterday.

But yeah, this, this track is going to be OK.

And and there's a few horses I'm really looking forward to today.

It's not especially easy just to see from where our cameras

mounted today. But this track, because of its

layout, Barry, there's nothing in the infield essentially,

right? So if you needed to take a sight

line as a jockey and try to figure out, OK, there's the

quarter pole or there's that 8th pole you just mentioned,

something like that, you might be able to actually scout those

things out as well as jockeys can do those things because of

the layout in this place. But yeah, real good mix of of

national. Jersey's here.

Jersey. Jersey's in the house.

There you go. Races you're looking forward to

today other than the frequencies or one that stands out in?

Your is a turf race with Austere in the 11th.

I think it is today. The gala.

The Gala Red, yeah, Austere, the five horse in this race, it's

coming back off of a race that if you saw it, you were

wondering why this horse went to the lead.

Now it makes a lot more sense. This was the target the whole

time. I think this horse is cranked,

ready to go. Brendan Walsh was here

yesterday, talked to him a little bit and I think this

horse is ready to go. Yeah, Brendan Walsh stood next

to me for an earlier stakes race with a horse that came out of a

maiden with a Keeneland who ran like 6 and then he didn't talk

to me the rest of the day. I don't.

Blame him. Hey, I don't blame him.

We all got our thing for sure, but Austere in race 11, we'll be

the five horse that our daughter Mendelssohn will be running in

that one. I'm always fascinated by other

people's opinions of this. I'm convinced horse racing does

something really well that I hope we hold on to forever,

which is we have things like the dinner party steaks.

Yeah, like, that's just spectacular stuff.

I love that I get to cover a sport where we think of things

like the dinner party steaks as important.

Right. It's.

Celebratory dinner party. That's a dollar race, man.

Like the dinner party. That's fantastic.

You have a favorite steaks name? Well, yeah, yeah, actually

yesterday there the the, the the very one not.

The very one, yes. And there's two of them.

There are two of. Them it's guilty too, yeah.

That's one of my favorites. That's pretty good.

I like that one a lot. Yeah.

I I like that Churchill Downs is so arrogant that they're like,

you know what name of that race? Churchill Downs.

I like that it's just the Churchill Downs.

No, it's just the Churchill Downs.

Deal with it. You.

Want something else to deal with it?

No. The Jack Harlow song, yeah.

So it feels like it for sure. All right, man, you want this

handicapping? As I mean, what else do we do?

All right. Well, do we do anything else?

I don't know. I don't think so.

Keypad is Race 4 today. It's going to be on the dirt

here, 6 furlongs, Billy's and Mayor's 3 and up in this one.

Barry, the undercard Sprint race on the Philly and Mayor side

here in Race 4. You landed in on the 2 horse in

here, Barry at Passage E Speaking of local connections.

Yeah, I, I think this horse is is on the bounce back, got a

little kind of lost his way a little bit and lost a few races.

But prior to that he's in razor sharp form.

I think he won like 5 out of 7 and comes into this race in good

form, I mean, off of the a slight layoff.

So I think this horse is going to be cranked up ready to go.

Our guy Johnny Piazza, who always helps us with picks, By

the way, horse racing, happyhour.com, those will be up

very, very soon, Helps us with these picks.

Agrees with you on top. He goes 2 and 3 in this race.

You went 243. I do have the three on top in

Kappa Kappa for the Reed barn here.

John Velasquez is going to get them out here.

This is one that we saw when the Raven run at 7 furlongs.

Berry and then went ahead and tried to calmly over the two

turns at Aqueduct. Just didn't like the two turns.

I think getting back to the six furlongs here makes a lot of

sense. I think this is just a launching

point for the rest of the year. I think they think a lot more of

her outcoming, especially out of that.

Great to win at Keeneland. I'm interested to see what she

does today. Daughter Omaha Beach.

We have, you know, we see those names.

I don't think they quite know what to do with the Omaha

beaches yet, but obviously with her, I think sticking to this,

you know, the one turn sort of dirt thing is going to work out

best. Yeah, I mean, the Omaha beaches

have been kind of proven to do a little bit of everything.

I've seen someone on the turf, I've seen someone on the dirt

going long, going short. So seems like a a versatile sire

down the road. But Kappa Kappa is lightly raced

and and good every time, obviously.

And I, I don't expect a a lesser performance.

It's just a matter of trip and, and getting there.

Johnny VS the guy. So yeah, right.

Yeah. I mean, I I wouldn't want

anybody else on my horse. No, that's right.

And and I consider this kind of a local horse based on

connections, transit parks, right.

And so that's you think the Mid-Atlantic thing here at

Lowell Park and other places. I think of that as well.

You know the Reed Barn, certainly one of those staples

within this race. You went to the four second.

I know you're cold exact kind of player.

Jose Ortiz is going to ride Benedetta for Steve Asmussen

today. This is one of those forces.

We saw that ratings handicap at Oaklawn, but before that did try

some other listed kind of stakes company was been in a couple of

greatest stakes as well. I think our best win is probably

Oakland Park, The American Beauty last year, 6 furlongs.

She'll try that again. Yeah, and I think this is her

strong suit. This race dynamic isn't all that

fast up front. And that's why I, I kind of

gravitated toward passes East. But there's versions of this

race where Vendetta gets the lead and and that might be a

dangerous thing. Jose Ortiz, obviously a heady

kind of rider, great judge of pace, so he'll put this horse

where they need to be in order to win.

It's a little bit tough task, but this horse has his battle

test. It's been a few stakes races

that a lot of these haven't. Yeah, I think she's an

interesting one too, because they set her up and this is such

a Steve Asbuss that they to see a horse in the ski pad here at

Laurel Park that ran in the Behoning Distaff last year.

I mean, that's such Steve Asmus and stuff that I I, I, it

touches me deep in my soul, you understand me in my soul, that

that horse is all over the place trying things out, runs in the

American Beauty. They're just obviously trying to

get some kind of black type, some kind of listed stakes into

her pedigree for sure. But you know, it's interesting.

This kind of force is why the undercard, I think on the

Preakness Day is so good because so often we hear, oh, it's not a

grade whatever. It's oh, it's not this and give

me these kinds of races where horses are trying to trying out

this kind of level or like haven't worked yet or maybe it's

the surface here that'll work. I love these kind of.

Races, yeah, 'cause you get that potpourri of, of lower level

horses that are around the same kind of class level and, and

they, they bump heads and and it makes for great racing, always

close. I apologize.

There is a national anthem going on in the background.

We're going to keep the show going.

But if you've never been to the Preakness, one of the absolute

gems is that is that so many Navy and Naval Service members

make their way to their races. That's a guy in the Navy outfit

singing that beautiful. I just done that beautifully and

impossible, frankly, bury in this state to not feel the

presence of that that that baby sort of ethic around here.

People are so proud of that for you and your family.

Yeah, no, it definitely hits home.

My, my sons in the Navy and you know, I, I get a lot of well

wishes around here yesterday, people that knew and you know,

this, this what America's about. Yeah, it's supposed to be at

least. And yeah, so we'll get back to

the handicapping in just a moment.

If you're listening to us on ESPN 680 or 157, we appreciate

you back available there as well.

Barry Spears, my name is Louis Ribow.

This is the horse racing happy hour.

We're trackside at Laurel Park ahead of Preakness 151.

Try to be as respectful as we can be right now during the

national anthem without interrupting our broadcast all

the way. So 912 was the decision of the

time for the national anthem. Nine, 12912 What?

Yeah. We never know what it's going

to. Be No, we just never.

That's two days in a row. It's.

Great stuff. I love it so, so much.

I was lovely. I mean, legitimately lovely.

Enrico Palazzo. All right, so the Sir Barton

this year is a fascinating race to me, Barry, because of the

layout of the track here at Laurel Park.

This is a mile and a 16th race, or 8 1/2 furlongs.

We're running on the dirt here. If you're unfamiliar with the

the finish lines here, you might see very dumb people posting the

first finish line for the Preakness or something.

Well, at Lowell Park, the first finish line is the finish line.

It is way up the stretch, so don't worry about that.

Frankly, it's further up the stretch than at Belmont Park.

Yeah. OK.

So there's a longer stretch here than there is at Belmont Park,

so don't worry about those things for sure.

What I would say there about this one is they're going to

start and getting to the first turn is going to be quick.

But the good news is only a, you know, a six or seven horse field

here probably shouldn't be an issue for two.

Yeah, kind of disappointed that Reagan honored not going to be

in the starting gate today for this event.

I I was really looking forward to seeing that one on the track

which kind of decimates this field a little bit, I think.

Final story. The four probably has a huge

pace advantage over these horses.

Obviously she's the fastest of or he's the fastest of them all.

We'll get the lead and probably go wire to wire here.

I don't. I don't see anybody challenging

this horse at all. Talk at Race 6 today here at

Laurel Park. It's a it is an unfortunate

thing. I think Theresa, he spiked a

fever lost the trip, that kind of thing.

And obviously we know that fevers will scratch you out of

the freaking stuff. Classic.

So obviously they're gonna scratch you out of the Barton.

But he's an interesting horse. Let's talk about him anyway

because Reagans honor was one of those in the Bluegrass.

You and I were there at Keeneland, did a very similar

show, frankly ahead of that race and he was one of those horses.

You were very high on that day. You know, obviously coming out

of the devote barn ended up not being the interview horse, of

course, out of her barn this year, but that was one that on

that day no one was touching further ado.

He was always going to win that race by a bunch off Lasix,

though, away from the fairgrounds.

Any concerns about those things, or were you willing to draw a

line through it? I'm willing to draw a line

through that bluegrass effort. That was a really strange race

that I mean, great White ended on the lead, ended up on the

lead. They didn't really want it.

Nobody really wanted the lead and further Ado freaked that

day. So I can it was a really strange

race in my opinion. And and I think you can put a

line through it. I'd give her another, give him

another shot. I would see her Reagan.

I know a lot of Reagan that are girls, unfortunately.

Or like you, maybe you're thinking of three and it's her

trainee. I don't know.

I think both of those things are pretty reasonable.

Yeah, yeah, I guess. My bad.

I'm sorry you're. Good, but final story is in

here. 2 starts a win lasts out at Keelan at the highest level

in their maiden ranks. But how many times have we seen

Brad Cox turn a 7 foot longer into a 2 Turner and just run

away with one of these races? At least 10 * a year, if not

more than that. This one fits that same sort of

mantra. You know, in a listed stake.

Not even a created stake. This is when he, you know,

battle tests his horses to get them to the next level.

Race 5 starts a middle pick 5 here on the card.

Barry is this. Would you lean toward playing

the pick five in case you did want to single?

I know it's very chalky to try to single find a story.

You want. To start before this, are you

willing to be exposed in that first leg as as you know this

will? It's tough because you really

ideally as a as a horse player, don't want a single a favorite

in the first leg of any kind of pick if you can avoid it.

Sometimes you can't. This might be that situation

because the pool probably bigger than normal so it it might not

stretch you as thin as you you you might think, especially if

other you know, long shots went on in the sequence.

There's in here Barry whose names we've heard either on the

trail like in the Wood Memorial the Wonder Force in here minor

inconvenience Amelia Green barn gets back to oral park here

today. The source is always been

running in New York and New York bread but horse like let's go.

Lando was third in of the Federico Tessio going that mile

and an eighth but third by one length in the private terms with

Janet Mile in the 16th. So he did have to do the two

turn thing here at Lowell Park. A big cuddle in here.

We we saw him in the nursery. He was really good in the fall.

This is second off the layoff here.

Any of those things that's. You I, I think with the addition

of Paco Lopez, I think they're going to try to go for the lead

again and try to out quick final story.

Yeah, well, let's go Lando. This horse just missed the Taj

Mahal a few back and that's got to show you a little something

about his talent level with you man.

It's just the recently this horse hadn't shown a whole lot

of speed. Paco might be able to get this

horse and on the engine if if they get close to final story

they can hang around. Gary Capuano, a very fine barn

of three-year olds this year. Let's go Lando part of that

contingency as it's been cuddled here.

How do you handicap a horse like this?

Very clearly they they were, they were shooting for this

race. Throwing the blinkers on.

You get Yatsi Hazelwood, who is the top rider here at Laurel

Park. What do you make of Big Cuddle

here? A little too much, too soon,

Becky. Yeah, I think so may maybe in

this sort of race with a horse like final story, but you can

tell that this horse has some talent and and will probably get

better. I I would think that that horse

might want to stretch out. Pair of Maryland breads there.

Let's go Lando in big cuddle. Sort of great notion is big

cuddle. I'm interested in him because I

think they're using this to find out if he likes two turns or not

and it just happens to be in a in a listed stakes.

So often. We talk about this, Barry, the

condition book for three-year olds these days.

Earlier and earlier of the year. It's 3 and up, right?

And they have to run against older horses and those allowance

kind of fields or starter allowance kinds of fields.

Once in a while a horse like Big Cuddle or coming out of an

optional tamer just has to try to stick stuff.

Yeah. You know what's interesting is

this horse is getting blinkers on the stretch out.

I don't really know what to make of of that kind of move in a

stakes race. First time it it could be a very

positive thing, but we'll find out.

I mean, I guess the idea is to get some speed into this horse

and get them close to the engine where if they can get close to

final story, it could be interesting there.

You go. That was the Sir Bart Race 6 on

the card today here at Laurel Park.

Model 16 on the dirt, essentially the baby Preakness.

It's his Preakness yesterday that the Sir Barton is the baby

Preakness, but the chick leg, not a baby anything is a Listed

stakes in Race 7. By the way, you're hanging out

with a horse racing happy hour here at Laurel Park makes you

hanging out with us wherever you are, whether on ESPN 681057 or

anywhere in the world. Live with us on social media.

Really appreciate it. Chick-fil-A, one of those

friends I always look forward to and the long time manager of

racing there at Pimlico. 6 furlongs on the dirt years, 3

year olds in this one and this always I feel like we about

every 2-3 years in this race, we need a future star.

We need a horse that's going to jump up and be part of that

spreading group moving forward and Pimlico seems to play to

those horses. So it's a, well, different,

different thing going on here because obliterations back,

brother. And I'm always interested in

other people's thoughts on this. And frankly, you and I have not

had this happen too terribly often in shows that we've done

together. But obliteration is coming back

from running in Saudi, OK. And I've long referred to it as

the Arabian Peninsula bulk. You go to UAE if you go to

Banana, if you go to Abu Dhabi, if you go to Riyadh, whatever it

might be. Sometimes you need a race when

you get back. You need some time once you get

back to the United States. But obliteration just on talent

is is so much considerably better than this field that even

the bump might be good enough to win.

Do you feel that way about obliterations?

Well, I I feel there's a different way about the bump,

meaning that it's not as prevalent as it as it used to

be. Like when when the advent of

these races over in the Middle East started, horses would come

back and just get a a huge bounce their next effort.

The way training has differed from that point when these races

started to now layoffs, things of that sort are not as as a big

of a deal as they used to be. Horses win all the time of

different kind of layoffs coming from shipping from all different

kinds of places. I don't think it's that big of a

deal anymore. But I mean, it's, it's certainly

something to think about, but I don't think it's as prevalent as

it once was. I think a really good example of

recent, especially 3 year old horse success off of what

exactly what we're talking about.

Think about like Dan and Berman this year in the Kentucky Derby.

Ran his eyes balls out. He's great.

Man, he's outstanding. Right.

We find out later he's got a chip and all that he's got to

have surgery like he's running through the chip.

I mean like tough this horses and that horse, by the way, had

to ship from Japan, excuse me, from the Middle East.

To Chicago, sit quarantined for like 3-4 days and then come down

to Kentucky's to grant, you know, fantastic backup therapy.

If he could do that, I have a feeling obliteration could be

just fine today. Yeah, especially against this

field. I don't think there's much in

there beyond obliteration. Should have his run.

Should have his run. He'll.

Break from the four here. We're talking Race 7, the chip

lane today. I don't know if you are going to

also be excited about picking the second chalk here as the

second horse. His name's the Igniter winner.

A couple times at Aqueduct for sure.

Three times in fact, at the distance as well.

I read Ortiz, Dutch Row barn. I think he makes a lot of sense

here. Oh, absolutely.

I mean, he lost to a horse and Golden Tornado who I touted over

the summer at Saratoga, who coincidentally we haven't seen

since that day, but that horse ran excellent that day.

And then the other loss was to Palatin, who was Palatin, who

was, who was basically one of the Derby favorites until he got

hurt. You know, you really can't knock

Igniter in any way. It's just, it seems like

Obliteration just has a little bit of a class edge.

You know, it's very battle tested. 4-5 for both of us,

frankly, in this race, Barry, I went to the one on the inside.

I'll talk about fulminate. So horse I've seen for Norm

Cassie quite a bit at Churchill Downs in 2025.

This is one at the spreading distance that was really, really

effective. There goes to Tampa, wins there

at an optional flamer at the 75 level.

They try the Hutchins after that, the horse wins, wins the

Hutchinson after that and you know, listed stakes at

Gulfstream Park. I think this is a step up in

class. But I got to admit to you, I

mean, like, I think this is 1, you know, previously in the

Sweezy bar, now with ARN Cassidy.

Tried the Bayshore last time, I think, right.

Amount of time off. Try this track here at Laurel.

Never been here before, but I think 21 price.

My goodness, Yeah. That's a hell of a price getting

Louis size. You don't see that very often,

might not even see it today actually that might that might

come down 31% right and and I think.

That one is not a reason, but I think, I think I'm gonna go.

Well, that that might affect the price, you know, because of the

fact that Louis size is there. They have a good percentage

together and this horse could get a setup.

He could get a setup if, if, if this pace heats up and it's and

it's certainly possible because if you get the six involved with

obliteration and igniter, this could really heat up and and set

up for a horse like Fulmini. You've got a longer shot as well

in your third spot. Magic wallet.

We'll break from the A Victor Carrasco who had a nice little

winter at Turfway Park back here in Maryland, Maryland where he

does most of his riding for Kier McGee.

This is one that was in an optional player last time at

Laurel. Second off playoff here.

Yeah, I I like the fact that they came off the layoff

running. That's one of the angles I I

like most for you. Yes, very much so I I hit a lot

of long shot winners that way. Horses that run last year come

back off the layoff, run a good race and then second time out

there's improvement and and you can see it right here with this

horse to AT needs a little bit of a setup.

I I think at best this horse should probably get into the

picture somewhere at A at a big price an.

Interesting one there, Victor Perasco and Kieran McGee locals.

They don't. They don't actually run many

horses together. You mentioned Shane's wonder in

this race and we are talking to Chick Lang race 7 on the card

today here at Laurel Park. Shane's wonder he Alfredo

Velasquez trains Michael Sanchez.

Well, I know you think a lot of as a job.

This is a three for three horse been running at parks.

We see plenty of parks horses come down here.

Bullet works, Bullet work, Bullet work, bullet work.

Fast horse here man. Yeah, I, I mean, he's very, very

fast. Michael Sanchez, I can't say

enough good things about his riding.

I think he's he's on the verge of being a superstar.

If the kid gets a couple of good horses, which he he might well

be because this program around Maryland is very, very good.

We'll see him on the big stage at some point.

But here he's going to have to force a pace.

This horse only has one way to go.

And you know, it could be a situation where he gets horses

to go with him. Obliteration doesn't want to get

too far back. Igniter definitely doesn't want

to get too far back. So it it could make for a very

interesting race if those three hooked up.

Greater Alfredo Velasquez has seven wins this year, three of

them for James Wonder. The barrel it spread is up next.

Race eight Grade 3 here at Laurel Park Here about Barry

Spears hanging out with you wherever you are in the world.

Hanging out with us on Preakness 151 day.

We really do appreciate it, whether it be at ESPN 681057 or

anywhere in the world. The Grade 3 Maryland Sprint is

race 8 here. Barry. 6 furlongs on the dirt

course at Laurel Park, $150,000 on the line, 3 and up in this

one, Barry. In Race 8, I know that we landed

on the 8th course, so you are going to try Slam Notion, and

this is an interesting one. We see him all over Laurel Park.

A bit of a horse for course if you want to go ahead and do

that. Over half his wins in his life

have come at Laurel Park. 5 for 9 lifetime, but also 3 for four

at the distance. Maybe on Toledo knows this place

In and out, man, and I think you're going to get every bit of

the 51. Yeah, did I just do?

I just do the thing. He said everything I was going

to say because that's exactly it.

I think this is definitely a horse for a course we're running

very, very well. Loves it here.

Toledo does excellent. I think they're gonna get a

great trip. 4 year old Geldedson, a great notion stands

here in Maryland as well. Just say one of those local

connections, Barry. And you know what these

connections we're really hoping for rainy, rainy Preakness day

old rainy horse has been in the top two six times in nine

lifetime Bronze OverDrive dirt as well.

I went a different direction here in Ray said.

I went to the five horse with bloodlines.

Second off the layoff here for Wesley OR this is one that we

saw out West at Delmar in the third Bird Aftercare Alliance in

2024 ahead of the Breeders Cup. And after that got him off the

turf, brought him to the dirt. And since he's been on the dirt

3 for three. I think just getting back to

this circus, started his life at Saratoga on the dirt and tried

the turf after that. Got back to the dirt though

recently. I get Johnny VI get.

I get Wesley. Ward, I think that this force on

the City Light, by the way, I just think, I think he makes a

lot of sense in here. We got that first run at six

furlongs to Keeneland, off the layoff Harry wanted to do.

He came on. That's it.

You know this is one of the most competitive races on the day

honestly, and and and I think the betting board might get kind

of turned around, especially with the bigger outfits like for

example, the one bring the smoke probably will take a lot more

money than than the morning line maker anticipates.

But I think as a whole this race is is really solid there.

You can make cases for probably about seven or eight of these

horses without a problem. It's just a matter of trip and

and what happens during the race.

So if you're playing multis I I would use quite a few of these.

You went 8-2 and five in here. The two horses faster Gator

Anthony Ferrier local guy as well with Irad Ortiz junior.

This one has been has been running in Mahoning Valley in a

couple of sprints picked off both of those off playoff here

since November. What do you like?

About him fast and getting irad that is for an outfit that he

would never ride for it on most other days.

So I'm sure he probably had his pick of horses to to ride in

this race. He OK, he ended up here with

Anthony Ferry. Source.

The source looks super fast on paper.

Could be a contributor to a super hot pace or get out there

and just wing it. But I but they only have one way

to go. I went five on top.

I'll put 4 second. Haley's first notion for the

Capuano Vargas combination that we see very rarely at Laurel

Park. But they've never lost,

undefeated never lost and two tries never lost.

So it came out of a very, very impressive, very, very

impressive win. Last out.

Marcus just lost the Bug. I'm just kidding.

It's the stakes race. Marcus has the Bug still, but a

Bug boy in a stakes race. Is not a bug.

Think about that. That means, hey, we got one way

to end this, another horse. We got one way to go.

Go figure it out, Vargas. Yeah.

I mean, you know, it's tough to even see who's going to be the

speed of the speed here. So that might be the advantage

and it could be the four. Gary Cabuano.

Of course, based here in Maryland is the contour races

and this is the place that he wins those as well.

Lifetime runs at Laurel Park in the muddy in nine career starts

for Haley's first ocean as well. That is the Maryland Sprint

grade three there on the card. You know, Race 8, Bring the

Smoke made Johnny P's list as the second horse.

He is not here with us today. He is busy supporting his

sister. His sister, by the way, is, is

interrupting a break this weekend and I don't like that.

I, I, no. But yeah, we need to pause this.

Bitter. And talk about our guy, Johnny

P, who couldn't be with us here today because of his family.

And you know what? I need him to be less of a

Family Guy, more of. A Yeah.

What is generous hang out? Yeah, nobody does.

Yeah. 2020. 6 I mean. Families don't matter.

Come on. We do it.

Get out of your cigars. Like what are we doing out our

sister? Hanging out with your sister?

I know I wouldn't hang out with my.

Sister, break the smoke for Whit Beck.

What? Do we think, oh, she's not

watching? She might be.

I hope she knows. I know this one, this one one at

Laurel. They tried this one at Keeneland

after leaving the Lacey Gaudette bar and he's went back and say

let's try it, let's run her. Back I would, I mean look at

what you get here. This is a potpourri of a lot of

different ways to go. Why not give this horse a

chance? Definitely on the improve

talented, we'll see how talented they are.

Race 8, the Maryland's press, the JW Murphy, the James W

Murphy, excuse me, will be in Race 9, Turf force here, a

reminder of how good it is. Barry.

I think they ran five straight turf races here.

Yeah, they just. And they didn't move the rails.

They didn't have to. Everything was fine.

I mean just a. Lush, lush.

It's very beautiful. James Eddie Murphy is a mile on

the turf course, especially start where they finish here at

Lowell Park and actually can see it right behind us of all

things, $100,000. This is a three-year old turf

race here, Barry. And I think, I hope moving

forward, and I've talked about this a lot that the I might, you

know, certainly where I live in Kentucky, I hope that they'll

start picking up more of these mild type turn phrases.

You know, we do the some Cal Saturday show most Fridays and

those Santa Anita Mile turf races are just some of our

favorites. Oh yeah.

Yeah, absolutely. Almost routing, almost sprinting

that in between that we both love so, so much.

We'll do that if you're in the Murphy again.

Race 9 on the card today. You what's the four horse here

in at field? And I'm fascinated by this

horse. This was my pick in the

Battaglia coming out of the Central Park.

A winner there at Aqueduct in November.

Came to try the synthetic to see if this could be a horse that

could transition into the Derby field.

Obviously they tried it in the Transylvania last out as well,

throwing the blinkers on Tommy Morley.

What do you make of this horse? I like it, I like the move.

Clearly they didn't like the synthetic, came back and didn't

get a great trip in the Transylvania down at Keeneland,

and this is a way more winnable spot than even that one.

I think the blinkers make sense. Going to get this horse into the

race a little bit sooner and that might make all the

difference here. Getting Santana a little

nondescript. I think we'll get all that 9:00

to 2:00. Happy retirement, by the way, to

to Mr. Atfield. Yeah.

Oh yeah, that's my guy. Just an.

Absolute staple. You know, he's a really funny

guy. I, I met him at the Pegasus a

couple years ago when he ran Lady Spikes Beer.

And, you know, he, he was just having a good old time and his

and his age. I mean, it's great to see that

he had that much enthusiasm at that point in his career.

He's like found money at that. Point, right, Yeah.

She's still got good horses. Like that's awesome.

I love that. So at field will break from the

floor for trader Tom Morley. That's it here in Race 9.

I'm gonna try the real. I'm gonna try my favorite bird.

12:50 or 10. Sweezy won a stakes race here

yesterday. This, yes, he did.

Out of the English Channel, What I love about that race, look how

fast that race was. 22 and change 46 change 110 flat 133

for the final time. Once in a while we see that

Gulfstream speed translate to other places.

I am fascinated to see if this one can stalk and overcome the

trip here like get Fobby and Pratt.

Man, I know. My goodness gracious, I don't

know if we'll get 12:50 because of Fobby, and I think we'll get

all of them between 6:00 and 8:00.

So yeah, well, I know what honestly, I think it might be

lower than that. I think this horse might end up

in the 5 to 1 range at all right now because the setup is pretty

good here, especially with Pratt riding.

He's going to be able to get this horse in good position.

I mean, he's the best positional rider we have, even better than

Irad. So it's it's a real competitive

race and and they're going to have to find a way.

Me personally, I I think that price is a little bit too short.

I would want somewhere near that tend to one, but I don't think

there's a chance you'll get it. That's too bad.

The horse has broken from the rail three times.

Never been out of the money. My favorite bird here in a race.

9 on the cards today. Great, this 151 preview.

Thanks for hanging out with us. By the way, I went 135.

You went 4-5 and one. So obviously we both have the

five in the handicapping slightly higher for you is the

favorite here, the 7th place finisher in the Transylvania in

Proton out of the grand motion bar.

This is 1 though that we saw in many, many high level races both

out West and here. One for one lifetime at Laurel

on the farm on for goats. Yeah, I think Proton looks a lot

like at Field, honestly, on paper.

And I would rather take a horse that's going to be 9 to 2 than

one that's going to be 9 to 5. I mean, I guess it's the

connections, local connection, Grand Motion, Johnny V They hook

up a lot, a lot here at at times, and I think that's where

a lot of this money is coming from.

But honestly, they look almost exactly like the four and I I'd

go with the bigger price. I think this one is definitely a

contender here. I wouldn't discount this horse

at all, but I'm just going with the longer price is.

It weird to you that they've only won two of their last 44

races together? It's a little curious, but I

mean. It was in tough spots so.

That's yeah. And Johnny V is all over the

place, so he doesn't really get to ride a lot of it.

And. I actually upgraded that, of

course, because of it. Interesting.

I mean, I'm the kind of guy, but I'll tell you who I did upgrade

in this race and I love that they're here.

Jonathan Thomas is sending Zenal here from from Santa Anita.

We're started on the dirt first time out.

It is moving to the turf for this race.

And here's the deal, Barry. I'm only gonna say 3 things to

you. Jonathan Thomas.

I read our TS Junior and shipping all the way from Los

Angeles for this race. They obviously think they have

some. Yeah, they do.

I don't know what it is, but I'm curious to see.

I mean that race that this source ran in, you'll see

Authentic Patriot in there and at that time that horses with

Bob Baffert. I think this horse ran on the

East Coast recently and just didn't run a step.

So I'm real curious as to why this horse is in the spot.

Usually that is actually a good angle.

It's like the why is this horse here?

And this might be the one for that that category.

That to be is very much what? Yeah, kind of backing on you

take one step back so the pitch could see the top of your head.

I looked at the top of your head.

You want to see my braids, right?

No. But you have hair.

Like, that's nice. I do, yeah.

No. I don't have hair that's bad

for. Anything all right?

I bet do. You believe my wife says she

doesn't care? That's not what she told me.

That's gonna people don't know our our friendship.

They don't know what you just said something very

inflammatory. If they don't know our

friendship that like that. You actually know you don't like

like you got Dick with my wife and stuff like you.

Don't I'm #7 That's all they need to know.

That's all they need to know. I'm #7.

I thought some other interesting horses in here at Glue Turf *

the sixth worst here out of the Jeff Ruby Stakes has been on the

synthetic last out, but before that was very good at Keeneland

and the Bourbon as a 2 year old hasn't translated as a

three-year old. A good chance to get back to it

that appear. Yeah, yeah, definitely needs a

bounce back, but I don't think the setup's very good here.

You know, I'm not fond of closures at a short price, and

that's exactly what this horse is.

Going to try to do it from off the pace for sure, but the best

run in the bourbon was Stalkings.

Yeah, I mean, you know, there's some good horses in there that

lost the stark contrast twice. Gestad if I'd.

Say, if you don't love any of the horses at the top of this

that are shipping in, that might be the motion horse to use

because 30% here, he and Jorge Ruiz are excellent.

Yeah, that's his go to guy so. Especially at the turn.

Right. I mean, it's curious, but Johnny

V's wrote ridden Proton every time and Ruiz hasn't rode that

horse at all. Same thing with Turf *.

So I don't know. I don't really know what to make

of any of that, honestly. Dinner party starts the pick

four leading into the Preakness. Barry Spears and we're both

hanging out with you trackside the park.

This is the horse racing happy hours preview 151.

Appreciate you hanging out with us.

The dinner party is a grade 3 mile and an eighth on the turf.

Grade 3 here, Barry, quarter million bucks in the Kitty.

Go ahead and tell the people why you landed on the three horse in

here in Cruise of the Nile. I'm Chalk Eater.

Why are you eating chalk? Honestly, this horse look like a

stand out to me. You know, every race is getting

better and better. I I, I mean, I I don't I don't

think this horse can run too much better than they already

have, but it's just a lot better than everybody else in this

race. And and I think they lay over

this field should have their run of the race wherever they want

to be. Ruiz can get them there and

this, this, This is Money in the bank, as they say.

Any any concern that at a mile last time barely got there or to

you is it? Oh no, give me the extra furlong

we're going to run. Away and a tough trip he was he

was out wide the whole way. So I can forgive that sort of

effort. I'm just getting up.

But he showed a lot of determination and and dug it out

and and won that race. So I I think this is going to be

an easier 1 today. I'm going to try Dresden Rd.

here. We've got a couple of short

price favorites in here, what coming out of Cleveland was

previously award buying in the and the Richards barn and Todd

Pletcher gets this one immediately puts it in a

$150,000 allowance because we have those in Kentucky.

Caitlin under Pallavi and Pratt goes ahead and wins that one.

Now, I'm always interested in these kinds of races, sets up

setups. Excuse me for this.

Now this source. We have plenty of information on

about running without this. This horse is going to be fine

without places. Oh yeah, I'm always interested

when a guy like Pletcher throws the Lasix in as part of the mix.

Terrible pun there, I apologize for.

But you know, as part of the of the mix of getting a horse ready

for a race. I think that was more of just a

confidence boost kind of thing. Let's make sure you can do the

term thing and then we'll try something like the dinner party.

Yeah, I'll use dress and roll. Yeah, I I think that's exactly

what what's going on here. Dress and roll definitely looks

good. Again, another close.

I I'm just not into closers. I get it closing on on the turf

or anywhere else. That's why they switched up last

time, but Flabian had the mount and they were right.

Yeah, the pace last time he did get him into the race, yeah,

he's gonna have to do quite the same thing.

I don't know if they they can compensate against the the three

horse here. Yeah, Cruise the Nile, son of

Cairo Prince, of course, a gelded son, so go see that horse

for a while. Yeah, he's gonna be running,

Yeah. We go see him for a minute, 3-4

and six for you, 63 and four for me.

So we landed on the same three horses here, Barry.

The four is Fort Washington, and this is one that we've seen at a

much longer distance than 9 furlongs several times,

including in the Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs.

They tried the Arlington Million and won at Colonial.

It's a great 1 winner. Yeah, I call this one the Suge

Special. You can see his past

performances. He he looks like a classic Suge

trained horse. He has a really strong kick.

Surprisingly actually at Colonial when he won that day

came out of that race ran in a couple of tough, tough events,

one with test score and then tis dashing.

They were kind of up against it. If they get the set up they they

could be tough because if this horse is able to hang around and

be close enough. This is the best closer in the

race for sure. Port Washington, about 7 years

old man. I know.

The 18 * 31 starts which as a distance runner in turf races is

not easy to. Do no super tough, just.

Been been fantastic. He does have two wins at the

distance of the 9 furlongs as well.

We move on to the Gala Red, another turf race here, a grade

three race. 11 here at Lowell Park today, $150,000 on the

line. Buried 3 and up in this one on

the Philly and Mayor side of things.

Who'd you like in the gallery? I like #5 austere.

This is the horse that I this. Horse to open the shoes.

Yeah, I, you know, I've been counting this horse since they

ran the last time. I was like, this horse is going

to win next time out. They land in a in a great spot

here. It totally looks like the the

last race at Keeneland was a prep.

I bet the horse that day. So they they owe me a little

bit, but I think I'm going to get all of that back and then

some today. I know the price isn't going to

be there. I would say they're probably

going to be in the three to 1 range, but that's perfect for

me. I'll take that $8 and and go to

the bank with it. I'm going to trail a beaten

austere here with the Seven child of the Moon.

I read rides for Chad comes out of another race at Keeneland.

Very similar one before that though was excellent in the

Hillsborough. Just Justino Dioro that day was

not going to lose. I think if that horse runs that

race again, I think if she's. Yeah, no, this this horse is as

tough as any has to work out a trip because they do come from

far back. And again, that's that's just

something I'm not into. But I can definitely see how

this horse could win this race. You know, you run it 10 times,

they could win probably about 3 or 4.

Sure. Yeah.

No, that makes sense to me as well.

You went 531 and four here. We both have the one and the

three in our handicapping break. The rail is a 15 to one shot.

I the morning line's putting Louie's eyes in the double

digits is adorable. It's adorable.

I mean like it's adorable. We're gonna get it's not gonna

happen. I'm not gonna get double digits

on belief and Louie's eyes on a big day.

No, not not, Not in this spot either.

Not with this horse. This horse who almost darned

here came back and won the Dolly the last time under Vince on

Chamino, moved to I I mean move to to Louis eyes.

This one to me. If you're looking for the upset

in this race, this is it's not a question.

Yeah, yeah, this horse could get a great trip under Louis eyes.

He can sit on a nice pocket trip.

This is a huge. Yes, and, and that was the thing

to stretch out. This horse was running pretty

good overseas in some pretty tough races, honestly, in

comparison to what they're seeing today.

But I I think this source stands a really good chance that 15 to

1 is a pipe dream. I'd say you'd probably get about

four or five to one totally. Agree 71 and 3 for me here, five

or three and one for Barry. We both have the three in here

accent, the other brown, the other.

Chad, if I have your proud of life.

Yeah, I mean this source, you know, all the Chad's horses,

especially off the layoff, are always dangerous.

This one fits the bill. I know he came back, which is

interesting. Got a got a really bad ship, got

got checked, really bad body checked like instantly and kind

of cost this horse. The race gets back to a winnable

spot. Better post position, should

have a good run at it. Tried it without Lasix last

time, ran OK in the Plenty of Grace out there at Aqueduct.

I'm interested to see this one rebound off of that performance,

right, Because I think that was probably below what they thought

she was going. To sure.

But also booming into stakes company for the first time had

been 3 for three. I got to admit a little

surprised that horse wasn't favored that day.

But I think I think Flavian was aborting a different horse in

the same race. That way we move on to a race 12

turf Sprint here. It's a 5 1/2 furlong Bentham Jim

McKay Turf Sprint race twelve $125,000 on the line 3 and

pumped in this one yesterday very we made the very whole

decision in our pick 6 to go skinny in the turf, the Turf

Sprout. We did and it worked.

Will it work today? Probably not.

OK, you landed on a horse near the outside of the 11 that is

sorry. Mike had to have him, had to

have had to have him. Johnny Salzman, who sat next to

us the whole day yesterday. Yep, sure did.

Crushing it was having fun and heavy on Toledo gets a ride for

him 28% together here in Laurel Park.

It's the outside post. I like that in the turf.

Sprint, yes, I I love that in this turf.

Sprint all the speed to the inside.

This horse should get a really good stalking trip from the

outside. Flying on the radar.

I think we might get a little bit higher than that, 8:00 to

1:00, but this horse can finish and Toledo's going to get him in

the right spot for us. Maybe Toledo wrote this horse in

the Maryland, the Marin Million Turf Sprint in October right

here at Laurel Park. They won that race with a quick

one O 2 and change. So if that horse runs back to

that form. Well, his last race he kind of

had to, he got roughed up a little bit and had to go around

horses and it was the longest trip.

Now they're already on the outside, they can stalk and they

won't get, you know, have all that energy to expend to try to

get around 8 other horses or something like that going to be

in a good. Spot the fascinating part about

this horse too is before that one in the Laurel Dash, which is

for open company comes back in Maryland Company obviously wins

that one as well. Has to face open company again

here today, but does make sense I think breaking from the

outside. I went to the four horse here,

Barry with chasing liberty, Rob Atris and Irad Ortiz Junior.

This one was in the King Leatherberry right here and that

little cart blast out right behind Alt Law kid.

I'll give Irad the bump here and move him up in my head.

Yeah, I think that run over the track is is a big plus for this

horse that was. First off, the layout.

Too right? Exactly.

So they know what they're dealing with.

Second time out, they're on the same turf course they were.

I don't expect this horse not to run today.

I think they're going to give it their best shot here. 4 horse on

top for me in race at 12 today 4/3 and 1111 two and four for

Mary. The two horse here Mary is

determined Kingdom. This is a very interesting 1

coming out of the similar out of the King Leatherberry here, but

before that was running well both at Keeneland and at

Colonial. Interesting company for this one

today. Yeah.

You get Jose Ortiz, but I mean. Well, I think that's that's

probably the difference maker. As hot as horse Jose is right

now, The Source has ten wins on the turf, three at Laurel, which

is kind of stands out a little bit.

I think getting to a familiar turf course in a spot that's you

know, last time they were in that same race as a outlaw kid

and chasing liberty and they didn't.

They got a terrible trip from the outside getting a better

post position this time Jose Ortiz aboard.

I think this one was looking good.

We. Had the 21st try.

At the oh, that 6 to 1 is not. It's not going down either.

So 21st try at the distance ferry.

Ten wins. I know so far, of course.

Just does not miss when running at this distance.

Spectacular stuff. Well, let's get into the

Preakness field. We're going to bring in our

guest for today. You coming in?

We'll get in here. We're live and having fun.

We want to crash the party. We'll get in the.

Middle. Is that what this is?

That's not a crash. I got something.

For you, I'm here to get my trophy.

That was the. That's it.

That yes, from the draft. I hit it again.

He whooped us in the draft. He had the exact colt.

That's the one. Look at this.

There you go. For those of you who do not

follow the the Thursday edition of the Horse Racing Happy Hour,

Steve came on it with our with our friend Bobby Hall.

Yeah, from Blood Horse. And we did a wood memorial

preview and you picked Elvis based on a win out of Tampa for

Riley Mott. Who, thank God he's shipped

incredible here and then didn't listen to his dad and but had

this as well. And I said, you know, I'm gonna

pop by the barn, little Elvis, and you get a little signature.

This is awesome. It's little Beatles.

This is the play there you. Go, this is awesome, this is

awesome, and this is. Fitting.

Given what I'm thinking in the Preakness today too.

So. Foreshadowing.

All right, so let's go ahead. We'll go through a couple of

different things. I want to ask the question for

Steve Bernanke. You are a guy who loves.

You're like me. I love the Preakness.

Yeah. You love coming here.

Wayne Lucas was your guy. He loved this race.

He always took it seriously, always shipped his horses.

I remember asking him before last year's Preakness, why are

you sending America's promise? He looked at me like I had 10

heads. I said Louise, my best friend.

But he's going. It's like, OK, we've got a Whit

Mackman with Ocelli in here, we've got a Riley Mott with

Incredible in here. Maybe these young guys will

start picking this thing back. Up.

Yeah, No, I like the idea of, you know, Bill Mott obviously

has had some thoughts about this race in the although I guess

Riley is saying that his dad told him, hey, if you think the

horse is ready, if you think the horse can handle it, go and do

it. I heard somebody make the joke

like, like any good father, it's do as I say, not as I do.

So. You know, but no, I listen.

I think it would be great just for the sports or the the event

itself if one of these ones is coming back on two weeks.

OK, I think that's interesting. And of course the other

storyline is Brittany Russell, right?

Of course, the local connections.

But obviously we're watching women go ahead and dominate the

Trump crown series now, which doesn't surprise any of us who

follow the sport all the time. We see them at the track and

doing the work. But the the Taj Mahal story that

Federico Tessio winner hasn't been since 84.

By 84 I mean 1984 kids if you I thought it.

WAS 1884 Seems like it. Josh Mahal, big chance for today

for you. Yeah, I mean, look, I I don't

know, Laurel. That, well, they're.

Talking to some of the folks here this week about the

surface, this just being a kind of a deep and tiring surface and

you don't know how necessarily all these horses are going to

handle it. Here's a horse who's 3 for three

over it. One, as you say, to Tessio.

And I think just sort of visually, the way the horse won

the race, I mean, it reminded me, I know the horse started

with Baffert. I was just saying to somebody

who's a little Baffert esque, you know, had the lead, they're

catching up and kind of re breaks there and just opens up

on him. Yeah, no, the the Tessio was

really, really impressive. We'll get your thoughts.

Who, who do you got on top and maybe whose long shot you like

the previous. By the way, incredible betting

race really came together fantastic.

We actually we're looking at the odds.

You can go back to 117 years and find Preakness odds.

The longest priced favorite ever in this race is 4 to 1.

I think we are going to have the literally the most wide open

Preakness. So when you say great betting

race, I think literally you can. Historically, the great this

year, yeah. 4 to 1's happens twice, 7 to 2, seven twice.

I mean, favorites win this half the time.

Historically, we see 53 of the last 60 the favorites been 2 to

one or less in this race. So this is I mean, yeah, no star

power, but as a horse player, I think you take the trade taking

incredible. I'm going with incredible.

Yeah. You know, look, I I actually was

a little interested in the horse for the Derby.

I hated the long break from the Virginia Derby into the Kentucky

Derby. I know some people have said

this. I kind of agree with it.

It's a weird thing to think, but the Kentucky Derby was kind of a

prep second off layoff for the Preakness.

I I like the two weeks works coming up the long resting to

the Derby ran a respectable Derby I think could get the kind

of pace set up he needs here today and I like him.

All right, Steve Kornacki. I also get Jaime Torres, who won

this thing. Dewayne Lucas.

He's the great fun. I.

Gotta do it, you know It's the. Good stuff for sure.

All right. For Steve, what are you working

on today? Are you doing the the big board

and all that? Yeah.

What are you working on? No, we're taking a look, you

know, some fun piece we're gonna do on the difference between the

Pimlico infield. You know.

Booze Outhouses revelry. And so the serene, that is.

You know the the bald eagle colony out.

There, I appreciate Steve Kornacki going booze outhouses

and then rubber kids use the bathroom before the revelry.

To all of this, here at the Preakness, Preakness Level 51 C,

we appreciate you. Good luck today.

Thanks. Great to see.

You great to see you man, I think.

We're back in NBC Sports. There you go.

Now time for our Preakness picks here, Barry.

And man, I hope he's right because I'm going to have

incredible on my tickets. I know you are as well.

You have incredible second in your handicapping.

By the way, shout out Riley Mott for just looking at this field

and going, oh, my horse better than that, yes, better than

that, right? My horse better than that.

Just by the way, as a trainer, you should be thinking like

that. Absolutely.

Take your take your spot, pick your spots, but take your

chances where you know you've got a chance.

It's interesting he is second off the layoff here essentially.

Yeah, no, Yeah. I mean, he looks as good as any

in this field of it's, it's honestly just a matter of price.

And I think everybody's going to get your price.

You know, as, as our friend Danny Brewer says, you get your

price back your price and get paid.

And whoever you like in this race, you're going to get a good

price. And you're on Iron Honor here.

I am Chad Brown. This would be 1/3 1/3 time doing

this kind of route. Yes and I I think this horse is

is a really, really nice horse a lot nicer than people kind of

realized because he didn't make the Derby field.

They had one crack at it in the Wood Memorial, droop very poorly

to the way outside in the 13 hole and just didn't have a

shot. But I thought it was impressive

that that horse kept running. In fact, I remember we were

watching this race at Keeneland after the Bluegrass and I said

that at right after is like that horse kept going.

That's a really nice horse. I'm going to bet that horse back

here we are right now we're getting 8 to one.

I'm all about it. Breaks from the 9:00 today, had

to break from the 12th in the Wood Memorial and if you don't

play out at brutal kind of stuff, shouldn't have to do as

much work today. Lobby and Pratt gets them out

for the first time, taking over for Manny Franco, who had had

the mountain up there at Aqueducts.

I feel like I'm throwing one down field here, but other

people are agreeing with me. I'm gonna try Chip Honcho today,

so try Jose RT's. I'm gonna try Steve Asmussen,

who takes shipping to Maryland as seriously as any casual train

saw him. Yesterday.

Saw him a lot yesterday. Yeah, be a nice take pictures of

fans and stuff. Chip Honcho out of that

Louisiana route. I just watched Golden Temple

win. I watched him almost get there

with Paladin in February. I'm hoping we get back to that

form away from whatever we saw in Louisiana Derby.

I think we'll actually get better than 5 to 1 on him today.

And so I think I might get 6, maybe 7:00 to.

One easy like that. And so if I get 7-8 to one on

him, I get Jose Ortiz. I really do trust him this time.

Yeah, no, I I wouldn't fault anybody for for liking this

horse. I soured on Chip Honcho after

they didn't beat Paladin and I I think they just kind of fell off

form a little bit and that's what happened the last race.

If they're able to bounce back, this horse is as good as any

we're. Going to wrap here live from

Laurel Park. His name is Barry Spears.

I'm Lou Revolis for the horse racing happy hour.

Thanks for hanging out with us. And if you're listening there at

ESPN 681057, I'll be back with you on Revo and Co 10:00 on

Monday morning. Can't wait to hang out with all

of you and have your terrible text come.

My director, Barry, I'm Louie. Thanks everybody here at Laurel

Park. Have a great Saturday.

It's happy Preakness 151.