Santa Anita Saturday | San Luis Rey

Louie & Barry are back with another edition of SoCal Saturdays.

The San Luis Rey is the feature.

Full Transcript

It's blinking music dude Ohh. It's growing, I think it.

You know that what it is, it's. Growing, I think.

I think it's. It's the growing.

It's growing. Growing and not showing.

It's So Cal Saturdays hanging out with you on the Horse Racing

Happy Hour presented by AM Wager am wager.com.

New customers go get a 100% deposit match up to $150.00

right now with our friends at amwager@amwager.com.

We are on the Sporting Tribune site.

We are on the Horse Racing Happy Hour platform.

You can find us here every Friday, 2:00 Barry, how are you,

man? We're watching.

I know you're like me. I've got a screen right back

watching basketball. So if everybody sees my eyes

doing this, we're not going to not talk about the Saint Louis

Ray. But of course, the hoops are out

here as well. Very bad.

You do it all right. Yeah, doing great.

Weather's getting better or great and there's hoops on and

there's horses. And is a fan of a lot of things.

This is the best time. Here it is.

Yeah. It's a great time here in the

Bluegrass, especially our local teams, both in the tournament.

Louisville winning yesterday. Colts game there for Kentucky

right now against the feisty Broncos team there from Santa

Clara. Out in California, where you and

I just were and where you and I, we'll be handicapping the races.

If you're due to the program, we go through the full card in

Southern California every week right at this time.

On Saturdays, of course, a pair of stakes.

Tomorrow, the Irish O'Brien down the hill for the Cal Breads

there, and then in Race 9, the San Luis Ray as well.

Barry and I will give out turf. Pick three tickets toward the

end of the show so that you can have something to bet on out at

Santa Anita Park. Maybe watch alongside of us make

fun of Barry when his bet ends up missing.

But we'll start with Race 1. It was very nice to me.

We started mile on an eighth on the turf.

How about that, Barry? We're going a little bit longer

than usual. Usually find ourselves at a mile

on the turf to open the card. But we'll go mile on an eighth

here, which I am certainly not mad about.

It is on the Philly and a mayor's side, or excuse me, on

the Philly side. 3 year olds here.

Mile and an eighth on the turf. Barry. 70,000 on the line in an

in a maiden special weight. And boy, I, you know, six horses

in here, but boy, I think you can make a real case for about

four or five of them. Oh yeah, absolutely.

I think one of these connections must have been begging the

racing off as the car to race like this.

I just got to figure out who it was.

Oh, man. All right, so who would you lay

it on a race one day? So in in race one, I thought

this race was kind of straightforward.

I thought Daria is is the horse to beat, but I went to the three

tip tap. That race against Surf Song was

pretty good. This horse went head in head

with Bint Al Dandy, who was a horse that came from overseas,

ran at Saratoga a few times and just can't get over the hump and

win. But that horse is pretty fast

and this horse went head in head with that one pretty much all

the way around the track up until the end where where they

faded late. It was the first start.

I think, you know, the McCarthy barn does really well second

time out and this horse might be the speed and if they get in

front of Photogenic, they might just control this pace and win

this race. If not, I feel like they can sit

right on the pace and stalk and pounce and and and get it done

that way. So the versatility I think is

there and we're going with tip tap at 9:00 to 2:00 on top.

To the hoop, as the kids say. I do wonder, Barry, with the

with the opening fractions in that last race, you know, the

the 23 flat, the 47 flat, you're gonna have to do that even in a

mile and an eighth in a main race at at Santa Anita.

And so I think that experience does speak well for the three

horse, you and I same three horses, just a slightly

different order. You said it to open your

handicapping. Daria, probably the one to beat.

I agree with you, probably the one to beat here.

The second timer in North America.

We saw this one in Ireland before coming over from Dundalk,

finish a good third going left-handed, gets back out there

going a mile flat ground here, not on the synthetic tries turf

for the first time. She puts up a really good show

under Thiago Pereira, I think is the likely favorite here.

And if you were looking to get real skinny in the early

sequence, Barry, I think you would lean on the six here to go

into your pick 5. Something like that, Barry, as

we move through the card. And I did this yesterday with a,

with our guy Johnny P, with whom you went to the Wood Memorial

last year. How about that?

All the things to say out loud. We attended the we attended the

Wood Memorial with Johnny P how about that?

But no, I was talking with him yesterday.

We did the Laurel card yesterday in the late sequence.

You know a lot of 6 field, the six horse field, 7 horse, 8

horse fields. How do you maximize value there?

Well, the good news is both in California and in Maryland,

Maryland especially 12% on those take out on those pick fives,

pressure, pressure things. So two parts, look for those

take out rates and the second part is raise your base minimum.

Don't just play for $0.50 here. If you got if you got an

opinion, go play for a dollar even in the pick 5.

Go ahead and push it as much as you possibly can with your

bankroll. And Barry, this is one of those

spots I think if you're going to try the pick, you know, try the

pick 5 here, go ahead and lean on the six.

But the other part is this early pick five in California, 14%

take out. So this is your opportunity is

to go ahead and play this early part of the sequence.

Barry in race one. How many would you include in

that early? Pick 5?

I would just use the top two there, the three and the six.

All right, again, Barry, 36 and two there.

I am 363 and two in the first race.

Move on to race 2 here. Start of the early pick. 4A

maiden 20 awaits betters there. This is So Cal Saturdays on the

horse racing happy hour podcast network.

He's Barry Spears and I'm Louie Robel.

Thanks for hanging out with us and with the good folks at

amwagerandamwager.com. We're going to mile on the dirt

here, $20,000 is the claim price, 21,000 in the purse here,

Barry. Even number races on the show

means I go 1st and so 5, four and two for me in this spot

using the second favorite on top.

And I'm not not being too terribly creative here, but this

is one that I thought coming off the turf here made a lot of

sense. Making the switch back to dirt,

Son of authentic. So I do think getting back to

the dirt makes sense. Empire Maker on the damn side.

So I at least want the two turns in the mile here.

Kyle Frey has not ridden this one before, but Giroud decided

to get the lead in a mile and an eighth turf race last out.

I wonder if they won't try to rate a little bit more here, but

boy, this is one that doesn't mind being right on the front.

But if we go back to a mile on the turf at Santa Anita in

October, this is one that sat just off of it.

Just didn't quite have enough. I think the $20,000 is the right

kind of class relief for this one, so I'll put the five on top

here. Barry.

I'm going to stop talking though, because you have the

same three horses. What do you like about the four

horse here? Or do you have anything to add

about the five horse? Here, well, I think the five

actually is the speed. I I I don't think redial who if

you look at the four races that that horse has run has been off

slowly every time. And I don't think that trend is

is about to not continue. And Lorenzo Bernini looks to be

the horse that breaks well and will get the lead, control this

pace and probably win this easy bossing MO the four horse.

You know, I guess the drop in class last time along with the

stretch out there was a little bit of an improvement and there

is a possibility that they will try to get the same trip the 2

will try to get and just chose the bigger price. 54 and two for

you, the 2 horse as well for me in the third spot here.

Barry is the favorite in redial. I will give my reason for

leaving this one out. It's just I mean this one huge

layoff. I don't know what we're going to

get this, you know, back in form here, but I'll go ahead.

I'll just put the horse third, Barry, until I I see it do what

it did last time again, right, Like go ahead and repeat that

performance for me and then I'll buy it.

Yeah, Yeah, that's very fair. I mean, if you look at the the

five Lorenzo Bernini's races, the body of work has just been

faster for the most part. I mean, Redial had that last

race on the drop that was good. That probably stands out, but

not consistent enough. We need, we need to see more of

that. Race 3 here on the card is on

the dirt as well. It's a mile again but it's a

state bred optional claimer, $20,000 to claim a horse here,

$70,000 purse. This is a non 2 lifer event and

Barry going a mile on the dirt here.

Refocus 2 to one in the 2 hole here.

I know you're going to try to beat that one.

Yeah, absolutely. Another dead closer in a race

that lacks speed. I ended up going to the four.

I don't know if it's Macy's or Mickey's Express.

I, I thought this horse kind of has a little bit of an edge

here, basically because I'm, I'm under the impression that this

pace might get a little hot up front a little bit.

And I'm not really sure how far Coach Cronin really wants to go.

You know, they've been a steady diet of 6-7 furlong races and

it, you know, those 7 furlong races, this horses is kind of

not finishing all that great. I know they won one the 32,000

Open back at Los Al, but that field is just not this caliber.

I mean these horses are a little bit better than those, so I'm

not really sure, but Mickey's or Mickey's Express, their races

have been kind of more consistent at a higher level.

They drop down to this this level after a run.

I think they're going to be loaded and ready to go with a

good trip here behind Coach Cronin.

Interesting one for sure. Barry's going to go 432.

I will go 312 in this spot. So similar handicapping to

Barry. I got the three on top here.

Barry, just cuz Coach Cronin, I'm leaning on that form from

last time and essentially what I'm banking on here is that he's

just going to go get a lead and it might be kind of loose and he

just runs away with it. And that's really what I'm

banking on here with Coach Cronin.

So I'll go 31 and two here. I also think the rail horse is

an interesting one in the Gypsy Cowboy does have two wins at the

distance and four times in the trifecta over 12 runs at a mile

has won at Santa Anita before 3rd place finish last out at in

these conditions, essentially behind whiskey and Brandy,

whiskey, gin and Brandy, who you and I actually think is a pretty

nice horse. And so maybe, you know, maybe

this is the spot where you know, this 4 year old can get can get

back on the winning side of things.

So three, one and two for me here in this spot.

Move on to race 4. Continuing on with SoCal.

Saturday's Race 4 is on the dirt as well.

Maiden 32 here. It's the highest level of maiden

that isn't a $50,000 maiden there in California. 6 furlongs

out of the dirt, $26,000 purse Berry 3 year olds in this spot.

And so I'll go first in race 4 here.

I landed on the five. And by the way, in my notes,

Barry, I have all leg. And so this is 1 where I think

you can make a case literally for all but one horse in this

field. I'll go to Texas Wildcat.

I thought his last two efforts were both ones that could win in

this company, Barry both at the maiden 32 level, 1 at five and a

half, one at six. We're going 6 here.

I think it makes a lot of sense for this horse.

I think last time he got, you know, he got pushed outside

pretty far. If you remember that race back

in February, he got pushed outside a little bit in that

previous race. And I'm wondering if just a

slightly better start here, like he got 2 back.

He'll be way closer. I think if he is closer in this

group that he does get it done. So again, 5-6 and one for me.

Charlie De Oro is 1. This is why it's an all leg for

me, Gary, because I I see the world in which this horse gets

it done, comes out of a maiden 12 of all things at Los Al going

1000 yards. But that was in mixed company.

This is a son of Charlatan of all things, a three-year old.

He's only gone that one race. I get him a second time here,

Barry, Why not? Why not 3 year old should should

I think improve off of that race at LaSalle And frankly the maybe

just the full turn we find out that he loves getting on the

lead like that. And so I'll go 5-6 and one in

here and you've got the one on top.

Yeah, I, I took the horse that really doesn't have knocks on on

him yet, Tess of Hemet and I also, I'm not really crazy about

the post position, but I'm not really crazy about a lot of

these horses in this race. So I, I, you know, there it's a

small enough field where a horse like the one can get a good trip

because they're, they're not going to be on the engine, I

don't believe. But getting good position is

probably where it's at. The 2 outside horses, the five

and the six look to be the speed balls in here and you might want

to throw in the three Sophie's heart.

If that happens, you know they'll be lining up the 1-2 and

the four should be lining up to to try to get their spot to make

that run. You know, there's there's really

not much to to glean on a horse leg test of Hemet, but the

trainer does OK with first time starters and this is a kind of

race that they could pick off with a with a horse that may not

be the best in this race and they could fall into a good trip

and win it, hopefully. Test of Hemet, trained by Hector

O Palma, he only two wins in 25 starts with five second place

finishes amongst those starters as well.

So maybe Saturday is the day that he starts to breakthrough

on that end again. And Race for Barry is 1/4 and

two. This is an all ish leg for me.

5-6 and one for me here. Yeah, that's, that's pretty

fair, you know, as an all leg because.

Yeah, it just it just ish. Yeah, right.

Right, because if somebody catches a flyer and gets out in

front of this field, they they could easily control the pace

and win this race. So, and, and honestly, any one

of these horses could do that. No, that's exactly right.

I, I there is a there's a world in my mind, Barry, that in these

back-to-back races, race 3 and race 4, someone just gets the

lead and is gone. I, I, I think in these two,

these two legs of this early pick 5, you could definitely run

into that sort of thing with Barry Spears.

I'm Leora Bell. This is so Cal Saturday is on

the horse racing happy hour network.

We're going to go to race 5 now and this starts the all turf

pick three and the late pick five there at Santa Anita Park

Park on Saturday. Barry and I will give our all

turf pick 3 picks later. Barry will make fun of me for

mine. Kentucky just signed it, just

tied it up 70 to 70 and then Santa Clara went down and

drilled A3 from like 30 feet bang.

But then Ortega away just made a 32 foot jumper to tie the game.

7373. We are looking at overtime.

Bronco St. Louis first round matchups, dog.

It's been so fantastic. We're back.

Oh, I love it. This Oh, this tournament, man.

Let's go. Broncos race starts starts at

all turf pick three, which means the race is in fact on the turf.

A mile there $16,000 starter allowance here.

Barry $29,000 purse. I thought this was a fun field.

Where'd you land? I landed on the five thirsty

trickster. I don't know about that, but

there seems to be a lack of. Speed.

I don't know about that. I don't even know what.

That is, there's not really much speed in this race and I think

Thirsty Trickster, especially positioned on the outside can

get a good run at this. I think they're a little bit

faster than the six Catalina cocktail and that might put them

in in prime position to pounce on the leaders here who I think

might be the two. There's Silver Lining and maybe

throw in the three Moonlit Courage, but I'm not really too

fond of the one Too much, who probably will take a lot of

action because of the fact that Juan Hernandez lands here.

But that horse seems to to be very slow early and doesn't

really get the job done. They like to finish second and

third an awful lot and that's where I put them for actually

third. But I think Thirsty Trickster is

the good hasn't has the speed to win this race and just needs to

trip. Agree with you on the one and

the five. I've got the six on top, though.

You called her slow. I'm going to try our Catalina

cocktail daughter, Catalina Cruiser.

Of course, this is one that started its career in Southern

California in the Tim McMahon barn and excuse me, in Northern

California. Made the move to Southern

California and needed kind of a refresh at the lower level there

at Turf Paradise. So I think makes sense getting

back into this kind of spot. Bart Home did the work there at

Turf Paradise. John Sadler gets this one now in

the barn for the Mendel folks. And I, I do wonder if this isn't

where this horse needs to be. This one makes a lot of sense to

me. You can tell Barry, I think too,

that he's looked at the running style of this horse and kind of

want to gets back, wants to get back to more of what he saw two

back and three back from this horse where it's more forwardly

placed because those works are pretty sharp on the Tepita there

at Santa Anita Park. And so I'm wondering if he's not

trying to get her a little bit faster and a little bit closer.

In other words, he agrees with you.

And so that horse needs to be a little bit closer to the pace.

I'll trust that she will be again.

I went to the one horse on the rail inside she splendid Juan

Hernandez gets them out here. This is one that looked good at

the optional 32 level gets to be in the optional excuse me at the

16 level here. And so I just think the class

relief makes a lot of sense under Obeliskano last time.

I think the move to Juan is a big step up as well.

And so again, 61 and five for me.

Barry already told you all the good things about the five horse

in race 5. We got no T Barry, Kentucky or

Santa Clara. Santa Clara Broncos.

Come on, man. Come on, Come on, man.

Dog but yes Otega OA 29 points in the game Kentucky finally

getting a major contributions from its very best players there

late pick four starts race 6 here on SoCal Saturdays we're

talking about Santa Anita Saturday he's Barry I'm Louis

thanks for hanging out with us. We're presented by am wager

Maiden 56 furlongs on the dirt here, $35,000 in the Kitty

Berry. But even number race means Louis

gets A to go first. I went 2-5 and three here.

Lindy's Dream 9:00 to 5:00 in the morning line drops out of

maiden Special Company into 50 here.

I think that kind of move makes a lot of sense.

Armando Iuso keeps them out here.

Simply put, this horse was part of the equation until very, very

late. And when the horse got pressed

on the outside, it kind of gave up.

And I didn't love that last time, but I'm trusting that

Armando can get this horse back into the race and effective

much, much earlier in the part in in this race at least, the

five horse is Mettler is the first timer in here.

Andy Mathis first time in a maiden claimer.

For whatever reason, this is what he does.

So here we are. Todario gets them out as well,

which I really like. This horse has been working OK,

but what's funny, Barry is all of his best, fastest workouts

are from the gate, right? And guess what?

All races are from from the gate.

So it's good news for me in this case, in case anyone was

wondering, that's how they work. They don't hold up the the

string anymore like they used to.

Barry, should we go back to the string?

I don't think we should. All right, And then you know

what would say you don't want to bring new people from the game,

Get rid of the starting gates and bring back the string.

That's what we need. It's as good an idea as whatever

everyone else has come up with. And then I went to the three

horse here on the outside, but we will get to him later.

Barry, where's your land? Race 6.

In race 6, I landed on the seven dust them Two I I really thought

that this horse really got compromised at the start.

Tim Yakking's horses definitely do a lot better second time out,

but I I found it interesting that he stepped this horse up

from a $20,000 state bred Philly event to a 50,000 on the second

start. After that slow start, a couple

of workouts since kind of moving in the right direction in hooks

of field. That is a little bit light on

experience and I think that might make all of the

difference. Here is that one run.

That's really why I picked this horse over Mettler.

Mettler obviously has all the signs, you know, the good

trainer first time out. Although the barn is kind of

cold right now. That's kind of why I went to

dust them. Two 8 to 1's, fair price.

Tim Yak team in my estimation is the Rodney Dangerfield of

trainers out in LA. Gets no respect, but is very,

very good. There you go.

I like that little Rodney Dangerfield reference on the

show. 75 and 325 and 3 for us in racing.

Yeah, my. God, random, like good, good

Simpsons reference is the Rodney Dangerfield episode where he's

burns his son and he spells Yale with a six.

It all of it is very good. It's very fantastic.

Barry and I've never talked Simpsons, even though we both

have that in common as a thing that we think is funny.

Like you and I, we've never talked about The Simpsons.

We've never talked about it, but there you go.

Move on to the late pick three. It is the middle part of the

turf. Pick three as well and it is the

Irish O'Brien. We're going down the hill.

Even though they didn't do that in front of Barry, they will do

it on Saturday. It's $100,000.

It's for cowbreads and it's for Phillies and Mares 4 and up.

Grand Slam Smile is in here. She has four wins on the turf

and two of those are down the hill.

Barry, she's very close to the Buena Vista.

Last out two. How do we beat her?

It's going to be tough, but again, I hate the rail post

downhill 6 1/2. It is just not a great place to

be. I I know grand Slams smile

probably towers over this field and probably will win this race

despite the post because there's not really a lot of horses here

where they can get situated. But I don't, you know, I

wouldn't take that six to five. I know.

That right, No, right out of win bet for sure, yes, right, I

guess, yeah. So I mean, there are there are

are alternatives like take another card who's been

competitive with Grand Slam smile recently, actually back in

January, just missed. And if if things kind of work

out and and let's say prancing it through Paris kind of

controls the pace here and goes heads up with Grand Slam smile,

which kind of seems unlikely, but it's it's certainly possible

because Juan Hernandez understands pace.

It could set up for a horse like take another card.

But it it's real tough to get around the one in this spot.

For sure, I agree with you. One, four and six for you 1,

five and six for me. I'll talk about the five.

Prancing through Paris is the 1:00 to 1:00 and 5:00 to 2:00.

Excuse me. And as you mentioned, it's

coming out of a, a not so great showing down the hill.

But this is one that Juan Hernandez, like you just said,

you know, is going to be able to control the pace.

And this is one that won this race last year right in the five

horse. And so if that's going to be,

you know, if we're going to get any kind of return to form down

the hill, maybe that's the spot to be fair to this one, finished

third behind Grand Slam Smile. Best horse in this, the best

horse in this field. So I might be just a straight up

15. I'd move on with my life for

that one. But that is the middle part of

the all turf pick three. We'll get to those picks later

in the program. Race 8 is back on the dirt,

$32,000 optional here, $37,000 per six furlongs on the dirt and

this is for four and up. Non how many lifers here, non

winners of this, this and this? OK, not really those kinds of

conditions. I went 1-5 and six last race.

I will go 1/4 and six in this race.

You and I landed on the same long longer shot here.

Barry Baladi will break from the inside.

Armando Aluso gets them out. I'm interested that you landed

on this one in this spot, but I essentially am looking at a

couple of different races. There's a race at 7 furlongs at

LaSalle at the 32 level. This horse ran really well in

and then came back immediately after that.

They stepped this one into 80 competition and yes, the horse

ran 4th, but that was a really good 7 furlong.

Midnight Mammoth was in that race.

We're talking about stakes horses.

And so I'm I think this one has been running in very, very good

company. Trying to come up from off the

pace at LaSalle. That ain't happening.

And so, you know, that's the sort of thing to back.

Was that the 50 level last time? I just didn't fire.

I love the move back to Armando, who was aboard in that race at

LaSalle. I think Ballady makes a lot of

sense here, and obviously you agree.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'll go back to that

race they ran against Coach Cronin where they didn't have a

shot because Coach Cronin was just faster and and it was kind

of a merry go round race. But this horse did finish, you

know, kind of clear of everybody else.

And I think that bodes well in a race like this where a lot of

these horses are really facing lesser and there's a lot of

speed. So the 6th, the favorite Bagnik

has to go, hard to figure, probably has to go and Coe dwell

is definitely going. And then that just sets it up

for a horse like Balloty to to kind of slip in there and get a

good trip thought the the two chasing money is very

interesting, especially at a big price.

Another closer that has the numbers 21 seems like really,

really high. I I don't think that's going to

be the price of post time, but definitely going to be most

likely the longest shot on the board though. 8379 Kentucky. 49

seconds left in overtime. Not good for my bracket, not

good for berries. No, we're good.

I didn't have Kentucky going anywhere.

No, I was going to say I have Iowa State stopping on either of

these teams in the next round, but Berry goes 1-6 and two.

I went 1-4 and six. I'll talk about the four horse

in this spot. By the way, I agree with you and

Bognik. He's just going to have to go.

And Berry, look, if he runs his race, he wins.

It's OK, it's all right. The six horse wins here.

If he runs this race, I get it. When's he going to do it right?

Like people put up and shut up for him.

I think at this point in his career, I'll put the four ahead

of him in Hawker. Part of this is a Haramiyo play.

This is a horse that needed some time off after a long campaign

from May until January, and so this one's going to get some

time off. Andy Mathis bringing this one

back, has won. How about this?

Five of his last 15 starts. Horses off this kind of layoff,

20% on the dirt recently with a big, big number.

Give me a missile. Harmario Haramiyo in this, but I

think he makes a lot of sense if we get back to that form we saw

at Delmar in a 25 claimer. I think he makes a ton of sense

here. This is a horse that's one on

dirt, one on turf. If he's if he's ready these game

and like Andy Mathis usually has them off.

The layoff is going to be in the money for sure on a Saturday.

Race 9 closes the card and so if you are looking to close the

card, I have great news. We're going to talk about it

right now. Race 9 is the grade 3 San Luis

Rey closes out that turf. Pick three also closes out the

entirety of the card one mile and a half.

If you're new to mile and a half races at at San Diego Park, they

actually start on the curved part of the downhill turf course

toward the bottom of the hill there.

But the horses do get a little bit of a downhill start for the

mile and a half races there. Two turns after that, $100,000

on the line here, 4 and up. Barry, interesting horses in

here. We get Gold Phoenix, who's been

spectacular in the races where he's been spectacular.

We get a horse like Balnikov who we all just kind of can't figure

out and the true qualities in here.

He had a win last year. Flashiest hasn't won in a couple

of years. It feels like a pretty wide open

race, my friend. Yeah, You know Gold Phoenix, I'm

I'm kind of cold on I I just don't appreciate horses enough

that close from way back like that.

I I just can't bring myself to to playing them on top at short

prices. And this is another time that

Gold Phoenix is going to be that.

Not to mention the last time in the San Marcos this horse ran a

sub 90 buyer first time in a long time and I don't know I I I

just don't think this horse is trending in the right direction.

8 year old you figure this horse is going to slow down from this

sort of level eventually, maybe Saturday's it.

With that being said, the second choice truly quality to me looks

really good to be able to pick up those pieces gets into the

races a little bit sooner than gold Phoenix does, and I think

that might make the difference here.

There is some speed it it should be a pretty honest pace and I

think the closers are gonna finish and and I think truly

quality is probably the second best closer.

I think gold Phoenix is actually the best closer in this race,

but I think truly quality is is coming in this race better.

Same thing with Flashiest who is constantly disrespected on the

tote board. But it's amazing actually.

Yes. And runs bang up races all the

time against, you know, kind of outruns his odds quite a bit.

I know he's getting long in the tooth as well as he's an 8 year

old, but still running hard as San Marcos was very very good

from an outside post. Gets better relief here starting

from the inside. I think that might help him.

Totally agree, 21 and four for Barry here in race 9, so again

for him, truly quality Flashiest.

And then the four horse gold Phoenix, who we're both hoping

shows up at this one, finished third in this race last year.

We do have some, you know, some some alums of this race from

last year, the San Marcos winner from a couple years ago as well.

But yeah, I dude, I'm with you. I'm going to put something on

the screen that I've never put on the screen which is 5 numbers

and I no. Problem clutching over here.

Yeah, a little Pearl clutching, but I think that one horse once

in a while we see horses. It's it's rare.

Barry in in 2026, horses that get to their eight-year old year

and this is when they're running the best.

I remember a couple of years ago, Barry, and it happened here

in Kentucky. Do you remember Toms Datah?

Well, yeah, started picking off graded stakes.

I think he was like 8 or 8 or 9 when he started picking off

graded stakes. And I I get, I get some of the

feeling of, of Toms Datah with Flashiest.

I want to be really clear. I do not anticipate a world in

which Flashiest wins the Breeders Cup Turf this year or

something. I'm not doing that, but this it

feels, it has that kind of feeling to it where this horse

is going to start picking off a lot of checks.

And if you leave this horse out of your exacto trifecta kind of

play in any turf race out West, you're an idiot.

I mean, it's essentially where this horse has gotten to in his

career. I'm going to include all five of

these in my turf pick three, which is why they're all on the

screen because I want to be very clear that all of these are

going to be part of that. And essentially, I'm hoping that

like a Mondigo comes through, right, Who won the San Marcos

last time under Ms. Al Hara Mio And that's one, by the way, with

Mondigo, for example, the five, Barry, Why not?

Why not just don't try to get the lead here and just see what

happens in this field if those deep closures that, you know, we

keep talking about don't have it in them that day.

And so how about you might just walk away with this thing?

And so I'm I'm not. So, I mean, is there a world in

which my eagle wins this race, Barry?

Yeah, certainly. Just like you said, they, they,

they got to go. I mean, that's the only way I

think they can win this race because they're not out

finishing either of the favorites here.

So yeah, there's definitely scenarios where Mondigo just

kind of gets a good ride up front from Jaramillo and and

takes it. Oh, there you go.

All right, so let's put together our own turf pick three tickets.

Barry, go ahead and walk people through yours.

Barry's Turf. I totally forgot to put these

together and they asked me to freaking do it.

Barry's turf, pick three, and your ticket's 36 bucks.

Is that right, friend? 36 dollars, yeah, We're going to

use two horses in the first leg. We're going to use the 2.

Look at the screen, I got it up there.

How about? That there, there's a silver

lining in the five Thirsty Trickster.

Basically the two horses, I, I, I picked on top in that race

anyway, I, I'm really not fond of the one.

So we're going to eliminate that one and that's the morning line

favorite. So we're going to try to get

away from that horse. Then in race 7, we're going to

use Grand Slam Smile reluctantly take another card and we're

going to throw in the wild card, the six Miss practical.

I just don't like, you know, the the one post at this trip.

And if anything's weird is going to happen, it might be in this

race because people are going to just going to go overboard on

Grand SIM smile anyway. So if we can get the four, the

six, that's great, but we'll take the one, especially getting

around the favorite in the first leg.

Then in the ninth, we're going to use two horses, the one and

the two flashiest. We just rant and raved about

both of us. I, I think that horse has a

really good shot and probably would be a good price.

And then truly quality. Who's the second choice here?

Just trying to get around gold Phoenix, who will take a ton of

action. And myself personally, I like to

concede low payouts. So we eliminate the the chalk,

chalk, chalk. For just $9 more, you can play

my ticket 156 I'll. Keep that $9 one 28-ON flashes

to win talking. With 8084 there in Saint Louis,

Barry's bracket completely busted.

He had Santa Clara winning it all.

Go Broncos. He's just rooting for horses.

But I, I went 1/5 sixth in the first leg.

Pretty different than Barry, frankly, in the first leg.

Second leg I'm going to single down the hill, cross my fingers

that we've got a cow bred that just wants to win all the cow

bred races and then in the last 12345.

But hate to miss out on gold Phoenix because Barry, I'll be

honest with you, I'll take the $120.00 payout.

I know you won't but if I miss out on the 1000 bucks on my D go

I'll be that stupid that's. Zealous 120 if you get 120 out

of that chalk, chalk, chalk, you're doing something because I

don't think that's going to happen.

You might not get your money back if if it comes chalk 4.

1000 in the pool last year. How about that?

By the way, new record. We go out there for one weekend.

The weekend after they have a new record in the turf picture.

You're welcome. You're welcome, Senator.

You're welcome. You're welcome.

That's why they didn't have the downhill.

They wanted us to come back. Right.

Is that what it is, man? All right, we'll go to Edov.

Now, that wraps up this edition of Soul Cal Saturdays.

Who did you have in your bracket?

Winning all I went Arizona. Where'd you?

Arizona, of course. You too.

OK, yes to. The best team, Best team in the

tournament. Then we mean like to the hoop.

Yeah, Duncan. Duncan Stein, My daughter, looks

at me sideways when I say that. Duncan Stein.

Yeah. Why?

Because the legend are out here, dog.

Not the cool kids saying you know I'm not cool anymore.

I'm. That guy pays for nothing in

this town. Just nothing.

He shouldn't. He should never pay for anything

and he doesn't. I promise you he shouldn't.

I watched somebody one time pay for his gas at a gas station.

Oh wow, that's. And just walked in like, no, no

Sir, they like swipe the card that's.

Better than card honestly that at this point that's better than

a free meal man. That's coded dude.

I'm. Man.

It's coded for Sherry Sperry. I'm Louie.

Good luck with everything. I'm back tomorrow, 11 AM You'll

see this guy too. That that way that.

Yeah, as part of our Turfway Park Jeff Ruby preview, we were

at the San Felipe and we'll be at the Ruby tomorrow.

Meet Sean Collins 11:00. Barry will jump on with us,

Barry. Barry will jump off with us

tomorrow as well. I hear out of the program for

Barry. I'm blue.

We'll see you tomorrow morning, 11:00 Eastern on the horse

racing.

Horse Racing Happy Hour