Santa Anita Saturday | American Stakes

You're crazy, crazy big big. Lou, that was not a crazy thing

to say to me. How dare you, how dare you have

fun on Soul Cal Saturdays. No way, no fun here.

We're trying to do here never. You hear the music, you know

what time it is, you know what time it.

Is no. What time is it time?

For Soul Cal Saturdays here on the horse Racing happy Hour.

My name is Lou Rabo. Thanks for hanging out with us

on the program. We're here every It's Friday at

this hour looking ahead to the races at tomorrow.

Thanks for hanging out with us. As I said, wherever it is that

you're hanging out with us, barriers of Florida, I'm in

Kentucky, we're going to talk about racing in California.

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Barry, how are you? Yeah, I'm hanging in there.

It's Friday. It's hot summer hot.

Yeah. Yeah.

That means all my limbs work. So yeah, we're good.

Shout out sea bass if you're out there, we love.

You. That's my man.

For the child to the hoop. Let's go.

Oh man, if you are new to the show, Barry and I will share our

top three for each race at Santa Anita this weekend.

Barry, this is as good a random Saturday card as I can remember

since we started doing the show. Yeah, yeah, for not a huge

stakes day yes right, it's very, very competitive card, big

fields, a lot of ways to go so hopefully we can cash some

tickets. We actually did pretty good last

week I. Had a really good week last

week. Hopefully.

You know for sure low Sal didn't hurt us at all.

It's. Exactly right, we'll get.

Back to the beginning of the new meet here at Santa Anita Park, a

couple trips down the hill. Barry doesn't know anything

about that, but we. Never seen it will up.

We will join them in their quest, the American Stakes, of

course, on the card as well. I thought as competitive a Grade

3 as we've seen in California in quite some time.

Again, he's Barry Spears. I'm Lou Urbel.

Thanks for hanging out with us here on the Horse Racing Happy

Hour. This is our show called the

SoCal Saturdays and so glad that you decided to hang out with us.

Steve Unger immediately on that Derby bankroll.

It's exactly what we're trying to do.

Let's go with. That on the show here, we'll

start as we always do with Ray's one.

Barry seems like a decent place to start.

No, I like 2 twos are better. OK, we'll move on to Race 2.

Let me change the graphic here. Race 2, I'm just kidding.

All right? Race 1 here at Santa Anita Park

is not on the turf. Barry, I'm just kidding.

It's on the turf, but it's not in a mile.

It's only 6 1/2 furlongs all. What do we do, $65,000 on the

line here. This is state bred Phillies that

are three years old, Barry Starts off the card in the way

that we're going to end the card.

Very competitive race. Who'd you land on in the 1st?

Yeah, I landed on the 5 Midnight Cowgirl.

Getting Edwin Maldonado from Juan Hernandez speaks a lot in

this sense here because of the fact I think this horse though,

they're going to try to go to the lead, don't see too many

horses that Edwin Maldonado rise that come from off the pace.

I think they want four position. I think they'll get it and I

think they'll be also tough to beat here.

You know Hanson does very well. Not Hanson.

Bop Ryan Hanson second off the layoff he does.

Pretty good. Might be bopping, you don't

know. See, he might know that song, I

would think. I would think I got a good start

to the show. I would think he knows.

This, by the way, bop banger. It's a banger.

Whatever it is, bangs, fire. It's a banger.

I haven't given that. It's a good song.

OK, I got Hanson hair, but it's in a different sort of thing,

but we got the same one. Has Hanson hair and it's Barry

that's right. Oh man.

But yes, right handset does do this kind of work.

You and I have the same horse on top here.

I largely agree by area, but your analysis there that Edwin

Maldonado actually might be a really good fit for this one,

right. Let's just go, let's just let's

just get out there and and play catch me if you can.

So I went 5-8 and two here. Barry, you went 5-6 and three.

What do you like about 6 horse here?

Yeah, the horse, Kristen McCall, ran pretty good on the turf

first time. Probably needed that.

And then they ran on the dirt a few times, probably just because

those other races didn't fill or might have been a little bit too

tough. Gets back to the turf here,

removes the blinkers. I think that's a good move

getting Fresu for Miyati. They they seem to hook up quite

a bit and I think this might have a shot.

Yeah. 5-6 and three for Barry, 58 and two for me.

I'll go to the outside here with the 8 horse Melba Montgomery.

Second time starter. If you followed the show at all,

you know I enjoy betting on second time starters.

This is 1 Berry that didn't do its running until very late in

the race last time, but I like that this one, even though it

did end up up the track, did a lot of the work that it did

later in the race. Has since turned in a very good

work the other day and look get a second timer on the track for

me. I'll always take a look.

Steve Knapp here in this kind of spot, not his best, but does hit

a 10% in turf Sprint. Excuse me, 11% overall on the

turf is a turf kind of excuse me, a Sprint kind of trainer.

So hopefully can get them home here to for me in the third

spot. I'll try hold that rainbow.

This is the first time for Carla Gaines who's not great with

first timers, but this one has been working very, very well and

hopeful that Floran Giroux will have this one ready to go on a

debut. Very again. 5-6 and three for

Hugh. 3 in here. She's no quant.

Yeah, I thought this horse could actually be a little bit of a

family in the ointment for our five horse Midnight Cowgirl off

slowly last time. They do have an aggressive rider

in Kazushi Kimura, so they there's a possibility that this

horse would want to try to get to the lead as well.

But I still think that we're on the right horse and midnight

cowgirl. But I I think she's no quaint,

isn't a slouch, was beaten favorite last time.

Should probably get a better trip, get out of the gate and

probably give a better performance this time.

Moving on to Race 2. Started the early pick 4 here in

Race 2. An optional 30 awaits.

Better. Six furlongs on the dirt here.

Barry $30,000 on the line in a starter option.

I'll go first in the even number race here.

I'm going to go 55 to open the day.

Barry, 51 and 3 for me in here. I think this might be the single

of the day. Liam Smith in here for Juan

Hernandez off the bench or on the bench since just the middle

of February, gets back into a racing here in April.

I think this level makes a lot of sense.

Jeff Mullins not afraid to let horses get claimed.

Frankly, he's just not. And so it's going to drop this

horse in for 30. I think he's just looking at

this race and going, OK, I can win like a $17,000 person.

I get 30 for the horse that frankly, we paid 54.

We got to win last time. We got to check for that.

I think Liam Smith drops in here and makes a ton of sense in this

kind of company. I went inside after that Barry

to kid Dynasty. Kazushi Kimura I think is going

to be able to ride on Saturday if he's right.

No, because he suspended 3 days of Keeneland I, I I think.

I don't know how that works. Yeah, he'll, he'll, he'll, you

know. No, but he'll like he'll he'll

he'll move to have it reduced and they'll move it to two days,

but they won't do that until after he rides on Saturday or

something. Who knows, But I assume he'll be

there if he is. This is a horse moving from the

$20,000 level up to the 30 here. But the time last time and how

this horse simply kicked away Barry.

In other words, if this horse gets let's say, let's say

unbridled Vision next to him doesn't break well, I think this

is the kind of horse that can actually get out there.

And if this horse gets out there, Sky's the limit, frankly.

SO51 and three for me, Barry in race 2.

I know you landed on the five as well.

In, in in Liam Smith, Is he the single of the early sequence?

Probably, I mean, he's he's basically an Omni fig horse

where his last two races kind of tower over everybody else's.

They're not even close. He just needs to get to the

front, which I think it will do. I I don't think there's going to

be too much of an issue here. There's only one horse really to

beat in to Paulo, and I don't think that horse really truly

wants to be on the lead anyway, so I think Liam Smith kind of

lays over this field. I I thought to Pseudos I used

that horse for second. This horse has been running

pretty good races at this level for a while.

Got claimed after they won a starter 50 and drops into this

spot off the layoff. This makes a lot of sense.

This horse should be coming late.

I just think that they're they're kind of up against it

because of the fact that there really isn't much speed beyond

Liam Smith in this race. You have to pseudo in the second

spot here. I think that one makes a lot of

sense. Get back to the dirt here for

trainer Jeff Mullins. Yeah, yeah, he, he, he

definitely should be OK. His turf runs aren't really that

good. He's not really a turf force.

I think they they're trying to try it because the the race fell

in a spot where they were ready to run and he just doesn't like

the turf. He was beating favorite in that

starter 50 that he did win. I I don't suspect they'll want

the lead here, even though they kind of did have it in that

race. But much better horses here and

I think they might be off the pace slightly, but not as fast

as Liam Smith when it's all said and done.

Barry and I landing 55 in the first two races, 537 for Barry.

And Duncan Robinson. 51 and 3 for me.

Is that who you go to? 55 is Duncan.

Robinson hey, see that? Or Eric Williams again.

Couldn't do that, hey. This has to be the only horse

racing podcast that celebrates Eric Williams.

It's got to be obscure NBA players.

It's got to be, but we got, I promise, to race 3.

This is the John Shear going down the hill here.

Barry, believe it or not, $100,000 on the line.

It is for three-year old shorter fields here, smallest of the day

with five horses. But Barry, I think if not a case

for all of them, at least for four of them in here.

Where did you land? Yeah, this is This was a really

tough race. I had a tough time with this

one. I landed on the two though.

Caro Buono, This horse got into a little bit of trouble.

You'll see a lot of these horses come out of the Pasadena back in

February and there was a lot of trips in there.

The horses that are in here, they all kind of came running

sort of late. I thought Carabbuano just didn't

get a great trip, had to wait sort of in the stretch and then

started running with a clear run.

That horse probably would have finished just as close as the

the horse that actually finished second in that race.

And and how do you Irish shock, right?

Is that how you say that? The one?

Yeah, They they probably would have finished ahead of that one

and probably ahead of Medici as well.

It it was a really kind of close finish there.

There was a there was a lot of horses finishing fast.

But if you look back in Caro Buano's past performances, they

didn't embarrass themselves when they lost to stark contrast in

the Zuma Beach back in October. That horse is is very well

meant. They're contemplating running in

the Derby or a turf race on The Dirty undercard.

Yeah. That horse will be your favorite

in the American. Turf you're Yeah.

And and and that's that's what I'm getting at.

This horse ran pretty good that day.

Seems to have improved since then.

I like that first run off the bench.

I think they're sitting on a good race.

It's really just a matter of how they like the downhill turf.

Seems like they'll like it. They they ran pretty good at

this sort of distance back in France, so we'll give them a

shot at a decent price at 8:00 to 1:00.

The other thing I like about Carl Bueno is this is a horse

that came over from overseas and a lot of times, Barry, something

that I look for in handicapping that I know many other

handicappers don't is if the horses are going left or

right-handed. This a horse that won a a minor

stakes going left-handed, the pretty horse at Leon power Ye.

And so I I'm not suggesting that Leon power ye is the highest of

French racing. That's not what I'm doing.

But horse didn't going left-handed and frankly, as you

said in the Pasadena last out showed that this horse

absolutely belongs in this kind of company. 2-3 and five for

you, Barry. I'll go ahead and have you talk

about later than plan 9 to 5 here Hector Barrios and fill the

model. Yeah, Later than planned was

also in that Pasadena and didn't get a great trip either, but

they were, they were kind of lagging a little bit, which was

concerning. They were really far back and I

don't know how that plays in a race like this where you

probably have to get a decent position.

This horse ran against Cyfair, who was Breeders' Cup winner

last year, didn't fare so great in that race in the Breeders Cup

Junior Turf actually ran well in the Speakeasy.

So it's it's hard to tell what kind of style is going to be

employed with this horse because in the baffle they were kind of

up close to the pace and faded a little bit.

Then the race after that they were sort of a dead closer.

I I think that's more their style and it might work against

them in this spot, but they're definitely formidable, just as

good as anybody in here. Honestly, if anyone wins this

race, any one of these five, I wouldn't be surprised.

Yeah, I went a slightly different route than you.

I took the inside horse here. I'm going to take Iris each,

whatever that name is pronounced as third place finisher there in

the aforementioned Pasadena. Didn't love the effort in the

Eddie Logan, but I do think we saw enough there with Antonio

Fraser. I'm just going to take the

closer here, Barry. I know the one isn't great

usually, but we're only talking about five horses, so it's not

as though we're going to have a ton of traffic trouble to get

over. I'm just going to try this one

to 2:00 to 1:00. I'm going to trust Antonio

Fraser with the mount once again.

Seems to be the one that gets the best out of her when he has

the mount or him. Excuse me.

In this case, I went to the five.

Then on the outside black track Tiger.

Excuse me, MSL Harmario. Harmario rides this one.

It is cross entered at Keeneland.

Interested to see where this one ends up, but I imagine it will

be right there at San Diego Park.

Already won down the hill last out, frankly at the beginning of

March as well in an optional claimer at the $80,000 level.

The 1:11 and 3:00 would be a fast time and frankly should win

this race. So track Tiger coming in in the

second spot for me. Barry, I know you also had the

three in the second spot. What do you like here about

late? Oh, we already talked about

later in the play. That's a bad job of me.

But the five horse track Tiger, is it the experience going down

the hill? No, it's it's more the speed.

I I think this race isn't too, too speedy, but I also think

everybody's going to kind of be grouped together with track

Tiger in front. So they're obviously it are

versions of this race where this horse gets loose and and kind of

finishes everybody off beat. Sammy Davis last time it was not

that bad of a horse. Couldn't really hang with

Greenwich Village, who's proven to be pretty decent out there.

So trek Tiger definitely has a shot.

I just, you know, I, I think you got to use this horse in multis,

but as a win bet I I would rather go elsewhere.

Middle pick 4 will start in race 4.

He's Barry Spears. I'm Lou or bow.

This is socal. Saturday's horse racing happy

hour network were presented by amwager.

Go check him out at amwager.com. Got a bunch of Great Barrier.

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Just kind of look at where they're going to be around the

country. They've been to Keeneland lots

of different places, so make sure you check about wherever

they add up. Race 4 on the card starts the

middle pick 4 here. It's an optional claimer $10,000

starter allowance, essentially one mile on the dirt.

That is one time around at San Diego Park, $21,000 on the line.

Barry, we love these races and once again, yes, we get a nice

field of eight in the in this one.

You and I went similar directions, but to a slightly

different on top horse. I landed on the seven horse here

in this one that is 3. There's a silver lining.

Excuse me. This is one that you and I have

seen a couple of times, Barry, trying different things at at

Santa Anita, but it's a horse that's 2 two wins in three

seconds in five tries at the distance has one at Santa Anita

over the dirt and that was at the optional 20 level.

We get to drop into the optional 10 level because this horse did

start at a claiming 16 before. So and frankly at a claiming 8

and one at that level, I just think dropping back into this

kind of class for this mayor makes a ton of sense.

So I will put the seven on top And here the three horse in here

is love our family. Ron says gets them out here for

Gary Stute. Why not going for his 2nd in

2026, One last out with this one did.

JD Racing gets claimed off of that race right back in at the

same level here, Barry. And this is one that in three

straight races at the either 8 or $10,000 level has finished

first or second. I think they found what this

horse wants to do. I think this level makes a lot

of sense for the three horse in here.

And then I went to the one think I did.

I did if she splinted for Brendan Galvin, why not and I

will Escano this one was very close in an in a 16 allowance.

Last time Barry before that in a 32 allowance.

Both of those on the turf, though.

So some questions getting back to the dirt where this horse has

head level at the 6250 level at LaSalle but is going to have to

show it over a mile on the dirt. It's never done it before and so

interested to see what she Splenda does here. 7 three and

one for me. Barry, you went a slightly

different direction, but you have one of my horses on top

there and love our family. Yeah, I think this horse just

kind of likes this distance, likes this track.

They have six wins and all six have been at the mile distance.

Four of those wins have been at Santa Anita.

Let's go. Right off the claim for Gary

Studi, I think this pace might end up being a little bit hot up

front, so it sets it up perfectly for love our family

who should be running late at six to one.

I like this bet right here. 36 and seven for you.

I did not have Ryan's girl in my handicapping.

Why do? You I think this was going to be

forwardly placed in a head of there's a silver lining and that

will probably do them a lot of good if they get behind the

speed here. And I think a horse like mystery

Cat might have to try to go Unbridled Scholar has only one

way to win really. And same thing with rousing

Jewel. And I think this pushing the

pace that the the six will do will put them in a pretty good

spot. They're just as good as anybody

in this race. I know recently after the claim,

they did have a race where they had a 82 buyer, which was a

little bit uncharacteristic. So I, I want to put an asterisk

next to that one. But clearly the horses improved

off of that claim. There's no American Pharaohs in

this race. So I I think this horse stands a

good chance at a decent price. Barry, they're in a race number

436 and seven. I went 7-3 and one in race for

another 10 claimer there at Santa Anita Park.

Pick six, we'll start right here.

Race five, $2.00 traditional pick, 6A1 dollar.

Pick three also available to betters in a 6 1/2 furlong

state. Bread Sprint on the turf,

$65,000 on the line. 3 year old fillies in this one.

Very nice field again for this one.

Full field of nine sprinting here.

You and I went different directions in this one, which I

love because I think if you listen to this show, you know

this is the kind of race where Barry and I get very different.

I went to the 6th horse on top here in Marla Hooch.

I went to high school with the Marla, and I think now she's

like a college president or something.

No hooch at all. How about that?

Deal with it. Well, Marla talk.

Barry's muted. So, Marla, you don't even get to

hear what he says. How about that?

But I'll go to Marla Hooch here. A daughter of Ohm.

Phil d'amato trains here. I thought the last two efforts

made enough sense to put her on top in here.

Been working, OK, a little bit of time off since February to

get a little tighter, get a little sharper.

The buyer was moving in the right direction.

Barry the first two times out. Armando keeps them out here.

The two of them don't hit any huge percentage but this is the

kind of way or waste. Excuse me that filled the model

wins at 17% so I'm looking forward to placing them on top.

I went to the 8 second like you did first timer here for Antonio

Garcia smaller barn but they've already got 39 starts this year.

Not a huge worker is the loan exchange, but I get Juan

Hernandez first out for this horse in a field, Barry, where I

just there's not a lot to trust. Frankly.

It's a tough it's a tough maiden special way.

Frankly, the the field looks a little bit more like a high

level claimer to me, but 6-8 and four for me.

Fancy Danzig is another first timer.

I'll give this one a try for Wayne Baker.

Three wins already on the year here.

And this is 1 Barry that frankly has been working a lot faster.

And so if there's going to be one that's a workout warrior

that brings it to this race, it might just be the four in fancy

Danzig. 4 Wayne Baker interested in this race for sure. 6-8 and

four for me, Barry. Yeah.

So if your friend was named Marla Hooch, would that make you

Jimmy Dugan? It's.

Got to be right? It's like usually how it works,

right? OK, that's fair.

That's fair, I hope. Marla's doing well.

I've talked for years. Stillwell, Angel, But I digress

7. 85 for you, Barry. Yeah, impressionistic.

I I think this horse, well, first of all, I, I didn't really

like any of the horses that have run already.

So that would eliminate the 123 Marla hooch the six as well.

So I, I kind of I kind of got rid of all those horses.

I thought impressionistic was running or working out pretty

decently. A lot of steady for furlong

works. You see a 5 in there in April

and I think that not being close to the pace is probably where

you want to be in this race. I think the pace might get a bit

hot. You see a lot of fast works by a

lot of these horses. They're going to turn them loose

and I think a horse like Impressionistic, getting a heady

rider like Harmio, he's going to put this horse in the right spot

and I think they're workouts and they're fast enough.

Leonard Powell, I know his stats first time out aren't huge,

especially on the turf. I think he's an ofer, but under

these circumstances he's a bit better.

The 8th loan exchange I almost put on top.

This horse has been, you know, working out kind of lights out.

I'm with you man, getting top rider in in Juan Hernandez

Lasik's first time. This horse seems to be pretty

live and probably will be on the board.

I I would be surprised if that horse isn't favored come post

time and then I'm going to use the magic carpet ride in the

third spot. Another one with slow ish works,

but I again, I think being off the pace makes a lot more sense

getting Tyler Bayes here for Steve Knapp.

They hook up well together and I think this horse might have a

little bit of better turf pedigree than than some of

these. 7-8 and five for Barry. I'll try 6-8 and four.

Barry and I agreeing on the 8 horse.

They're in the loan exchange. Antonio Garcia and Juan

Hernandez connecting on that one.

We'll move on to the late pick five.

It begins in Race 6 on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

This is So Cal Saturday's, his name is Barry Sears.

My name is Louis Robot. Thanks for hanging out with us

yet again on a Friday ahead of SoCal.

Saturday there at Santa Anita Park in beautiful Arcadia.

We move on to another Sprint here.

This is a maiden 1255 and 1/2 on the dirt.

This is straight bread, Cal bread maidens that are three,

four and five on the Philly and mayor side.

Barry, I really enjoyed this race.

Actually, I thought this was a fun one and I went to the far

outside for this one. I'm gonna go ahead and take the

12 in here. And Barry, do you know how nice

it feels to say I'm gonna take the 12 in Santa Anita?

Feels pretty good. Yeah, feels.

Pretty good. I don't like that take a take

that, but it's. Nice having twelve horses in the

single gate. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know you like that part actually.

I know you're hoping that the 12's a bomb.

I know you're hoping for that, but can't be a bomb in the race

unless it's in the race. So I'm just glad the 12's in the

race. We'll go with that one.

I hear Bitter truth is what Barry tells me in every text

that he said ever sent me, a daughter of Clubhouse Ride.

They're of course on the Candy Ride groups.

Not me, Louis, very close last time at Santa Anita Park under

Emesyl Hanavio, who keeps them out here.

I'm just looking for another step forward for the Craig Lewis

trainee and I think this might be the exact spot.

I went to the other spot on the on the outside or inside to the

far inside. We're dropping from 20 to 12 1/2

here with twisted humor. Edward Maldonado rides for Jeff

Bondi, the two of them. These are the races they win

Barry, and so I'll look for this horse if it breaks well at all.

I think has a very serious chance.

Gets a first timer that's been working at locile next to it.

Another first timer in the three and lovely Medallia.

If you are debuting AT-125, usually you don't break well and

so I'm hoping that the one will get out of that gate OK.

The seven horse in here is Julia St. and Barry.

A big part of this is just Steve Knapp off the off the claim.

He is so good at putting these horses into spots that make

sense. Victor Espinoza picks up the

mount here. He's had a pretty good start to

the year, man. Six wins at 42 months.

It's a 14% clip for him. I'll go ahead and put Julia St.

third. I think she's really

interesting. You think she's way more

interesting? Yeah, I got her on top.

I, I, I, I'm with you. I like Steve Knapp's.

First off, the claim numbers. So good.

Not to mention this source is on the drop has two works.

Since the claim, this horse is probably well meant.

I doubt we get 10 to 1 though. I think everybody's going to get

on that, especially with Victor of Espinoza riding.

He doesn't ride much, but he rides a lot of live ones and I

think this one might be it. If we do get that 12:50, I might

push the chips all in, then we'll go to the three lovely

Medallia. This one's been training very

well and and and getting better it seems each workout.

I think they drew pretty well here.

Should be formidable in a spot. 12:50 We might get that 12:50 on

that horse. And then I also use the 12

bitter truth in 3rd. I think they're just compromised

by the post position going to be a wide.

You never know. I mean, it's certainly possible,

especially in a 5 1/2 if if they're able to clear, which I

didn't think they can, it's certainly possible and they're

probably going to go for it with Jaramillo board.

But seven to two way outside in a race like this, that could be

all over the place. I, I, I really don't want that

horse to win. So we put him in 3rd. 73 and 12

for Barry, 12/1 and seven for me. 7 to 12, both making our

handicapping. They're the one twisted humor

making my loving Medallia makes it for Barry in his top three.

Race 6, start of the late pick four.

Of course, the late pick three or late pick 5, excuse me, late

pick three or four starts here in race 7, as does the turf pick

three and Barry. I think the turf Pick 3 is what

I'm going to try to play this weekend because that trio of

turf races at the end of the day here I think are.

Super beautiful. And so that's the. 15% take out

the 3% three dollar minimum excuse me, I think will be what

I am looking at here over on Saturday.

Race 7 as I said is the American it's a grade 3A mile on the

turf, 4 and up. And Barry, this is this is the

kind of race if you follow a circuit, you see on the card and

you go, OK, we got some here because these are horses that

we, we know, right? They are good horses.

And it's at a distance and on, you know, on a trip that we all

we, we see a lot, right? We see the mile turn San Anita

all the time. We see these horses a lot.

It just feels like one of those races where it's like I, I know

where these puzzle pieces go before I open the box, right?

Yeah, it's one of those for sure.

It's I'm a little excited to see where you went.

Where did you land in the American this weekend?

Yeah, this was I, I, I think this is a really tough race.

I I it could go a lot, a lot of different directions, but I did

land on the 6th seal team. This horse is I think is the

form is muddied up quite a bit. So if you go back to this horses

2024 October 19th race in the lore, they lost to Sumter that

day and they really got a poor trip from the way outside, but

still ran on that was First off the bench from 2023.

Then from there they ran pretty good races and I think just a

little bit too far in the Seabiscuit in the San Gabriel.

So and they lost to Johannes and Miami Ramon who were razor sharp

at the time. Then they get to a spot where a

more winnable spot in the Thunder Rd. and they run pretty

good lose to Pretente by three, but clear everybody else.

Then in the Shoemaker, they run good with a bad trip.

Yeah, I I mean, they just get no room and just didn't get out at

3:00 to 1:00 that day. And even the last race they were

three or four wide most of the way and just just kept going

wide and and it was just a a no, an unwinnable trip.

So you you look at their last four races have been terrible

trips. Get a little post relief here

and the the slight stretch out off the layoff.

I I think that spells to a win at six to one.

You know how I I usually tell you like horses that I plan on

betting really good. Seal Team is the one.

I think he makes a ton of sense and especially second off that

layoff man, right? I mean, last race was it was

almost, you know, almost a full 10 months off man.

I mean, that's that's tough to do, especially straight down the

hill like, oh, by the way, come all back and you're not going

flat. What I mean, like it it a horse

still showed up like crazy in the San Simeon.

So I thought I I agree with you. I think seal team is a prime for

a big race. You also agree with me that the

three in here has a major shot and that is king of Gosford.

Emesiles Haramillo picks up the mount Flavio and Pratt's been

aboard the last four times. This one did win the Mathis Mile

at Santa Anita in December of 24 before winning that Shoemaker

Mile in May of 25 has been off since it's August.

But this folks is Phil d'amato. This is what he does.

He brings horses back in these kinds of spots and I think he's

the class of the race. We got the Grade 1 winner here,

the 100 speed figure in the in that race, 1:33 and 2:00 for a

final time in that Shoemaker Mile is the ultimate grade one

mile time. Beat my Armando Ramon, beat Cabo

Spirit in that race is coming back in this spot off of a

really disappointing Del Mar mile.

But guess what, man? That horse, he doesn't win high

level races at Del Mar. He wins them at Santa Anita Park

where he is 5 for seven, a second and a third.

Gimme King of Gosford on top in this race.

I know you have him second, Barry.

I'm sure you largely agree that look the values obviously with

SEAL team here, but King of Gosford almost certainly the

class of this race. Yeah, so Seal Team is the horse

to bet. King of Gosford is the horse to

beat. That makes sense.

And and should get a great trip. I mean, I despite Phil D'amato's

stats off of this kind of layoff, I just personally don't

like the layoff. I'm a little bit old school in

that way, even though layoffs don't seem to be as hindering as

they used to be in the past. Traders have gotten very good at

managing them. Yes, a way better because

usually before like in the 90s, early 2000s, right back on the

track. Yeah, absolutely.

Exactly. But I, I, I mean, this isn't the

easiest spots either, and that's why I put this for 2nd.

So Almendaris is, is tough. You know, seal team is, is

definitely tough. Sumter has won a bunch of races

as well. So I don't think this is the

easiest spot to come off of of a layoff like that.

I I mean they certainly can win, but I'm I'm going to side with

seal team in here and then in the third spot I used captain

Chuchi's there. There's versions of this race

with this horse gets loose on the lead and and and kind of

just runs away with it. You know, kind of slow slowly

plays it out, but they may get some competition in genius

Jimmy. Not really too sure.

But in that case I think Captain Chuchi's and and Floran Giroux

can kind of layoff the pace slightly.

You can see in their past performances they they lay

second quite a bit and that might be the trip here for them.

So they may be a little bit liver than that. 12:50 may

indicate. Cuz twirling points got to go

right? You would think points a horse

that in violent quarter races tries to get the lead.

I mean, why would that horse not try to get the lead here?

I'd be stunned. I don't know, It's tough.

Wright's going to say to to Ricardo, to Ricky Gonzales, but

I mean. He's got to go because he's

going to get shuffled back, right?

You can't fall behind Almondaris in this race or king of God.

You can't fall behind all those horses.

I went 3-5 and six. By the way, Barry, the five

horse in here is Almondaris and I I just this one's been running

in high, high level races, but this horse just doesn't win at

Santa Anita, man. Oh, for seven and and just

doesn't win at this place. Sort of a classic.

More of a distance horse, Barry in his in his results line.

Not not a Miller, but more like a mile and a quarter mile and a

half kind of horse. Five wins and 22 lifetime

starts. None of them, by the way, on the

dirt at all. And so just this horse hasn't

won since the Wicker that was a listed stakes at Del Mar in July

last year. I I just I like Almendaras and

and absolutely can breakthrough here.

But I mean for the value seal teams, the play here.

That's why I have 6th. It's not even close, but I'll

try 3, five and six here, Barry. I'll put the class on top.

But I think SEAL Team, as you said, man, I think it's the

absolute value here. But there's absolutely a world

in which Captain Chuchi's gets a lead and maybe gets rundown at

the end, Barry. But then he's in your exacta

right then. He's in your drawer.

That's what we. Want that's exactly what you

want. That's exactly right.

So no, an interesting race for sure.

I actually think both stakes on the card ended up really.

Yeah, really soft, tough races. Yeah, they're fun.

For sure. All right, well, that is a race

7. Move on to the late pick three.

If you haven't played it out at Santa Anita in a while, boy do

we have good news for you. It is a $3 minimum now with only

a 15% take out. We see payouts consistently,

very even chalky payouts in the four to $500 range and so this

is 1 to check out for sure, $10,000 claimer awaits us in

Race 8. Start of that late pick three

there at Santa Anita Park on Saturday at Socal Saturdays on

the horse racing happy hour. He's Barry and I'm Louis.

Thanks for hanging out with us yet again on the show, Barry.

10K to be in this one and I went 7-9 and three in Race 8 to kick

off the late sequence. By the way, you and I very

different in the late sequence on top.

I like that. But I'm going to try Bondalero

here. I'm going to draw a line through

the last effort and get back to that maiden 20 win, 2 back.

This is one that also had the lead for a while in a maiden run

at Los Al back in the Peter Urton barn, has been in the

Steve Nap barn now. I did not love the effort last

time. That horse was just completely

empty. Barry.

I'm going to act like that race didn't even happen and just go

back to what we saw two back. I think this horse can get back

to that. I think the 12 to one's insane

in here, so I'll ride that kind of number.

The 9 horse on the outside. White Mountain makes a lot of

sense here. Don't love the post position

Barry, but I think it can take advantage of the class level.

Was really close last time under Escobedo gets Tyler Bayes here.

I don't know if that's an improved, but he and Ryan

Hanson, I should be able to pick this one off.

And then I went to the three horse near the inside in audible

silence. If this one hits, buddy, we're

in good shape. One at the maiden 12 five level

and they sort of just slid this horse down the ranks until they

found the red spot, almost hitting an 8000 ranks almost hit

in the 20 comes in wins at the 12 five.

I think can run that race again. What I like about how that horse

ran last time, Barry, it was willing to be the pace.

It was willing to be right up front. 139 isn't going to knock

anyone's socks off, but it was fast enough at those clips to

where everybody else down goes ahead and wins there.

So I will go with those three in this one.

Very 79 and 3289 for you. What do you like about the two

horse here? Yeah, Irish Element getting

Jaramillo back after Antonio Fraser Rd. last time going a

mile and in a restricted race just like this.

They dropped down slightly after breaking their maiden in the

state bed bred 12,500 event. You know, seems to be improving

slightly and just enough to to kind of get a good trip here

behind Typhoon Tommy in a couple hours there'll be probably

scrounging up front. 28 and 9 for you, Barry.

That means you've got the 8 horse in here.

I do not have that one in mind either.

Macho Man last seen winning at Indiana in August of 24.

What are we doing here? Well, I mean, this horse came

off the layoff running at at a higher level, but was running

faster than they were before they were on that layoff.

So I think that's encouraging. Even though they kind of drop

into this spot. Blinkers go on getting arontes.

I I think they're going to step on the gas and try to get good

position to, to score here because this race is kind of

strange because a lot of these horses are very inconsistent

other than Typhoon Tommy as far as getting to the front.

So you'll see them in the front at times and not.

So my guess is when they are feeling good, they're going to

try to go to the front and and they may be doing that here with

Macho Man and I think they might be able to hold on that those

last two speed figures fit well with with everybody else.

Race 9 starts the late double there at Santa Anita Park

tomorrow, So Cal Saturday's on the horse racing happy hour

network. My name is Luia Bow hanging out

with Barry Spears. Of course we move on to race 9

at Santa Anita Park. Beginning of the late AA $5

minimum on the late double. Another 15% take out late.

Two of the turf pick 3 going down the hill again.

Barry allegedly 6 1/2 down the hill for 60,006.

It's a. It's a myth.

I don't believe it happens. I agree with you 3 and up on the

Philly and Mare side for non twos Barry odd number race.

You're an odd fellow. Where'd you land?

I landed on #9 tequila and therapy.

I don't know, doesn't sound, doesn't sound good.

I mean, doesn't it? Some people will say, yeah, that

sounds great. But I don't know about that.

Then tequila, is that the name of the daughter?

Is that what we're gonna do eventually is like the kid comes

in as therapy? That would be funny, but this

race is sort of odd. I, it really gave me a lot of

fits because all these horses kind of look the same.

But I, I kind of thought that the races down the hill that

Tequila and Therapy had, we're just as good as most of these

and they're kind of dropping in a little bit and they may have a

slight class edge against the rest of these horses.

There's a lot of overseas types that don't really get out of the

gate well and, and I think if this one can get position early,

which I think they're going to want to do with Edwin Maldonado

aboard, you see, he rode this horse to their only win or one

of their wins way back in November 2024.

So it's been a long time between drinks for a lot of these

horses, but I think this is one of those ones where if you can

get the trip, you can win this race no matter what your speed

figures look like if you can position your horse.

You might be OK, and I think the Nine can do that. 97 and five

for Barry. I went to the three horse on top

and this one, Barry, it's largely for what you said.

They all kind of look the same except this horse has one down

the hill and this one did it in 1-12 and change all of the other

races down the hill that you just mentioned for the 9 horse

Cayman Stakes Company. They were a full second slower,

so I'm interested to see if this one can't get back to that form

and do it again. She really seemed to enjoy going

down the hill. The aforementioned Victor

Espinosa keeps the mound here for Wayne Baker, who I'm hoping

will win at least two races on this card and daughter of Danz

and Candy here. I mean, this just seems to be

what she's good at. They tried her in a 25 claim or

two back. They move her up to this level

last time she qualifies again, Barry, because she's one at that

much lower level before. I mean, this is one that's been,

I mean, I think Fresno was one of her best wins, you know, that

kind of thing that she was essentially on the Northern

California circuit. She gets down here to Southern

California and just has absolutely exploded since

October. It's good to see.

But she's 2 for two this year and I'm going to try to ride it

again with Mars Magic. Maybe she can make it a three

for three. I went 3-6 and two here.

Barry, I'll describe the six horse throwback to you in just a

second. You mentioned those British and

and English and and Irish and, and in Euro horses not getting

out of the gate. I'm going to try some Euro

horses. So the six horse in here is

Betty Davis Eyes. Ideal Drysdale train, first time

in North America, first time with this trainer.

All those stats suck. You know what else sucks Barry?

This field. And so I think this one's got a

chance having gone left-handed and won at Nottingham.

Tried Newmarket last time at a much higher level, didn't work.

Bring this one over to the dry steel bar and I think makes a

lot of sense to try this course first.

Has been working OK on the Tepeda, so I'll go to Betty

Davis Eyes. You went 9-7 and five here

though the seven horses. Marion Cross.

Yeah, speed, speed, speed, speed.

I, I, I think there's not much signed on here.

Your horse, Mars Magic doesn't really want to be part of the

pace. They, they want to target.

And then you go through the field and look at everybody

else. They're not really trying to get

out of the gate. And I think Marion Cross might

have an advantage there. Obviously Harmia is going to

push the button and go. You see some races back there.

The Senator Ken Maddie ran against Queen Maxima, who's

who's very, very good, and a few other horses that they faced

previously. This is sort of a drop.

I mean, if you look at all those foreign horses, none of those

horses were running at this sort of level.

Maybe the five maybe, but still they they weren't being bad and

there's a lot going on in those races and you'll see in those

past performances, even though I did pick this horse, you'll see

a lot is like towards the rear race behind slowly away.

Those aren't good comments for horses that need to get out of

the gate and get position. Same thing with the four trouble

start dwelt, start, dwelt, start.

Three out of there four races so far they failed to get out of

the gate. So to me, that shows that

whoever kind of gets to the front and is the controlling

pace might be the horse to beat. And that looks to me like the

seven, although I have the 9 on top.

I think they're going to both get good trips here.

Marry Cross, trained by Dan Blacker, the aforementioned MSIL

Haramiyo gets them out here. This is one that we've seen in

steaks Company. We've seen sprinting on flat

ground. We'll try the hill.

Looks like for the first time, Barry.

So interested to see how this one takes to the hill.

I went a slightly different direction, of course, 36 and the

two horse here, another Euro starter.

I'm going to try yoga master a second time starter in the

United States altered in early. If this one starts straight

line, I think it'll do a little bit better.

I like the idea of switching it up for Leonard Powell and moving

down the hill with this 1. So it's a really good start.

By the way, as Leonard Powell. Twelve wins already on the year.

So interested to see that one in the third spot.

We move on to the nightcap. That'll be race 10 at Santa

Anita Park on Saturday, SoCal Saturday's presented by our

friends at Amwager. My name is Louis and his name is

Barry. Thanks for hanging out with us.

We're here every Friday at this time.

We'd love to have you back next week.

A maiden special weight $65,000 awaits us in the finale.

Barry. 6 furlongs on the turf. This is for 3-4 and five year

olds. Open company.

You don't have to be a Cal bred for this one.

Nice mix of horses that have seen the track before Barry and

1st timers in here as well. You and I actually landed on the

same horse, which I'm a little surprised.

At the time. Horse Bright Eye Bungle, which

is what we probably should name the podcast.

That's a good idea. Second timer in North America

did almost break his maiden in a maiden for age and December back

at Dundalk has been very good in both of his runs.

Gets Lasix again here, drops a little bit of weight and gets

Hector Berrios Berry sprinting which I really like running here

for Phil d'amado. I know you're great on the 9

here. Yeah, normally I would not like

a horse like this because of the fact you see that first two,

there are two races you can see in the past performances, slow,

early off, slow lack room, bumps in the stretch.

Those were not good trips either.

One of them, they finished second over in Ireland and

Dundalk in a 14 horse field and then ran a bang up race here as

the beaten favorite March 15th. But the idea and it looks like

on paper that all these horses are going to step on the gas.

At least one of the Baffert's will you have legal air who's

shown some zip. The one has some pretty fast

works. The two has some pretty fast

works. The three's gone to the lead

last time and probably will need to be for the pace place and

they'll push the pace. So starting slowly might not be

the worst thing in the world in a race like this.

And this horse does have some run finishes well and I think

all that everything lines up, but I'm I'm just afraid this

horse is going to go favored in this race. 94 and 6 for Barry.

You and I both have the four in our handicapping.

Barry, why don't you talk about Kelsey?

Yeah, Kelsey, you know, it was really splitting hairs between

Kelsey and McGregor. Obviously I'm going to most of

the time go with the higher price, but this horse has been

training steadily for a longer period of time.

If you look at McGregor, they had a workout on January 23rd

and then the next published work was February 23rd and it was a

really good one. But Kelsey, on the other hand,

has been training steadily through February into March.

And they may have a little bit of a, of a foundation, a little

bit more than McGregor at this point, although McGregor, at

least what it looks like and, and, and the way that Bob's been

handling this horse in the morning, that, that one, it

seems like he thinks might be more talented, But we'll see.

I, I tend to think that the physicality and, and building

these younger horses up makes more of a difference at this

point of the year than talent. So we're going to use Kelsey

instead of McGregor? I'm going to put out something

into the ether that's a little different on your thoughts about

McGregor and Kelsey being treated differently in the

mornings. Sure.

Kelsey is originally McGregor's intact, so we're talking about

make it stallions. You're going to treat them a

little bit differently if you want them to run races and run

for a long time. You're going to look at Kelsey

as a very different type of runner than you are, one that

you might be trying to move to the breeding shed at some point

in the next couple of years. And so I think some of those

things come into play with it as well.

Are you surprised to see McGregor on the turf to debut?

Yes, very much so. There's plenty of spots on the

dirt. I don't know, maybe there's

something he's seen. I know Bob has been kind of

dabbling more with turf horses lately, you know, within the

past year or so, and he's had some good ones.

And to be fair, how many 3 year old specific maidens are there

out in California right now? I mean, this is one of the

things he talks about when he talks about moving, you know,

some of his horses east of the Rockies.

I imagine it's for races like this man.

Yeah, I mean a $950,000 purchase, you would think

they're going to get the surface right first time.

You would hope. Yep.

And I mean, son of Mackenzie dude.

I'm just surprised. I'm just surprised.

I am surprised you know it doesn't doesn't scream like turf

pedigree, but you know the the horse might have a saucer foot.

I'm sure Bob would echo the sentiments of Brad Cox on Blood

Horse Monday a couple weeks ago. Hey Louis, how about you stick

to radio and I'll stick to training horses?

The. There you go.

Top 10 moment of my life. 9 tended 4 for me.

Fanbase is a first timer on the outside for our guy Tim Yaktine

hits a 10% with first timers. And by the way, his first timers

don't pay for Bleep, which is a sign that they're very good by

the way. So that's what I'll go with. 9

tended 4 here. For me, it's son of American

Pharaoh. 3 year old gelded son. At least that last work, Barry.

OK, give me all of my getting out of the gate.

Yep, get Get Me Out of the gate. Let's go.

Awesome. Well, you know, you know, Tim

Yaktine, that's, that's his calling card right there.

I just want to see a run out of this one first.

I would I would like that horse second time out, especially with

this tough post. They might be up against it.

That's why I kind of, if there was a fourth horse that we

picked, fan base would be the 4th.

Horse. There you go.

All right, Easy enough. Well, he's Barry, and I am

Louis. Barry, what are you doing this

weekend? What kind of like ridiculous

Florida stuff are you doing? You want to hear one thing I'm

doing is on Saturday, met Santa Anita.

I'm going to play the early Duncan Robinson double, then we

got the middle Mario Lemieux double, the 7:00 and 7:00, and

then we're going to go with the Wayne Gretzky 99.

OK, shot with Lemieux Gretzky. Let's go.

I know that hey, this goes back. By the way, conscious.

No, no, no, hang on. We got we got a problem on the

show. How dare you put Duncan Robinson

to the same class as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux?

It's a bad shot. Well, I guess that's Bill

Lambier, right? But that wouldn't have been good

either, so. Oh man, I'm looking it up.

We got the music play, but I'm looking it up.

Best 50 fives in NBA history. How many?

I mean, it's Dicambi, isn't it? Yeah, easily.

All right, I'll go with the. It's too obvious.

So you know going up here guys, Kiki Vanderweis, Beast, beast.

Beast. Yes, The big yes.

Or people, yeah, But this is people.

Kiki's people. He's very.

I'm Louie. Be nice to Kiki.

We'll see you next week.