Santa Anita Saturday | John Cherwa

snow Mageddon inbound no problem it's horse racing happy hour

Friday edition means SoCal Saturdays hanging out with you

I'm Louie rabo John Sherboe long times for alongside excuse me

from the LA Times. We have confiscations to discuss

people, of course, we'll go through the nine race card at

saying I needed to close the show berries at the Pegasus this

week. So we got his much better

Florida counterpart better looking at least in John Sherva.

Good morning. Afternoon, John.

How are you? How you doing All right?

Well, Lude. I'm glad you're doing well.

Quite the scene at Santa Anita. Can you kind of set the scene

for us and give people an idea of what the heck just happened a

week ago? OK, it's certainly been a long

week. It started when it was a week

ago when they are beaming and there was no agenda item on

there about adding HHR type machines.

And then the next day, I believe that was a Thursday, Ray Pollock

of the Pollock report ordered that they were going to be

putting in 26 racing on demand machines, which essentially HHR,

but I'll explain later the difference or what they believe

the difference to be is. And they put them in on

Thursday. They're just running on race

days, which is Thursday through Sunday, except for holiday

things. Although frankly, to be

completely honest, I mean, I think maybe the bigger story

than this is the absolutely horrible field sizes they've

been having at Santa Anita. And I was on, I was on the other

the Ron Flatter pod, right. And I'm not going to be shocked

if by the end of the year, end of the season, that Santa Anita

could be down to two days a week because you you just can't do it

with the with the five horse fields that scratch down to

four. And there's just not enough

horse in there. OK, so anyway they put these

machines in and they are three by three is the bet, which is a

an absolutely ridiculous bet. Yes, it is the.

First, second and third free, not necessarily 3 consecutive

races, free races. And this has been I believe in

in working since April of 2024 when the CHRB, the when I say

CHRB California Horse Racing Board allowed that bet to go in.

And it's a 22% take out that there's not much vetted if you

ask me. But you know, I'm not a gambler,

so I don't know. So they did that.

I wrote a story the the tribes which is really the power in

California because they are in charge of all most all of non

parameutual gambling in the state.

And when I say most instead of all there I think there are some

exceptions for like the church bingos and stuff like that that

that is allowed that that they don't really care about.

And they promised a full throated response.

And this was on a story I believe I did on either Thursday

or for Friday, Thursday after Friday.

So lo and behold, you know, while I'm sitting around waiting

for the tribes to file suit on Saturday, about four O clock, 23

attorney general personnel. I mean, they're essentially

cops, but the arm badge that says attorney general's office

and two Arcadia policemen hit Santa Anita and did what was, I

think you could really only call it a raid where they basically

asked the patrons in this grandstand area to leave.

And then they started confiscating the machines, which

it's a little sidelight. I haven't reported this, but I

believe they showed up with the wrong equipment and they had to

send somebody to the local store to get AU haul.

They have AU haul box truck to so silly but in my what was was

completely performative. Yeah.

For an audience one rather than. Hey John, your mic is really

cutting out on me. I'm actually going to try to

mess with your sound settings just a little bit.

I don't know. Let's play with that one.

Let's try again. Go ahead.

OK, you. Were saying it was performative,

now you sound really good actually go.

Ahead, it's a performative for an audience of 1 and that

audience would be the tribes because we basically on that set

when they stop the betting, only $3000 have been bet on that bet

on the three by three. And they could have handled it

any number of ways, including a cease and desist letter

protecting them. And but they didn't.

So that they didn't do a lot. I did like somewhere around

$30,000 over those three days. And so we're not talking a lot

of money. We're not talking real money

here. And then on Tuesday, the the

I'll call them a consortium. It's basically Delmar and it's

it's Santa Anita and Delmar in the TOC OS Alamitos, I don't

think is an active participant in this filed a what's

essentially a TR. It was the writ of mandate

mandamus, which is essentially a legal thing you do when you

think the government has done excessive power, excessive use,

just basically screwed up. And they filed it And with, with

the simple thing, all they want is the, the, the machines and

the money returned because they also took the money that was in

the machines supposed they did not give a receipt for it.

And, and now it's going to be in the court's hands.

You know, the, the, this will be, it won't be a trial.

It'll be a a judge ruling whether to essentially issue

this TRO against the state to allow those machines back in.

What's going to happen legally I I don't really know.

But I do think the case for the tracks is better than I thought

it would be because essentially by setting up this three by

three bet as a legal bet back in, in April of 24 have that

precedent. And then one of the main things

that makes it para mutual, actually it's the definition of

para mutual wagering is the money on those machines.

It's it's all para mutual bet. It's commingled.

The money is commingled with other patrons and they are,

you're not betting against the house, you're betting against

other patrons. And I think I don't know how

many there are and what I don't think we're talking real money

here, but you know, I don't know how many there are, but I've

heard somewhere between in California, as many as the four

to 6000 machines could access this now, but that's, but

they're only the 26th. Well, it used to be 26 in Santa

Anita, but could be part of that pool.

And so they seem to have that part of the law going into para

mutual. But you know, it's the courts

have surprised this many times. So so I have really no idea how

it will go down. But if you were 5149 me, I would

probably say that I think Santa Anita will prevail on this.

But again, that's not with great confidence.

All right, so there's a lot to unpack here.

Obviously, John Chervis with us from the LA Times.

This is the Horse Racing Happy Hour, our version of Socal

Saturdays without Barry. We get into the hard hitting

issues without Barry here. But the you mentioned 30, was it

3 grand total that was bet into these machines or 30 in the

first three days, John? Because $10,000 a day is

actually more than I thought this bet was going to be able to

kind of, you know, put together with a small number of machines

that they actually had. Yeah, you can actually check my

story where I have the exact doing this off memory, but it's

around 30,000. It was 3000 on that Saturday.

So it wasn't doing a lot of action on that Saturday.

And the end, the confiscation was I think either during and

before the last race of the day. It was after I think the Cal Cup

Derby or, or one of those Cal Cup races.

Got it. Oh, so it's really not been, I

think after the first day I did a calculation on like if were to

go purses, which is what happens in Kentucky.

Actually in Kentucky it's 1.5% that goes to purses.

But let's just round it up to two.

We're talking like $540, you know, after the that was after

Thursday after the first day. So again, we're not talking a

lot of money, but should the tracks win this suit or win the

the TRO or or rid of may of Amos then, and this is just a

prediction, not based on any facts that I know, I think you

could expect the three by threes to go to like 3 by sixes or by

sixes. I guess it'd have to be 6 by 6

yeah, or three by 6, whatever is that they would expand it to

like a pick six bet, not just a essentially a pick three bet.

And and again, these are all on concluded races, not on live

races. And, you know, not to take the

track side, but when, when you think about things like songs,

you know, it's if the race is the song.

Well, if you're a songwriter or song artist, you do get to keep

those rights to that and reuse it and still get paid on it, you

know, on royalties well, after the song has left the main the

mainstream. And I think that kind of

thinking is what they're looking for on to get the this Now the

the thing I didn't say is, you know, again, why are the tribes

so powerful? This the despite the fact that

they have the the standing that, you know, since the the white

man basically took all their land, all we did gambling that

that that what they really, you know, I, I, I don't, I know

we're again, we're not. I keep using the phrase real

money, but I think that's that's sort of what we're all looking

at is why are the tribes so powerful?

It's because they are like the leading contributor to political

campaigns and lobbyists in California.

And we are coming up on an election year.

Rob Bonta, who's the the HE the attorney general in California

was thought to be running for governor, but he is not.

He's just going to run for attorney general announced that

I believe last week. And so, you know, I'm not saying

this was motivated by political contributions enough, but that

is why the tribes are so powerful.

As a matter of fact, the California Legislature, the

Senate and the House last year had a law or put in a law that

basically said if the tribes subject to a certain kind of

sweepstakes that somebody is holding that, that it is

illegal. And that bet, I mean that that

vote was unanimous in both houses.

So if you ever need reason to believe why the power, the, the

tribes are so powerful, you just look at that one vote where they

just put a goose egg up on legislation that doesn't, that

sounds like I don't know. You know, it's basically it was

about sweepstakes and tribes get to decide what's legal and

what's not. So that's that's kind of more

than enough background that you wanted you probably if Barry

were there but have already can't handicapped about 6 races,

but he's not. So there you have it.

Yeah, no, that's all right. John Trevor with us from the LA

Times. How much of this to you was just

forcing the issue? Maybe if we get this in the

courts, in Santa Anita's mind, we can actually push forward

with this kind of thing. And how much of this, you know,

we saw guys like Joe Neville's like, hey, talk me out of this

being, you know, suicide by cop. Which side do you feel you fall

on more in that case? Well, I mean there is a theory

out there that one of the close after 2028 as thoroughbred

racing facility in it. I, I personally believe it will

become an equestrian facility like Wellington, FL, which will

be a lot of equestrian with big fancy, expensive homes.

And if that's the case, if that is their end game, then they can

say to the people of California, listen, we tried everything we

possibly could. We just forced the machines in

there. And then when we were they took

them out, we sued the state that they're basically building a

checklist that they're just checking off stuff that could be

said about you didn't try hard enough to save racing in in

California. Now, I don't know if that's true

or if that's just sort of a, you know, conspiracy laden idea, but

it's it's certainly out there as as to why they're doing it.

Obviously the best case is they would love for this be the

panacea like it somewhat was in Kentucky.

But I don't think that's that's actually going to happen.

I think, I think in the end, let's say if they do prevail,

that I still don't think we're talking enough to change a lot

of of, you know, of, of the financial dynamics of this.

And and, you know, your listeners know this better than

anybody, but you know, you need the, you need the big purses so

that you'll get the big fields and you get the big fields

because the betters like them and the betters are the fuel

that that drives the financial engine, of course.

So that's yeah. And that.

Yeah, it is tough seeing these field sizes at Santa Anita,

certainly especially this early in the meet to see, you know,

just 566556 that kind of thing over and over again for sure.

What do you think the end game is here as far as these machines

as I mean, do they just let this in the courts for a long time?

What do you think ends up happening?

If any way you look at it will be decided by the courts, it's

not I I don't think there's a deal to be made between the

tracks and the track. They they have been talking to

each other, although I think we may have just talked in the the

last 15 minutes more than they have talked I.

Agree. But, but I don't know that I, I

think that that they will perhaps win on the, on the TRO,

put them back in and then we'll just sort of watch and see if

they can build any kind of momentum of that.

But I, you know, once they can get them in there and

established, I think you'll see them be very different than art.

They are right now. You know, right now they're just

trying to get their foot in the door.

And if they can keep that foot in the door, then they'll

they'll try experimenting with some different kinds of of

wagering. I I hear the dog in the

background. How's he been?

He's doing all right. He's good, He is.

He is 700. Years old.

Yes, you're here. He is.

He's he's 16 1/2 so. It's a diet.

Just, I know you remember being at the Derby with me when I

actually used Uber Eats to order him a steak sent to the house

very well. But you know, we, we, we all

love our dogs. And I hope he broke a little

while longer, you know? Well, there you go.

All right. Well, thanks, John, for joining

us here on SoCal Saturdays. Hope you Orlando's going to be

OK with all this. Bleep, right?

You guys are good, actually for this storm, yeah.

Oh yeah, yeah. We're down into the 40s and the

30s this past week, which to me means it's the time to fire up

the outside jacuzzi because, you know, there's nothing better

than a Jacuzzi. It's.

Real. Yeah, that's fantastic, for

sure. Well, John, thanks so much for

jumping on. Have a good weekend.

All right. Yeah, you too, Louis.

Take care. Thanks John.

There you go John, Trevor with us from the LA Times, appreciate

him jumping on with us on the horse racing happy hour.

Interesting times in Southern California as they try to get

additional wagering revenue essentially into a horse racing

out there. Obviously here in Kentucky, we

are so lucky to have, you know, the, the legislature set up the

way that it is, etcetera for us to have those machines and

different things. And so really different,

different set up out there trying to get the money into

those purses and different things.

Of course, this is so Cal Saturdays if you're new to the

program, usually there's a guy named Barry Spears sitting

alongside me. He's at the Pegasus this

weekend. So we wanted to have John on for

a little bit of news. I'm now going to go through the

card. We do this every single week on

the program. We handicap the entire card

beginning to end on Saturday mornings there and we're

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Race one out there on a Saturday at Santa Anita is on the turf.

It is a six furlong Sprint $25,000 claimer here.

This is for four and up that have never won three races in

here and so I went ahead. I went 4-6 and five in this

race. We've got a big favorite at 9:00

to 5:00 and player B, I'm going to try Billy, Billy Joe Shaver

in this one for Cesar Da Alba. Hector Barrios picks up the

mount. This one last this one one last

time. Excuse me on the dirt, but the

two back was in this condition and missed by just a half a

length. Picks up Hector Barrios for the

mount here, which I absolutely love throwing the blinkers.

I'm going to try to stay near the front of the pace like last

time. Broke a little bit slow last

time, but caught up very, very quickly.

Hopefully won't have to do much of that work.

Last time that was on the dirt, but before that broke really

well on the turf. Hopefully able to put that

together again. As I said, 46 and 5 landed on

belly up the six horse in the second spot here.

Armando Ayuso picks this mound back up after losing it last

time. David Cohen got it at Del Mar on

that 5 furlong turf course. I think 5's just a little bit

too short for this horse. I think getting back to six will

be better. This is a horse that's only one

once in nine trips on the turf, but was running a bunch of late

races on the pathetic up north at Gold at Golden Gate before

that, of course, excuse me, but what has won at 6 1/2 on the

turf at Santa Anita? So you'll see some of those

numbers in the form. It looks like the horse hasn't

won at the distance, frankly, just a little added distance

there. The horse has done just fine.

And then I do have the favorite, the five player beat in the

third spot here for Francisco Rodriguez.

Juan Hernandez picks up them out here.

Had the horse 2 back in a very similar condition over 5

furlongs at Del Mar. This one is absolutely one to

watch in this race as well. So 4-5 and six for me in race

one out there. At Santa Anita on a Saturday,

again, this is Socal Saturday's on the horse racing happy hour.

I'm Looter Bow. We're presented by am wager and

am wager.com. Go check out that site today.

I'll move on to race 2, which is another claimer.

This is a maiden 20 for state breadths there mile on the dirt

course. If you're new to Santa Anita,

that's the length of the dirt course there.

So I'll start at the same line where they will finish.

And in this one I went 6-3 and A5 on the outside is Mr. Tariff.

Leave the tariff talk alone. This is the son of Point Piper

there, bred in California. Edwin Maldonado gets the mount

again for this one that I thought showed a fair amount

last time at Los Alamitos. Just kind of ran out of gas

toward the end of that one. Finished right behind Golden

Chaser, who's also in this race, but I thought showed enough.

Gets first time Lasik's here. Jeff Bondi really good at that

angle. Three for his last seven with

horses getting Lasik's for the first time and so interested to

see that one as part of my handicapping. 6 three and five

went to one step beyond is the favorite here at 9 to 5 was in

this company for the first time last time, but sprinting at 5

1/2 was making up ground at the end of the race under Kazushi

Kamura. And who will keep them out here?

Fascinated by this one for Jorge Parabon, who I think of as more

of a trainer of certainly at Los Alamitos, but of sprinters.

And so getting out to the the the stretch out here, not his

best angle and frankly not one that he does especially well.

But this is a son of Pavel, and so it makes sense that they

would try to stretch out here square Eddie on the damn side.

And so it does make sense that they would try the stretch out

here. Probably just trying to hit the

condition, frankly, and get into a race.

But this one was good last out. I'm just going to see it.

Need to see repetition of that form and frankly see Jorge

stretch a horse out like this better than he has in the past

before I really trust him. And Golden Chaser, the

aforementioned, is in this race as well.

Laprida rides for Papa Pedromu. We'll break from the five.

This is one that wasn't very good last time at Los Al but San

Anita, excuse me, at maiden 32 level, but I look, excuse me,

George turning this one around so quickly is a sign to me that

this one's in good form and that he trusts that it will be at

over the mile at this level at Los Alamitos ran a very good

second behind what a gift should be a part of the final equation

in Race 2 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

We move on to Race 3 here on SoCal Saturdays on the horse

racing Happy Hour network 4-5 and three for me in Race 3 and

optional claimer $50,000 going 6 1/2 on the turf course.

They're $35,000 on the line. And again, I landed on the four

horse here going with the favorite.

Unfortunately in Obeliskano, but Mark Lat trains here and many,

many, many of the statistical things about how this sets up

for him makes sense. The horse did break its maiden

going 6 1/2 on this course before they stretched it out to

a mile of Del Mar Last out. Tried that out, Simply put,

didn't work. Gets back to what this horse did

well before the 6 1/2 win. Had the lead in a six furlong

maiden. Weight made special weight race

before giving that up to Helicity.

Comes back a day to remember, goes ahead and wins over that

course. I think a little bit of time off

here makes sense. Mark Glad hits at about 15% with

these kinds of runners, and when he gets into this kind of

condition where the horse is in for the tag, he hits at 24%.

So this one makes a lot of sense to me.

So I'll go with the four horse on top in race three.

I'll then go to the five horse here, right to the outside in

burning rubber. Juan Hernandez picks up the

mount again for Sean McCarthy. Broke its maiden 2 back on the

turf at Santa Anita going 6 furlongs.

Gets to keep doing that. Another one that tried to

stretch out last time, frankly, almost got there at Del Mar over

good go gets back to the 6 1/2 here.

And I think that makes a lot of sense for burning rubber and

what has turned out to be a very, very competitive race.

And then I'll go to the three just inside of them and proudly

hailed. I'm not sure there's a lot of

money in this race taking the blinkers off here.

And I think that's partly because when this one wanted

Laurel 3 back, that was part of the, you know, the the blinkers

were on there. The horse needed it in that

case. But the last couple of races,

this is a horse that seen, you know, other ones in front and

it's kind of just giving up. I wonder if this is more of an

attempt to just get the horse to settle down, kind of look around

and do some other things. 3 second place finishes in 10

races. Lifetime horses been in the

money 4 out of 10 times. I do think makes sense in this

spot as well for Jack Sisterson. How are you?

Gets the round here for that one.

This is so Cal Saturday's on the horse racing happy hour

platform. My name is Louie robot.

We move on to race 4 out there starts the pick 6, the $2.00

pick six races 4 through 9 on Saturday at Santa Anita 6250

claimer waits for us there on the dirt. 5 1/2 furlongs.

This is for Phillies and mares that are 4 and up and

essentially eventually it's a 6250 allowance.

You have to have started for that price before.

Some of our very favorite horses have run in these races because

they send to fill the gates. Unfortunately, only a field of 6

in this one rousing jewel will break from the three and that

will be my favorite in this one. Was good at the $10,000 level.

Last time was in this level, this exact level at Los

Alamitos, 2 back and finished third by 3/4 of a length behind

two of the other runners in this one.

Essentially, I'm just hoping that this horse flips the script

here. First off, the claim now for

Steve Knapp, who hits a 24% in those kinds of races, trusting

Steve Knapp in the spot. This is one that's already

started this year and so getting back right into it I think is a

sign that Knapp thinks that this one's in good form.

Give me the three rousing jewel on top in Race 4 on Saturday at

Santa Anita Park. The four horse will break just

to its outside, of course, in UFTA.

UFTA is trained by Jorge Farias. Bautista gets them out here and

this is one that we saw at this level at Los Alamitos last

outgoing 5 1/2 and this is 1, you know, picks up the bug here,

gets to drop a little bit of weight down to 119, finished

right behind auditory. And so I'm essentially hoping

that trifecta shows back up here at Santa Anita.

This is one that's run in 1000 yard races, that kind of thing.

But at the five and a half distance against other

thoroughbreds has two very good second place finishes by less

then a length. So I think the four horse in

here in UFTA makes a lot of sense and then go to the rail.

The one horse here in Auditory, the favorite at 3 to 2 was the

winner of that race that we've been talking about.

Try to step into 1000 yard $14,500 allowance types of type

of company. Finished your decent 3rd at Los

Alamitos last out gets to get back to a more comfortable

distance here. 3 for four lifetime of 2nd place finish as

well at the distance. 3 for five at Santa Anita Auditory, A

definite worthy favorite here. But frankly, I'll just try to

beat for a little bit of value here early in the pick 5, which

I do not expect to pay too terribly much.

We move on to the start of the late Pick 5 and that is race 5

on the car there at Santa Anita Park.

And this is a maiden special weight, 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

This is for three-year old Phillies is a fascinating race,

$70,000 on the line. A little bit longer as far as

the distance here. We get six horses in here and I

go to the four horse 1st and this is Victoria's dream.

Second time in North America starter.

This is one that we saw at Leopardstown in Ireland before

coming over at the seven furlong distance there.

Gets over here, tries the mile for the first time under

Kazushi. Kimura picks up picture Espinosa

here, which I think it's kind of interesting.

I kind of wish Kazuki Kazushi was still aboard, but Kazushi

staying aboard Island home, who's also in this race.

But I do think for Michael McCarthy here, this one makes a

ton of sense. Like I said, second time in

North America off the layoff here, but he hits at a very good

percentage at 16% with those kinds of runners.

I think this one fits. Also gets Lasix for the for the

first time. It's a Victoria stream, an

interesting first timer as a three-year old in this one.

So I'll start with the four on top.

Move to the six afterward in inbox.

There's a horse getting to break up from the outside.

Tiago Pereira picks up the mount first time in North America,

which is a great angle for Phil d'amato.

Hits at 23% with these kinds of runners, gets Lasix for the

first time, etcetera. And so I'm very interested to

see this horse move. You know, obviously from the

synthetic there at Dundalk in Ireland to the turf here, but

went left-handed at least doing that the 126 times seems to

match up with many of the best runs on synthetic left-handed in

Ireland. I think picking up the lasix

being in the barn here makes a lot of sense.

Thiago Pereira gets the mount. This is one that I imagine,

frankly, because Thiago's aboard will try to be either on the

front or near the front and in this group that won't be the

easiest thing to do. Shanes the brains, the five

horse here is probably going to try to inherit the lead other

throwing the blinkers on that one.

In fact, to I think try to get it to be even more forwardly

placed than last time. But Adam mile and an eighth

inbox stretching out this way. That's Ectot on the on the sire

side the the distance makes sense and so interested to see

that one in here as well. SO46 and two went to the two for

the last spot. Island home aforementioned

Kazushi Kamara riding for Michael McCarthy here.

So essentially riding with McCarthy and with Phil d'amato

in this one, first time Lasix etcetera, etcetera.

I think a lot of the angles here make a lot of sense for Island

home. So I'll go ahead in race 5, go

46 and two to closeout the early pick five start that late pick

five there as well. We're talking about the nine

race card at Santa Anita on Saturday.

My name is Louie Robot. This is So Cal Saturdays on the

Horse Racing Happy Hour Network. We are presented by Amwager and

amwager.com. Race 6 starts the late pick 4.

They're at Santa Anita. We get into what I consider to

be a very fun set of races. Race 6 is 6 1/2 furlongs on the

dirt. It's an optional claimer,

$25,000 claiming price. You could also consider to say

$20,000 starter allowance, $35,000 on the line in here and

I went 1-4 and two in race 6 Emirates Affair.

Hector Berrios picks up the mount again for this one.

Who won two back going this distance at this level?

It was at Del Mar Tried the $50,000 level last time under

Hector Berrios horse got in between horses and then when

they realized it just wasn't going to happen, this 1 ended up

finishing last and Hector did a good job of making sure that

this one didn't expend too much energy on January 11th to the

point that this one's already back running again.

This is essentially second off the land for Robert Hess, who

brings this one back in. He does that at 14%.

He and Hector Barrios, oddly enough, not a good combination

as far as jockey and trainer, but I'm not going to worry about

that. As I said, one with this one at

Del Mar, just two back at this level.

I think getting back into this level makes a lot of sense.

It's also in every other type. 7th and 5th last out and three

back first and 2nd, 2nd and 4th back.

This is the every other here as well for Emirates affairs should

be 1 to watch in a race 6W they whiskey wish they all could be.

Excuse me is the six horse in here The four horse in here.

Excuse me at six to five for Ryan Hansen, winner last time at

this level that's in. I need it now.

What's interesting is this is the first time in the barn with

Ryan Hansen, who's over nine with his last first time

claimers. Now, this horse seems to fit in

really well here if you toss the effort at Losalle in earlier

December. Now that was off a bit of a

layoff since August. The horse ran a decent second.

Miraco Demuro was aboard for both of those rides.

He's not in town for this weekend.

And so Edmund Maldonado picks up the mount.

The two of them have won, he and Ryan Hansen two of their last

five races together at Santa Anita Park.

So it's not as though the two of them can't hit this horses in

the money 36 times out of eight runs last year, really good

record at Santa Anita. 12 times in the money out of 14 runs.

So I would not be surprised to see.

Wish they all could be as part of the final equation here.

And then I went to the two horse for the third spot, Buds and

suds 8 to 1 here. Steve Knapp, nice to finally get

a price in here. That's another one.

Last year, twelve runs in 2025, three, one and three first,

second thirds for this one. Has one at Santa Anita before in

nine attempts and has been running in this kind of company

quite a bit. Gets to stay in here as well.

Just peppering the board, peppering the board, peppering

the board. Has one at the distance at Del

Mar at $10,000. Going to have to be better here,

but I think it'd run a good third after those two.

So look for the one, four and two for me in this spot.

Buds and Suds, how about that instead of state Thursday?

I like that. Move on to Race 7 here.

We'll start the late pick three. I will give out a late pick 3

wager in my article at the Sporting Tribune this weekend.

Go. So go ahead and look for that.

A $3 minimum pick three. Only 15% take out on this wager.

It's a really, really fine wager out there at Santa Anita and it

starts with a fine race. Race 7 is an optional claimer,

$70,000 on the line of $50,000 if you want to be in for the

tag. This for non 2 lifers, Phillies

and mares 4 and up mile and an eighth on the turf.

Nice field in here. We get a full 10 runners for

this one and I thought a lot of different places to look.

I went 75 and 10 in race 7, so 7 and seven.

Take a breath for Mark Blatt. We're going to mention three

horses here. All of them are dropping out of

very good runs in graded steaks company.

So MBAYA goes ahead and wins the American Oaks.

I read Ortiz had the mount last time for Take a Breath for Mark

Blatt. Finished a very good fourth in

the American Oaks. Gets to drop into this company

after being in much more difficult company of the last

couple of times out. I think this is 1 if you go back

to that Delmar Oaks in a mile and a quarter or mile and an

eighth, excuse me as well, that really like the added distance.

And I think this is one that can absolutely get up here.

Three wins, eight runs last year, including in a class 4

there at Sandown Park in Great Britain that was going

right-handed, but the horse has shown plenty of ability going

left-handed, including in Salisbury and then of course

stateside as well. I thought the American Oaks

performance was a nice step forward.

This is second in this form cycle, which is a good angle for

Mark Glad as well. So I'll lead on the seven and

take a breath in race 7 as well as my top pick here.

I then went to the five horses just will it T This is a horse

that all of you out West know very well.

Runs at both Del Bar and Santa Anita.

Purely A turf horse. 10th lifetime starts, three wins a

second and three thirds for this one.

Has one at Santa Anita as well. We saw this one in the Frankel

last out at the beginning of January quick turn around here,

but Hector Barrios was aboard there.

We get Kazushi Kamura here, which I do like for Tim Yak

team. This horse has become really,

really consistent and it fits at this level very well.

Maiden breaker at 62 five then comes into optional claimers

against winners for the first time gets the win.

I'll tell you Fraser, who gets them out in a $50,000 allowance,

wins that one as well. Tries the Frankel and frankly,

if that race is a little bit longer even than a mile and an

eighth, this horse might win. Finish the 6th, but by a length

and three quarters. Bit of a blanket finish in that

one, of course, in the Frankel, but I thought showed a lot and

if you wanted to make this horse your favorite, I would

absolutely not argue with you. She gets to she gets it done a

lot. Daughter of Oscar performance

has really outperformed her purchase price has been very,

very good. Has Willa T and then I went to

the 10 horse on the outside. This is resolved 9 to 2.

The aforementioned Hector Barrios will ride for Leonard

Powell. This is one that was also in the

American Oaks. Finished right behind the other

horses in 5th place by two likes.

Before that though, at a mile and 3/8 of Del Mar, Finished

second by a length and a half, but was in the lead at the mile

and an eighth pole. And so I do want her just

getting back to the distance will be good for resolve here.

Daughter of Midnight Loot, which is she's very much outperformed

that pedigree over 9 last year though, which is why I don't

have her in any of the top 2 spots.

I think she's really talented, but I think she's more likely to

run second or third in here. So again, in Race 7, I'll go

ahead. I'll go 75 and 10.

Once I get to my tickets, I'll probably only use the five and

the seven go ahead and move on to race 8.

This is the stake on the day and it is the start of the late

double. It's a $5 minimum late double

with a 15% take out out West. It's a great bet if you are a

double player, especially it is the LA Canada, it's a grade 3,

it's $100,000 and it's for Phillies and mayors that are 4

and up. We're going a mile and a 16th on

the dirt here. First chance really for the

Phillies and Mayors on the dirt side of things to get a graded

stakes win over two turns there in Southern California.

This will be the feature race in my article at the Sporting

Tribune as well. Baffert's got a trio in here.

A fair number of other good runners in here, though as well

for the grade three. I'm fascinated by this one.

I'll go to the five first and we'll use a Baffert, but the

other Baffert. I think Nafisa is really

interesting in here and this is a horse that took 13 attempts to

break her maiden. Let me say that one more time

about a Bob Baffert trainee. This is a horse that took 13

attempts to break her maiden. So confused by this horse.

Where were the connections that she has eight lifetime starts on

the turf with four second place finishes.

Horse has been in the money a bunch.

She's obviously paying her bills and then she got out there at a

mile on the dirt last out against winners for the first

time, and she went ahead and won.

Now she's going without Lasix here.

She's picking up Kazushi Kimura for the third time here, staying

on the dirt. The works are very whatever.

I'm not going to lie. The works are just very

whatever, but they were very whatever before her wins as

well. And we're so used to these

Baffert horses working like crazy and I think once in a

while we see these works and we just assume something's off.

I, I don't think that at all with her.

I think much more of a concern is not having Lasik's in this

race. Just hard to know what she's

going to do. But I also daughter of Quality

Rd. I know it's a $1.8 million

purchase, so they're trying to get something out of this for

the, the Zedon folks. But I, I don't know, I think her

form recently speaks to a horse that in this field has a real

shot to pick this off because otherwise you're dealing with

horses that you're trusting. We're in tougher company and are

going to to get back to their better form.

I think she's in her better form right now.

And so give me that. Give me give me the face on top

here. I'll take the five horse on top

in the lock on the DOB brilliantly will break from the

four one Hernandez rides for Bob Baffert.

He's throwing the blinkers on, which means he wants her to get

back to more What she did in her maiden breaking run there at

Santa Anita on the turf going a mile and that was getting the

lead and keeping the lead. She tried the La Brea last out.

Obviously that was run one, excuse me, by Usha by a billion

by a billion length. Simply joking was in that field

etcetera. She was way up the track man and

I I think that's why he's throwing the blinkers on really

hoping that she'll be a little more locked in a little more a

little closer to the pace. Excuse me and when you see Juan

next to Bob's name integrated stakes, you know that they're

being serious out there in California.

So I'll go ahead and put her in the second spot numerically had

to go to the three here 543. So there she was Hamario rides

for Doug O'deal in this spot. Another one coming out of the La

Brea, and this is exactly what I'm talking about.

You either have to go with someone who's in current form,

like Nafisa, or you have to go with someone like so there she

was and trust that she's dropping out of the La Brea,

dropping out of the Mother Goose, and she's going to be

good to go. This is one that ran well in the

Torrey Pines in a mile behind Almond Joy.

So if you wanted to look for a horse that can jump up and win

this race, I think she absolutely can.

So I'll go 5, four and three in the La Canada.

In other words, absolutely including a feast in your

tickets because I think she's got a serious shot to be the

other offer. Other other Baffert in here for

sure. We'll go to the closer in race

at 9:00. I've got a bunch in here because

this is the big one of the bigger fields of the day.

Field of nine for an A state bred optional claimer.

Phillies, Phillies and Bears 4 and up, which have never won,

blah, blah, blah. It is essentially a $20,000

optional claimer starter allowance 6 to furlongs on the

turf here. We're running for $70,000.

Fun field here. I think one that can be a lot of

can finally get us a price on the day.

Pavel's a 12 will be my top pick here.

The eight horse 15 to 1 Armando Ayuso picks up the mount.

I'm essentially going back to the race 2 back and three back

at Del Mar and at Santa Anita sprinting on the turf.

This one really started to put together.

Obviously the horse was in good shape.

We see this all the time going from turf to that dirt at Los

Alamitos. Tried it at Los Alamitos.

Simply put, competitive early on but didn't love it later.

This is a horse that, by the way, turn 3 got Lasix and her

career completely changed and so I think she's just one to

include in here. Speed figures make sense, wins

make sense, etcetera. I think you throw Pavels a twal

in here for sure. 8 horse, 15 to 1.

I don't know how much of the 15 to one we'll get by the time we

get to the gate Boy. If it's anywhere in the double

digits, that might be a push for your boy.

Mendelssohn's Angel break from the seven.

We have seen these medalsons on the on the grass, so we know

exactly how good they are. 1/2 back in a maiden, special weight

going the fire. Excuse me.

The six furlongs at Santa Anita stretch out to a mile.

Last time at Del Mar just didn't work.

It's back to the distance that works.

This is a Brennan Golvin trainee.

I think it makes a lot of sense. Avaloscano picks up the mount

here. So my sense is they're just

going to go is one that they're just going to go with.

I think it makes a lot of sense for her to try that tact.

And so one for one at Santa Anita looking to make it 2 for

287 here. That would be a spectacular

exactly if we can get it fancy facts.

We'll break from the six Mike Pipee for and Kazushi Kumar on

this one. This one almost got it done last

out. It wouldn't be eligible for this

race if she did had the lead in the race at 5 furlongs at Del

Mar. But boy, those fractions were

cooking 46 flat 58 and one was the winning time for young love

in that race. And it's just a a reminder that

sometimes you get caught in the speed of the speed.

This is one that was really good at at Santa Anita on the dirt

before has been in state bread company, except for that last

race, which was open to open company on the on the Philly

side. At least they're at Del Mar.

I thought showed herself really well, gets back in the state

sort of company here and should be amongst the better runners.

And so 87 and six, I'll go ahead and throw another one in that'll

be in my tickets. Crystal Clean will break from

the four. Hector Barrios keeps them out

here. This is one that's won twice in

her career. Never been worse than third, I

think makes a ton of sense in this spot.

Only question is the layoff for Sadler.

He's pretty good on those. His horse has been working like

crazy as well. If you told me you put this one

on top, I would not fight you. But I'll throw in four in my

final part of my ticket 876 and four to close the car there at

Santa Anita on Saturday. Well, I'm Lou Rebell thanks to

John Trevor for joining us here on the horse racing happy hour.

Of course, this is Socal Saturdays presented by Amwager

and amwager.com. Go check them out.

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AM wager.com for John Sherman and you know he'll be back next

week for Barry Spears. I'm Lou rebel.

Good luck with your wages this weekend, and if you're dealing

with it, good luck with the snow people.