Santa Anita Saturday | Cali Cup ’26

Dressed like an adult today, Barry.

I don't like it. Yeah, I, I think the last time I

did that was in Louisville for the Breeders Cup.

Seminar. There it is.

Yeah. What did you?

No, you were like sweater guy. I was.

Quarter zip guy. Right.

Quarter zip guy both days too. Even at the at the dinner, the

the rider's dinner. There, there you go.

Proud of that court. Is it me proud of that?

You say writers dinner. They invited me, and I'm no

writer. My name is Louis Rabo.

This is the horse racing happy hours.

Barry. I'm Louis.

Thanks for hanging out with us. This is the show we do every

Friday called SoCal Saturdays. Yes, we do it on Friday ahead of

the card on Saturday. And Barry, this is when it pays

to hang out with a show like this.

You and I know these horses State bread day tomorrow there

in California. These are horses that you and I

have been following now for a year on this program.

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Love that platform. Bet all the races there in

Southern California every single week with am wager Barry.

Sir. We're into that time of year my

friend. We're deep in Derby prep season,

all that kind of stuff. Brad Cox is my guest on the

Kentucky Racing Spotlight this week.

We'll talk about all of his runners.

We even got a two turn Leonatus tomorrow at Turfway.

OK, let's go. That's what I know about.

You don't understand me. But first, of course, Barry and

I are going to talk something in California.

We do that every week at this time right here.

So wherever you're watching from, we really appreciate you

and we hope to see you again next week.

Cali Cup day out there starts with a state bred maiden special

way. We're going 6 furlongs on the

turf there, $70,000 down the line here, Barry, 6 furlongs,

like I said, and this is for three-year old Phillies in here.

Got a solid field of 12. And Barry, I got to say before

we really get going here, This is why I stayed bread day in

California. It's awesome because we get

fields of 12 in random races like this.

Where'd you land in Race 1? Well race one I landed on the 1.

Still unwritten like my story. Hopefully I can go a little

longer but. Still unwritten.

Is that? Yeah.

Is that a pink song? Is that?

Is that pink? I hope not, I'll look it up

while you're talking. To you, I don't know, but yeah,

I think intent is the reason why I landed on this horse.

They switched Ryan Hansen switches to Edwin Maldonado.

I know this horse had two starts on the dirt before, but I'm

treating this horse almost like a first time starter and you

know the the six to eight days between works is perfect with

that last one on January 8th, a mile one minute and four handily

from the gate, which isn't too shabby.

A nice tightener getting Lasix for the first time.

There's a lot to like here. I I like the angle of having

Edwin on to go right to the lead in a, in a race who where really

it's kind of open. But I think just knowing that

Edwin likes to go to the front kind of tips their hand a little

bit. We're going for Natasha

Bedingfield. That was the that was the

reference there. That was the reference.

How about that little Natasha Bedingfield to kick off the

card? Boy, that's boy.

Deep in the bag. That bothers me that I know that

one at all. All right, so we're still on

Race 1 here, so I'll count Saturday's Barry's 18 and five

in here. I agree with Barry about the 8.

At least I will talk about that horse now that is Belazza.

Hector Barrios keeps them out here.

We saw this one last out at Del Mar in November over that 5

furlong course, Barry. I think this one will like a

little bit more distance and hey, we get the Lasix for the

first time. Obviously stepping into a

three-year old race here, but working okay on the Tepita

there. I think will be much better

getting back on the grass at Santa Anita.

I think it's been competitive the last couple of times out.

I'll just go ahead and trust Hector Barrios to get this one

over the finish line. First six horse for me comes in

second in my handicapping and this one is a little bit of a

reach, but I'm going back to the first start for this starter for

Marsha Stewarts up for the hunt. I just love the number here. 12

to one I think is really fair. This is one that tried the dirt

at low Sal last time, just didn't like it, but before that

was much, much more effective on the turf at Del Mar.

I'm hoping that they'll have this one closer to the front

because I don't think they want to try to close from 7 lengths

like this horse did over the five furlongs last time.

But like that move into this kind of company.

I think the six actually makes a fair amount of sense in here.

And then I have the one like you do up top in your handicapping,

third in mine, 5 horse there, cash in toke night landed there,

a son of Pavel or a daughter Pavel, excuse me.

I think a lot of a similar, a very similar story frankly for

me with this one to some of the others in here.

Probably just a breakthrough candidate at some point.

Yeah, got a couple of wide trips in, in both of the turf races.

I think get a little bit of post relief and and I think Lasix

might do this horse a little bit of good and and kind of push

this horse up a little bit. All right, move on to Rays 2.

His name's Barry Spears. I'm Lou here about this is so

Cal Saturday's horse racing happy hour hanging out with you

presented by am wager and am wager.com Race 2 on Cali Cup day

out there is the California Cup Sprint and it's named after Don

Val, Don Valparaito, of course, and look up the got a big

scratch in this one Barry. Of course we saw this earlier

on. Was it Brad Free that first

reported this? From the Daily Race I.

Want to give credit where credit's due that Big City

Lights for Richard Mandela will not take part in this race.

What's the second favorite at 2:00 to 1 Berry behind Mana Rose

at 9:00 to 5:00? Do you think he would have been

favored at post time? I do just to I do set up so well

for big city lights. But now that he's out, Mana Rose

looks like. He's right back in.

Yeah. Yeah.

So I went 5-1 and two. You went five and one here.

The you know, I do think Mana Rose in this company, you know,

he's 10 for 17 lifetime. And.

And let me go ahead and get all the connections criteria.

It's Jeff Mullins. It's B&B sites, tables, folks.

Let me talk straight into the camera.

They're doing the right thing with this horse.

Winning 10 out of 17 races is the point.

Good job. Keep going.

I like I see this Barry sometimes, like in Louisiana,

like people going after Jake Loam would like touch upon A

star like, oh, you need a no, they don't.

No, they don't win races, win where your horse is comfortable.

Do those things like keep the horse happy, healthy and winning

races. That's what matters here.

Mana Rose definitely fits in that 51 and two for me.

Barry. I don't think he'll win, but

man, I'm very, very close to just going 52 exactly with drop

em. 20 to 1 I think is absolutely absurd on this horse

in a in what is now a four horse field.

Is this the longest odds on the board really?

Is drop em really the longest odds here?

Yes, absolutely. OK.

Definitely. He's definitely slower.

He's run good, but he just hasn't run as fast as the other

horses. He doesn't even have a 90 buyer

on his, you know, on his page here and that's tough to

overcome when you have a horse like man of Rose that's always

in the 90s, even got up to one O 4 on the turf.

So he's going to be real tough here there.

You go 5 and one for Barry, 512 for me in race 2 there at San

Anita on Saturday, continuing along with Cali Cup Day.

Again, big city lights out of that one.

A son of Mr. Big entering his seven-year old campaign this

year. Once he does actually get to the

track. Race 3.

Back to the maiden race here on the on the female side, again

for three-year olds going 6 furlongs.

Barry, this is so popular. We've got 212 horse fields for a

6 furlong Sprint for three-year old Phillies that are Cal breds

on the same day. I love it.

Give it all. Give me all these 12 horse

fields for sure. Barry, odd number race.

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

I landed on the 10. Good golly, Dolly.

You know, she seems. Whoever said the words good

golly Dolly, in order in your life before right now?

I don't think I've ever said any of those words.

Not a golly guy. Golly Gee, you're not a golly

Gee guy. Check out this week.

Hey, I'm just asking questions. Too, And showing my age.

I would say Leave it to Beaver would say something like that.

But that's not me. Beaver.

Yeah, the black you'll leave. Leave it to Beaver out of this

conference. It's a black and white show,

man. Crazy.

That's crazy. I got nothing.

Against Leave it to Beaver, you keep going though me.

Either, you know, Wally's a good dude, man.

He's a good dude. I like them both.

They're all right. But I, I thought good golly

Dolly was OK. I mean, has a OK turf pedigree,

I guess, right? But that first race was

something interesting. The 5th place finisher from that

race came back to win on January 9th in an open maiden clamor for

20K, which is probably parallel, but little little.

Oh, I agree with that. In this class and and I think

that performance that first out was, was OK.

They didn't get the greatest of starts.

And I think there's some upside here, especially being the

second time starter. The workouts seem OK since that

first race and I'm I'm very interested especially at 8:00 to

1:00. Yeah, no, you're right.

The price definitely makes sense in this spot.

I have the 10 of my handicapping second actually.

So you and I saw many of the same things here.

I went to the seven first though, in this one, California

Cat. It's not California cat.

I'm on the wrong race. Seven horses, Twasi MA 12, the

third star here for I'll Have another who is now standing

there at red and racing and I. This is largely just trusting

Doug O'Neill with the first timer I get Umberto here first

timer numbers make sense. And this is just also a workout

thing. A horse has been working well,

gets over to the Tepita and works even better.

And so give me this one breaking out of the gate the other day at

47 in change on the Tepita to be my top contender in here.

Went to the 10 that you already talked about afterward.

But risky pleasure. Third time starter here for

Craig Lewis, who's throwing the blinkers on.

I don't really care about what that percentage of angle is.

I just think it makes sense that they want Diego Herrera to have

this one closer to the front than it has been in the past.

For that to happen, this horse is going to have to break

considerably better. So that's a big, big wild card

for me there. Barry.

I know that's a horse you also have in your handicapping, but

the four horse landed in your top three as well in Alex,

another first timer. Yeah, I I have the four and and

I actually misprinted there. It should have been the 8 for

3rd. Oh OK.

But Alex seems to be OK out of Raging Bull, who is a decent

horse in his own right, just kind of a pedigree play and and

sheriff's does really well unveiling horses like this.

It's first time turf numbers are really good and you got to think

of this horse might be a little bit live first time out.

Probably will get a lot of that. 12:50 unless there's a lot of

steam on this horse getting hot riding Demuro in the saddle.

I I think all the elements of there for this horse to run

well. They may not win, but I, I think

you know the outfit, everybody that's associated with this

horse does good work and and they usually have some runners,

so I would trust in that in this spot.

Yeah, interesting, interesting race there in the the third

race. I mean, how wide would you go if

you're looking at an early pick five, that kind of thing in this

spot? It's pretty, pretty tough race,

huh? Yeah.

I, I, I take at least five horses in here, OK.

Yeah. I mean, especially the tough

part is if you do feel confident, if you can go skinny

in that leg man and save some money because everybody's going

to be spreading that like boy, if you can, if you, if you get a

strong opinion, race 3, that's a spot to press.

I think in the early pick 5 as far as just field size,

etcetera. I mean, race 1, not terribly

different, frankly, in that case, you and I just happen to

agree near the top of the handicapping for that one.

So just boy, just a tough, tough race when both of us think that

a horse that's never even tried the surface before, let alone

worked on it or whatever else is, is just kind of a remarkable

thing there as well. He's Barry Spears up Lou Rebo

hanging out with you on Socal Saturdays.

Now part of the Horse Racing Happy Hour network.

We move on to race 4 on the car to maiden 20 in here.

Again, it's Cali Cup days, so it's a Cal bread or sired

maidens. And this is for three-year old

fillies. Once again we get another solid

double digit field of 10 for this one and bury in our notes I

have the following three horses. WTF.

Yeah, I legitimately do not know who wins this race.

I I, I, I think the one's the best horse here, I think, but I

don't know. But I don't know.

And and that horse never wins. The first time starter numbers

look like this. 0%, zero percent.

Second off the layoff, 0 percent, first time starter, 5%

first time with LASIK, 0 percent first time starter, 5%.

Barry, I don't know what to do in this race and so I, I I'm

legitimately stuck. I don't know what to do.

It's a bad job by me. It's probably wildly

unprofessional, so I'll go ahead and handicap my way through it.

I do think the one is the horse to beat here.

I don't love that. Smoking Hot Chick had a terrible

race last out at Santa Anita after looking pretty OK at

LaSalle before that. And that was with Lasix.

And now we're running with Lasix again and I and we're running

back right away, which usually for a guy like Jorge Parabon, I

think, OK, this we got something here, we're going for it.

I'm it. That all makes sense to me.

I'm going to put the eight second.

But Barry, I have no confidence in it at all.

No confidence in it at all as I as I try to be as transparent

and honest with our audience as I can be.

And then I like Susie's loaded. But Ecetra smiles just doesn't

win first time out and I I think she's interesting.

I think the works have been good enough, but he's been working

around the Tepeda. So does he think that she's, you

know, I, I I simply don't know. Now, I know the most recent work

on the Tepeda was because of rain, but he also did in

November. This one's broken from the gate.

OK, so I'll go 18 and 6 and race 4, Barry.

But I, I hate it. I mean, I hate it.

Yeah, this is this is a tough race.

My, my guess is just because of the rider's selection on both

Tamayo horses, I think they're going to try to go for the lead.

I I mean, what other options do they have?

Oh, yeah. You should just go for it

anyway. Yeah.

And they might be just a hair faster than everybody else.

And, and that's why I use at least the 10.

But I thought sweetest measure was, was a little interesting

here. You see that that workout on

December 13th, That's a pretty good workout.

And that's the only gait work you'll see on this page for this

horse, which is is interesting. Sometimes when trainers do that,

it's because they have a horse that may be kind of a runoff or

really fast. And I'm just kind of going with

that. I mean, there's really not much

to grab onto at all with any of these horses.

So it's really a dart throw to be honest.

Man, fantastic. I mean, good stuff, frankly.

I'm not, by the way, I'm not mad.

I hope that's not what people are hearing.

I'm just don't know what to tell you.

I, I, it's that wide open of a race.

But Barry, I'd rather have ten horses like this than not have a

race, I mean. For sure.

No, like no doubt like the four horses we're getting in that

that stakes earlier. I'd much rather have this race.

So I'm not it's kind of happening.

It's not in either other, but I just man, I just.

Yeah. I mean, this isn't going to be

the pretty race. It's not going to be a pretty

race. I can.

I can already tell that or. Yeah, we're not writing home

about this one. That is not what I'm basing my

article on this weekend at the Sporting Tribune.

That's exactly right. Barry Spears, Lou, with you.

This is the horse racing happy hour.

We're moving on to Race 5 at Santa Anitas Catley Cup day.

Late Pick 5 starts here in race of five.

There is a carryover in the pick 6.

I should have mentioned that on Friday in Santa Anita.

We'll see if that gets picked up today.

If it doesn't, that would have started in race 4.

We move on to the late pick five.

We encourage you to go bet that late pick five with our friends

at amwageramwager.com. They've got a sign up match

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customers. So get in with them.

But all the racing in California with our friends at Amwager.

The Turf Classic for Cal Breads is up next.

It's the unusual heat Turf Classics presented by a City

National Bank mile and an eighth on the turf course there.

And look, eight horses here. Barry I of the stakes races, I'm

actually, this might be the one I'm most excited about.

I think this field's going to be really fun.

Yeah, yeah. No, certainly, especially the

way this this race drew. I think Vodka vodka drawing

outside is very interesting and and could change the whole race

to be honest, because they're going to have to get involved a

lot earlier than they probably would want to.

And with Mr. Disrespectful depending, I mean, he came off

the pace last time and ran pretty good.

If they decide to go back, that puts vodka vodka probably on the

lead and way more dangerous. But I I would gather Hector

Berrios understands that reads the racing form and we'll

probably go, you know, try to be forwardly placed here and that

that will keep vodka vodka pretty honest.

And with that being said, that opens it up for my horse.

Hey, Jesse, the one to kind of get a good trip here.

I I think the longer the better. You see this horse was running

at a mile, went to a mile on the 16th, improved, then went a mile

and 1/4 and one. Yep.

And then when a mile and 3/8 last time in the grade 3 red

carpet and didn't do much so this.

Is but class and distance. Who knows there, right?

I mean, there's a. Lot.

Exactly. There's a lot going on.

Mrs. Astor's a really good horse public.

Also this and. It's good, good horse.

So it wasn't like there's slouches, but I think, hey,

Jesse falls into a nice trip. Yeah, I have the one and two.

My handicapping is well behind Van Kavaka.

So I I frankly don't disagree with much of what you just said

about this race itself between the one and the two there I will

have hey Jesse, just a little bit ahead and that it's largely

for what you just said, which is I think the distance is probably

9 furlongs probably right on frankly for this one.

And so it should be interesting. Mike Smith frankly been riding

pretty well lately too in in a lot of races has hit the

trifecta 5 out of 12 starts out there saying it needed to begin

the meet. And so you know, Mr.

Disrespectful though coming in here.

The question of course is the distance because this one got

tired in the Cal dreaming last year in August over a mile and a

16th at Del Mar, but came back and won in a mile and a 16th at

a much lower level. I think largely I'm betting on

this horse because it's been in state company, you know, coming

in 3rd here at that lower level took a long time to get that

second win at that second level. But frankly, 12 runs last year,

very productive horse. Obviously think they can run him

back right away. He's just ready to go.

The son of smiling tiger. And frankly, with the smiling

tigers, you want to get the 9 furlongs.

That seems like absolutely the play for them as well as just

let him plot along, let him do the work.

And this is 1 frankly, that's willing to be upfront, Barry.

And once in a while we we always think, oh, someone will close

from off the pace and then it just doesn't always happen.

And so it might be Mr. disrespectful that does exactly

that. One and two third, a second and

third for me. One 2-3 for you the Umberto

riskily ridden on Above the Law for Peter Miller is a horse that

you and I have seen a lot. Yeah, like likes to to come

finishing late and I think they get a decent setup enough to do

exactly that in a race that kind of I kind of projected to sort

of fall apart maybe OK, because a lot of these horses haven't

gone this far and the three is actually one that has.

So they may be able to outlast some of these others.

I want to give a shout out this show for years, when we got

going, it was very difficult for us to get guests on this

ridiculous podcast. And a guy named Matt Dinerman

returned our calls right away. And he was the track announcer

at a place called Golden Golden Gate Fields.

And every time I handicap a race where there's a horse in it that

I know he called the Golden Gate, I take a picture and I

send it to him. And Freeport Joe's in this.

Race. Oh yeah, Freeport Joe's

legendary. Legend dog, legend. 40th career

start tomorrow at Santa Anita. Shout out to Freeport Joe.

I hope you get a check my friend.

But you know what? The oats are going to taste just

as good no matter what happens when you get back there.

Oh, for eight in the trifecta at eight runs last year was

Freeport Joe, but still cranking it out in the morning.

Seems to still love it. So good luck to him again. 123

for Barry, 812 for me in race 5 Santa Anita on a Saturday.

This is So Cal Saturdays on the horse racing happy hour

presented by AM Wager. He's Barry and I am Louis.

Late pick four starts here in race six.

Another optional claimer, of course.

State breads all day here. 6 furlongs on the dirt running for

$70,000. Barry even number race means I

go first here coach Cronin. So shout out to Dan and if he

happens to be watching, I know he's watched this show before,

but as we get to race 6, you and I actually.

He's watching. I know he's watching.

On the same horse in Titanic Thompson.

If we had a boring Bally's boring play the day, this might

in fact beat it. This one looked great last time

at Del Mar on the turf, but is flipping back to dirt here where

the horses owed a 5 / 5. So I didn't put up the berries.

Boring pick of the day because this one frankly has never even

won on the dirt. But frankly the the recent form

has been very, very good. We've seen these Grayson's, you

know, get over to the dirt and be just fine as well.

And so should be, you know, this is a home bread for Nick

Alexander's, a nice horse, almost $125,000 in career

earnings and just nine starts. And so then in state company,

essentially his whole career very, very good lately, Barry.

And so hopefully we'll be able to make that move over.

But I went 6-2 and seven landed on the 2 horse 2nd and y'all

come 15 to 1 here. Has been on the dirt his entire

career, making his ninth start has been in the money seven of

those eight starts. And yes, a lot of them in the

claiming ranks, but frankly, we're talking about a a 20,000

optional, right? And so this is I think his kind

of level. You look at the speed numbers, I

think they make sense in this kind of group and just last out.

He beat a group at 25. And so to me, you know, horse

that always hits the board. I get 15 to one, Gio Franco, all

the stuff. Why not?

I think we'll actually get longer than 15 to 1 on this

horse by the time we get to the gate.

And so give me 6 two and seven in here.

The seven is not in your handicapping.

So I'll talk about horizon handy Horizon Wildcat.

Excuse me. I always love to Barry when we

get into this level of of state bread, like seeing the names of

the sires. So minister's Wildcat is the

sire here. That's not a name I think I've

ever heard before to before today looking at OK, there you

go. I was going to say you're you,

you. You're also a little sicker

about horse racing than I am like a little bit and so like

and so that's a whole thing. I do love that stuff.

But deputy minister on the grand sire on that case, this 1-2 back

that won at Del Mar at the $10,000 level, but seems to be

in every other type, Barry. So I'm essentially 14 back at a

50 maiden, 50 at Los Al wins at Del Mar 2 back in a 10 steps

into this kind of company. Maybe can get a piece here.

So again for me in this 162 and seven, I know you land on the

6th on top. You have the 8 in your second

spot though and refocus. Yeah, I, I like that.

I I like this horse quite a bit actually.

And I almost put this horse on top, to be honest.

I think that the quick turn around this horse ran January

10th. Plus the addition of Edwin

Maldonado speaks to the intent. Edwin, the last time I, I can't

remember the last time I've seen Edwin ride a Doug O'Neill horse

that he took back. Oh, OK.

And I think there is a isn't all that crazy speed in here.

I mean, you have a horse in Mr. Machu Picchu who just gives it

up every time. Titanic Thompson is supposed to

be the horse that picks that up and runs with it after the four

drops the ball. But if the eight can get in the

mix, I think this horse can outlast both of them and win

this race just for the fact that this horse has been running

pretty good. I I know they've been off the

pace, but if you go back to where this horse was sprinting

on the turf in May 2024, in April, this horse was up closer

to the pace. And that kind of trip would do

wonders in this race. And I think this horse isn't

just like a a horse that's destined to be at this level

like some of these like Mr. Machu Picchu.

I think this horse can clear this condition and and go

somewhere else, especially with the with a good trip.

So Refocus is really, really interesting in this spot to me.

Yeah, no. There you go.

All right, So Barry again, 6-8 and three and here, why don't

you keep it rolling, friend, and tell people about Dan's.

Dan's friend there, Coach Cronin.

Yeah, Coach Cronin has some class here and should be closer

to the pace, should get a trip similar to what they got last

time and they capitalize in one with it.

It just depends on on how far Mr. Machu Picchu wants to be on

the lead and then you'll see everybody coming.

I, I figured Titanic Thompson will be the first, will get

first run and and he'll have to hold them off.

But Cronin can be right there. It's it's really kind of

splitting hairs between those two horses and even the the

eight who I do like fits well here too.

So this is a really tough race to be honest.

Yeah, 6-8 and three for Barry, 6, two and seven for me in race

6. That did start the late pick

four. Move on to the late pick three.

If you're new to California racing, cool bad out there, $3

pick three each day to close the card. 15% take out, but $3

minimum there as well makes for frankly, Barry, by the time you,

you factor in takeouts and minimums and all that stuff,

you're better off trying the pick three than you are the pick

four. It's not, it's not close,

frankly. So get in on that wager that

way. Race 7 is another stakes race

here. It is the Cal Cup Oaks of Lee

Ann Howard, California Cup Oaks, $175,000 on the line here for

Phillies that are three years old, of course, and all of the

California stuff. Barry, where'd you land on this

one? Do you happen to know the

significance of Lee Ann Howard? Tell us about Leanne Howard.

I don't know. I'm asking.

Oh, I'd love to know. I was, you know, this is some

lady's name, and that's cool. Maybe we need the maybe we need

the Louis Roubo Cal Cup race, right?

She was She died in 2020. She's the former president of

the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and she

passed away on September 3 of 2020.

She was 78 years old at the time.

She's only the second woman to vote to after Cecilia DeMille

Harper to serve as the president of the CTBA.

So there you go. There's.

There's Leanne story. Shout out to the goat.

Right. Well, I like that about these

state bred dates too, because you learn about the people that

made those circuits go for years and years.

And she's obviously one of those people.

Yeah. Yes, absolutely.

So you go now and now being out there in California that have

been out there to the races, I understand how the state bred

program is really important to the whole scheme of things and

with everybody involved. I mean they they really take a

lot of pride in it and it's cool to see.

But I landed on the 2 tiger lady.

The damn fiery lady. OK. 1 stretching out trying to

turf for the first time. She the Tiger Lady's her first

foal and she ran pretty good. OK, I I like the races that this

horse has run. Getting on the turf makes a ton

of sense. 15 to one makes even more sense to me.

That's where I'm headed. To the hoop, as the kids say.

Absolutely. OK.

Like like Anthony Black on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Yes, you leave Anthony Black out of this, the SO 236 for you.

I have the three and the six first in my handicapping.

So I will go next to talk about the three horse in this one,

which is C Drew, I'm so glad you agree with me on this one.

Getting back to the mile again. I love it when horses get to try

something for the second time. Immediate winner on debut under

Juan Hernandez, going the six furlongs over the turf course

there at Santa Anita. Tried the mile at Del Mar.

Frankly was kind of, I don't know, Barry.

I'm sure once in a while you you bet on a horse and you watch

them kind of. It's almost like they're just

running in place, like they're just running to run.

Happy Le Pew. That's what I call that, the

peppy Le Pew around the track. I don't know guys watch cartoons

but. I'm pro cartoon the but this

horse just was like kind of just standing in place.

And then Ricardo was like, yo, can we go?

And he went. The horse was like, Oh yeah, I

guess we can. And then took off.

And so I'm hopeful that this horse will get going a little

bit sooner than it did last time.

I do wonder sometimes, you know, trying that for the first time

and doing all those things. And also, by the way, second

race ever routing and in a grade 3.

So all the things right. And frankly, if you think about

the the the Jimmy Durante back then just aloof came in with a

bunch of buzz too, right. So I mean, it was there's no

shame in losing that race either the way that he did and so or

she did excuse me in that case. And so I think just getting back

to what this is, I think being in this kind of company makes a

ton of sense as well. So I landed on the three there.

I went to the six next and Cecilia St.

Maker tomorrow picks up the mount again.

This one 1 / 6 furlongs last out, but almost won the darn

Soviet Problem Stakes back at the beginning of December just

on the dirt at Los Alamitos. You and I've talked many times.

I'm sure people listening are tired of hearing this.

But of course that translates well between the turf courses

and that dirt course there at San or excuse me, at Los Al gets

back to San Anita one last time, one at Del Mar before that going

a mile on the turf. I think she just fits in really

well here, this daughter of a Stanford.

And then I went to the seven after that in cashed the two to

one favorite coming out of the starlet.

But this one doesn't have a turf start.

And that is the big question. But this is Doug O'Neill, and he

does not care, like at all. So you can start a horse where

he feels like it, like not at all.

And so he's going to start her here.

So yes, highlighted 36 and 7. Barry.

Anything to add on the three or the six here?

The three's really interesting. I mean I picked just the loof

that day, but this horse really didn't run that poorly.

Was was kind of around it even at the finish, kind of got

blocked in mid stretch too. So the the post relief.

I mean that horse was out in the eleven spot.

That had to be a difficult trip for C drew going first time

graded stakes and stretching out the whole 9.

So that that horse definitely got something out of that race

and and I think they drew well here.

So we're going to put that one in for 2nd and then Cecilia St.

we have third who looks very logical here on the stretch out

all. Right.

All right, so that was a race 7 starts that late pick 3, we move

into one of the jewels on the day.

The Cal Cup Derby is Race 8 starts the late double.

It is a $5 minimum late double 15% take out there at Santa

Anita following on that old Golden Hour wager.

How much do you miss the Golden Hour wagers?

It's OK to say a lot. I miss them like crazy.

I miss them every Saturday. Every Sunday I miss them.

I miss. Pick fours, especially.

Oh my God, the $1.00. I pick four.

I miss hearing Frank Miramati and then hearing Matt Dinnerman

and thinking those two men have nothing in common.

I loved it. I just, I miss it.

I need it back in my life. Let's find a track to do a

golden hour double with. Let's just figure it out.

Or last two at Santa Anita, first two at Los Al.

Let's just do it. Let's figure it out.

But Barry, we go to Race 8, It is the Derby, it is the

California Chrome Cal Cup Derby. That is appropriate.

Golden State Series eligible 3 year olds.

Of course, $175,000 on the line here, Barry, Race 8 means I get

to go first. You and I similar in our

handicapping. I landed on the floor in

Smooven. Saturday, who was previously

trained by Jonathan Thomas, has now landed in the Michael

McCarthy barn but was the winner of the King Glorious last

outgoing a mile at Los Alamitos before that broke his maiden

going a mile on debut against State breads in a maiden special

at Del Mar. And so this one I think just

makes sense. Tiago Pereira keeps them out

here. Just the horse, just a winner

and I think is in the right, right spots.

I think the workouts have been good enough and I don't we're

essentially third in the form cycle.

I don't want to mess with this. I think this is a horse that

that absolutely it should be on top here.

So I will go first to the three, then I'll go to the six.

Why did I say smooth? Yeah, this.

Smooth on Saturday. I had it right.

Yes. 411 and 6. Excuse me.

My God, long day and I got a much longer part of it coming

up. Cruise home, break it from the

outside. Just broke his maiden at Los

Alamitos going the mile there under Arantes, who keeps the

mount here. Doesn't have a win yet at this

meet at Santa Anita. Dean Peterson trains Barry.

I think we're going to get every bit of the 12 to one, maybe a

little bit longer on this horse. And he's probably going to have

to do what he did on debut at Santa Anita, which is tucking

behind and make a close at the end just because of having to

break from the 11. And so if he's able to go ahead

and do that, the son of Catalina Cruiser, I think should be a

part of the equation at the end. I think it's plenty fast,

really, really good works at Santa Anita on the dirt itself.

And so give me a Dean Peterson who is 36% a limited sample

size, second off of a 45 day layoff in the spot to have the

second spot. And then after the 11 I went to

the six, which is Ocean Bear, the likely favorite here for

George Papa Pedromo. I was in the Golden State

juvenile last out at Del Mar at 7 furlongs won that one question

mark here, of course is routing Barry and so reasonable question

there 411 and 6 for me. You went a very, very different

direction on top here with my boy Stan.

How many dudes? How many dudes?

You know the name Stan. I don't think I know a Stan. 0

not one. Stan, what's up?

Shout out to Stan if you're listening.

Yeah, don't. Don't mess this up, you know.

Wherever you might be, we do have a we have a linebacker

named Stan Kwan who plays for Louisville.

He's very good. He's very good.

Yeah, he's very good. I like Stan Kwan.

There you go, cards I. Don't know something like that.

Yeah, your canes made the title. Don't worry, keep going.

Yeah, buddy. Yeah.

My boy Stan, you know, he's doing the hurricane basically.

He's he's going out West. He's going out West.

I do like that this is a cool part of this.

Yeah. Tell the story.

Actually tell the story. Which one?

No, just where he's been running everything.

Yeah, I, I mean, he was at Gulfstream and you know, I have

the notion, and I could be completely wrong here, that

those races that this horse were running against were better than

the state bread competition out in California.

It's true. However, it wasn't really many

horses in that race on December 6th kind of went wide and and

didn't get the greatest of trips.

I I think the, the blinkers were a natural progression for this

horse, but the the horses that I gravitated to kind of sort of

passed the one the two turn test right.

And I think this horse would have been a winner if if they

got a different sort of ride. They were kind of out wider than

everybody else. So I, I don't really hold too

much against my boys Stan in that last race, but I think

they're, they stand to get a really good trip right behind

Sammy Davis. I I think Sammy Davis is going

to be the lead blocker for my boys stand and and that's going

to be the difference here. Do you think that the blinkers

on is just like, hey, get right behind somebody, stare at their

behind and then make the move when you need to kind of thing?

Yep. And Yep, absolutely.

I, I, I think it, it just totally makes a lot of sense

here and just use Sammy Davis. If, if they can track that

horse, I'm not really sure what kind of pace scenario you're

going to get because it could get hot.

Typically with the three-year olds, you know, the newly turned

3 year olds, those paces early on in the year, like around this

time, they get hot up front. And it's always advantageous to

have a horse that, you know, can pass horses.

It appears that my boy Stan can do that, and that that's enough

convincing for me. There you go, 411 and 6 for me,

1411 for Barry. You hear the case for my boy

Stan, Not my boy Stan Quan. It's a very different sport.

But yes, boy Stan, we'll break from the 1.

Barry's top pick there in the Cal Cup Derby, named after

California Chrome. I actually got to interview Anna

Mia a couple weeks ago. She's a trainer here in

Kentucky. She was California Chrome's

exercise rider. The stories, The stories were

wild. I can imagine.

Everything you thought was happening at our servants barred

like just the the just like the hijinks, all of it true.

Yes, that all of it happening for sure was great.

Yeah, it was very, very fun. All right, raise the line closer

on the card again. This is So Cal.

Saturday's Cali Cup Saturday preview were presented by

Amwager and amwager.com, our friends over there.

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Beautiful, beautiful platform with our friends at Amwager.

The Sunshine Millions Philly and Meriturf Sprint is presented by

John Deere, but it's down the hill, too. 6 1/2 furlongs here.

I wish all of the races were just down the hill on this day,

Barry, but I can't have all the things that I won, $125,000 on

the line here, Barry. Race 9 means you get to go

first. What you got?

Yeah. I couldn't get around the what's

the race name? The Betty Grable couldn't get

around that. That race and the the California

Distaff Handicap, those two races with Grand Slam Smile, it

was hard to get around, but I think it's a court.

The nine can turn the tables on both Grand Slam Smile and

Sneaker, but I think it's just a kind of cat and mouse game

between the three of them because they've won in different

styles against each other. It's a court.

It's kind of been the pacesetter but came off the pace the last

couple of times and it's it's really a cat and mouse game.

And I thought that It's a court stands to get a better trip than

they got the last time just being on the outside.

Beyond that, I I really don't think a lot of the other horses

stand too big of a chance because Grand Slam Smile is

going to be awfully tough, but I think isn't impossible to beat

here. Just needs a little help.

I'm. Going to try to beat Grand Slam

Smile 61 and 9 for me and this one landed on Tina Turner going

down the hill for the second. Test.

This horse has already won down the hill, It's only loss was on

dirt going 7 furlongs in the Betty Grable without Lasix.

Unfortunately we have to go without Lasix here, but I think

getting back down the hill will be much better for this horse.

Which one last out at LaSalle again, that tends to translate

well back to the turf. This horse has two wins at

Locale. It'll win down the hill.

And Barry, stop me if you've heard that story before because

we hear that a lot amongst state breds there in California.

So I will put Tina Turner 12:50 Steve Knapp, Armando Iuso

pulling out my best Barry Spears impression with that one.

But I will go ahead with six, 1:00 and 9:00 here.

I broke up the 6:00 and 9:00 because this is a family show.

Prancing through Paris is the one Peter Burton, who, by the

way, could have a really interesting day at Fairgrounds

tomorrow. Just a just a heads up, check

out his horses at fairgrounds has another one that's been down

the hill before, both in the distaff, but as a winner in the

Irish O'Brien in prancing through Paris.

Juan Hernandez gets the mount again was a board 2 back at Los

Alamitos and an 80 optional claimer.

I think this one makes a lot of sense in this spot here, Barry,

maybe the mile flat just a little bit too long.

But that Irish O'Brien does stand out as a very, very good

race in this case. And then I went to the 9 your

nine on top here in Issa Court. I think all of my horses are 8

to 1 or longer except for the one horse there, which I love.

And so I'll go 61 and 9 in here, 935 for Barry.

What say I think you went through all of them?

Oh, sneaker, man, Sneaker almost made my list too.

What you like about her? I I think this horse is very

competitive. I agree with with the whole with

those three horses. Basically Grandstand Smile is a

court and sneaker seem to be the top 3 here, the one Francie and

Paris. I just don't like the post.

It's very difficult to win from the one spot down the hill.

If this was a flat 6 1/2, I would like prancing through

Paris a lot more, but we're not there, so we'll have to wait for

another day, especially at a short price.

I, I wanted to gravitate away from that, but it's a court at

9:00 to 8:00 to 1 seems like a really good bet.

I, I, I doubt we get 8 to 1. I would say more like 9 to 2,

four to 1:00-ish. And that's that's really good in

this spot. To Barry's point, prancing

through Paris's win in the Irish O'Brien down the hill was from

post 6 out of seven horses in that field.

So more toward the middle of the pack for that one for sure.

So again, 935 for Barry. I'll go 61 and 9.

They're almost certainly the most different.

We were on the card today. So that wraps us up here on

another edition of the Horse Racing Happy Hour, and it's

certainly our trip through the card in Southern California,

California Cup day out there at Santa Anita.

Of course, we got a Derby prep big one called the Leconte Trio,

Brad Cox horses in that one. You got to pick in that one,

Barry. What 17 and what else you like

in there? No pick.

I do not. No.

I don't really like everything. Yeah, I know.

Hey, that's a good answer. Actually good.

No, it's a good answer. What do you like?

The one quality mischief to the hoop.

All right, that's what's up, then.

That's how the money's going. I trust you.

I trust you. Boom.

Brad Cox with me tonight, Kentucky Racing Spotlight, ESPN,

louisville.com, if you want to listen to that one.

Of course, we'll put it right here on the Horse Racing Happy

Hour Network as well. You can listen to it right here.

All of the horse racing stuff I do can be found right here.

Kevin Kilroy joined me this morning to talk fairgrounds

racing. You can get his thoughts on the

LECOM since Barry won't share his.

He's too good for the LECOM this year, but he's not too good to

be back on Socal Saturdays. We'll do it next week.

Good luck with all the wages this weekend.

It's Horse Racing Happy Hour. Thanks for being with us.