SoCal Saturday 6/28/25 | Los Al Derby

All right, welcome in we're racing to the sassy music out

Saturday. We got what Barry's because my

name we were posted glad you decided to spend more and all of

course I know it's Thursday. I'm not fine if I got I have

hanging out with Barry's show today earlier today in The xx

preview for Ave. at church. They are done running man.

You are going to be looking at hotel and they're going to be

talking about host L Derby Afro this week night very frankly.

Yeah, lot, lot better than, you know, one would expect because a

lot of people out West kind of go on vacation, do a lot of

things during this this section of time to gear up for the whole

summer. So, you know, it's surprising to

get these these kind of cards like this at this time right

before Saratoga. So, you know, it's, it's a nice

little focal point. And of course, Del Mar will be

the focal point in two weeks on the show. 1 more week at Los Al

in Orange County. Of course, we're doing the LA

County beat thing there in Orange County because it's horse

racing, people. That's what we do around here.

We make you confused. That is the idea, of course.

Hey, this show. Of course, tomorrow on my ESPN

Radio show, I'll be out at Churchill Downs doing a full

Stephen Foster preview. We'll talk with Kevin Kilroy.

This is, see, Churchill's trying to get to people like me, they

got a Kirstein, a Kevin Kirstein and a Kevin Kilroy on the same

staff. 2 dudes I have to interact with it just I'm on to

your game. I'm on to the game.

Churchill Downs trying to confuse me and get those two

guys mixed up. They could not be more different

dudes. And so I'll talk with Kevin

Kilroy tomorrow at 10:20. Our usual horse racing segment

on Fridays. You may have heard Barry on that

segment as well. Always love when Barry's able to

jump in on the radio and help me out that way.

But we'll be out there at Churchill Downs.

Of course, our Saturday preview, like I said, just released with

Matthew DeSantis. You can find everything that I

do at the Horse Racing Happy Hour podcast platform easiest to

watch their on Spotify. Certainly want to thank our

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Doc Cobb. Let's get into the card now,

Barry. Race one here at Los Al is a

climber, 12/5 claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs there on the dirt,

only dirt racing there at Los Alamitos.

And Barry, I'll let you go first here and I can always count on

you to go a little bit longer, a little bit short of a field

here. So 4 to one a nice number on #5.

Yeah, you know, this is an interesting race from the

standpoint of, you know, you get a lot of these where these turf

horses and you know, they kind of try the the dirt over at Los

Al and it makes for interesting racing.

I thought the five win ribbon who, you know, seems to like the

turf a little bit, but he's more of a dirt horse and he's got

some races to go to that fit very well in this spot.

Namely, his February 7th race is an optional claim in Open

Optional claimer 20,000 start allowance 16 and he won that

day. That number he got was an 83.

Buyer speed figure would win this race hands down.

I I think this is just the right spot for him.

He should get a good trip. The pace scenario kind of sets

up for him too. Yeah, interesting opener for

this. I think the early pick 5, which

by the way is your $0.50 opportunity at low Sal.

We'll talk about those minimums again in a minute.

But the five horse I have last of my handicapping you guys and

I agree the five and the six both on the top three of this

race. I've got the favorite in the

6th. Devil be me in second man.

I went to the three horse here on top.

In Carol's comic you talk about horses coming off the turf.

This is not one of those 30 lifetime tries on the dirt

getting back to a level that I think will really work for this

horse. Last win did come over wet fast

go there at Santa Anita, but before that one in the 14

claimer kind of level at for non 2 lifers.

That's essentially what this level is here, Barry.

It's also a horse that's hit the board in half of his lifetime

races over the dirt 15 times in 30 runs.

So we're getting down to that 12 five.

We're getting into the gritty sort of part of horse racing

here with this for about breaker heart for this spot.

I do think Eva Lozcano can win here.

The two of them not great together, though one for their

last 26. So I hate that number.

But the six to one price was a little too much for me to pass

up. I'll let you talk about devil be

me here. Who will be the favorite?

Almost certainly. Yeah, you can kind of toss that

last race on April 20th just didn't get into it and the horse

bled and got in the ambulance. The whole 9 that that raises

obviously question marks into this race, especially being the

favorite. But if this horse runs to

anywhere what this horse did last year, it'll be right there

and and he's going to be tough. I just, you know, wanted to side

with the five just because of recency.

Sorry, I just clicked on the very wrong banner.

I clicked on a Laurel Park banner.

I don't know how that happened, but yes, I have the six of my

handicapping as well. I went 365 here, you went 562.

Look, go ahead and make the case a little bit for so I'm told.

Just really kind of a a speed play.

I I think this horse will get out in front and there's a

possibility that this horse shake loose a little bit and

kind of hold on. This horse does quit quite a

bit. That's why I didn't put this

horse on the top. But it's a, it's one of those

turf horses running on the dirt and usually what happens is they

get a burst of speed and then they kind of fizzle out.

I think that's what we'll might see is this horse go to the lead

and and kind of do his best, but without being on the preferred

surface, you'll probably quit. Yeah, no wins on the form for

this one at the current time, so we'll have to do something it

hasn't done in at least a little while.

Again, Barry Spears, Lou are about hanging out with you.

So, Cal Saturdays, we're here every week, usually on Friday

afternoons. Get you ready for the Saturday

card. I have stuff going on tomorrow,

so Barry was kind enough to jump up early this week with me

again, AM Wager and am wager.com.

We encourage you to go check out our friends over there for all

of your wagering there. In California, Race 2 is an

$8000 claimer for Phillies and mayors, which have never won two

races. We're going 5 furlongs on the

dirt. We see a lot of these sort of

Sprint races that slight right turn over there at Los Alamitos

as well. Barry, I'll go first in this

one. I have the you and I have very

different horses here. I have the six on top Rhythm

Girl that is going to be the favorite here comes out of a

$50,000 starter allowance for non twos.

And this is one that's only run on the dirt and only run on

faster at Santa Anita. Before that, up north in Santa

Rosa and in Fresno. Got its last win in an $8000

claimer at Fresno. I love getting back into this

kind of company. Has been running in higher level

stuff, yes, in restricted groups from the Northern California

groups, but gets over to Los Al. I like the move here.

I think the works recently have shown that this horse can be

fast enough to win and the switch to Kazushi Kamara I think

will be really, really helpful. He's already won 30% of his

races, 3 for 10 to start. His time there at Los Al has hit

the board in seven of those 10 races.

So look for Rhythm Girl to be part of that equation there as

well. Barry, you landed on the three.

You're going to take a little bit of a shot here with

Breville. Yeah, that June 28th race at

Pleasanton where this horse broke his maiden going away in a

5 1/2 has me sold. You know, there's really not

much in here. These horses are really

inconsistent and not the fastest individuals.

So that race comparatively, it's probably one of the better races

on the page for anybody in this race.

I think if he comes back and I like the I like the comeback

race enough to where I I can play this horse this time, you

know, stepping up a little bit, but I think this horse fits very

well here. Should do well.

We'll be forwardly placed. Just needs to to get the trip,

that's all. And you went to a kitten for Sue

on the outside, one we haven't seen since March did break its

maiden at Fresno in one of those races that you've been talking

about. Yeah, he's he's a big drop down

here and I, I have to give him a shot just off that alone.

He didn't really run too poorly in those races and this is a big

drop. Kind of suspicious in a way, but

the horse really hasn't proved to be better than this.

Was running in better races but still wasn't winning or even

coming close. So this is probably a warranted

drop in class and I think you will see a better effort.

Yeah, you can kind of tell us. Trainer Sergio La Desmond, just

trying to find out what she wants to do, right?

And so maybe this is the spot for her, maybe not.

I went 651 here, so Sanger style, second spot for me.

Kyle Frey gets them out here for Sheldon Paldonius and I.

This is one that's coming out of Man I.

Nothing about the numbers here, Barry makes sense, but this is

one that hasn't run since June of last year.

So almost a full year off. But this is a trainer smaller

barn trying to figure things out.

This horse makes its way over. I think the $8000 spot is

probably right for this horse that was bred for 2500 bucks.

And so we're talking about one dropping back into this group

was good on the Tepita at Golden Gate before it was spreading

underbelly. And to Georgie, we get Kyle Frey

here who like Kazushi Kamura started with three wins over the

first weekend, just a nine mounts at Los Al interested to

see if this one off the bench has worked OK.

But by the way, has been working at Los Al and I like that the

horse has been on the course there at least.

Interesting drop again from 7:50 was really competitive at the

6250 number up north at Golden Gate Fields.

Hoping we can get back to some of that form, Barry.

Like we see turf horses translate well.

You see sometimes those Golden Gate horses translate well to

Los Al as well. Hoping that that happens here.

So I'm 65 and 1. You went 381.

We both like the one in here at least to get a piece in.

Never, not once and I think very mostly because just speed and

one that likes to seem to like lol.

Yeah, that that's really the the attractor there.

I, I don't really like the inside post, but you know,

probably the best of the rest and, and we'll get out there and

maybe make some waves early, but that that trainer on the five,

that was quite a mouthful 6 syllables on that name.

I did good, that's why you hang out with me.

That's it's right, Yeah. I mean, radio guy, I I get it.

Louie, I got 4 vowels in this last name.

You understand me as busy time. Move on to race 3, the end of

the early pick three. By the way, the minimums at Los

Al a little different. Many things are a dollar.

Many, many, many things like win, play, show bets, but also

pick threes, pick fours, etcetera.

So the pick 4 did start there in race 2.

Start the pick 3 here in race three.

That's races 3-4 and five. We're going a mile, more of a

classic thing there at Los Alamitos.

It's a mile of course. So we'll start and finish at the

same spot, $13,000 in the Kitty for a 6250 claimer, not 2 lifers

in this spot. We see a big favorite in the

morning line, at least in Mongolian all tie.

This horse, of course, was previous previously trained by

Anabesh Gonbot of Mongolian groom fame, of course, prior.

That's a that's a throwback in a little Mongolian group talking.

Yeah, little Breeders' Cup classic talk.

All right, so that horse is another one that's coming off of

the turf here. But we have seen a winless on

dirt. Unfortunately, just one win an

18 lifetime starts. This one a little easier to

handicap. I think, Barry, just because

we're just talking about, hey, you either have won two races or

you haven't to get into this, no conditions or things like that,

but you landed on the inside horse, begin again, the one

horse, 8:00 to 1:00, Nice price here.

Yeah, I I think this horse might slip away and and get a nice

little early lead and and continue on one of few horses

that have actually won on the dirt in this race.

So I mean, it's, it's hard for me personally to take a horse in

Mongolian Altay at six to five on the morning line that's never

won a race on the dirt. I mean, you certainly has every

right to win this race based off his class and dropping down

things like that. But I I would always take shots

against horses like this in races like this, you know, these

lower level ones where a lot of wacky things can happen.

These horses don't break. Well, sometimes things just

happen and in these cheaper claimers and why not begin again

getting on the front and taking them all the way.

Yeah, Labrado Borosio does train Mongolian all tie now.

First time off, first time running with this trainer, he

hits at 17 percent, 18% going turf to dirt.

So this is one that I'm just going to trust.

Labrado on training. Labrado Borosio here.

Aguilar keeps them out here. I thought the horse looked

really good last time in that claimer was right there at the

end, gets beat by three, but was in a blanket finish with a bunch

of other horses in an 8 horse field.

Gets into something similar here, Barry and I think breaking

from the 2 not a bad thing here. I went 213 because I need to

regulate. You want a different route here

with 1-2 and four. I'll let you talk about Uba

Bakayo here, who will break from the four.

Man, you're killing it with these names.

I I can't do it. I wish I was that good.

I'm not a. Wordsmith So there's a there's a

capital and I'm trying Ugadugu is a W African capital.

I think it's in Mali of all countries between Morocco,

Algeria and then getting down into like Niger and you know,

Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, that kind of stuff.

But this one is that this is not a word that I know.

So I'll look this up while you're talking, but what do you

like about the four horse here for Jesus?

A little easier to say I. I think this horse is going to

sit just a one run kind of trip. Getting back to this level makes

a lot of sense. This horse ran pretty well at

locile at this level previously in in the shorter quarter horse

mixed races, but even before that, this horse was was kind of

closing in a lot of races And you know, there's there's really

not too much going on. And and I think this horse might

be the best of the rest and and get a piece of this.

Yeah, the internet's telling me it's just, oh, Baba Kayo.

Like it's just Baba. I was hoping it was a West.

Africa, it's like we're getting we're getting a lesson on how to

pronounce things and geography. So I.

Mean you're welcome, actually. Exactly ahead of the game here.

How lucky are you when you think West Africa in capitals?

You you think this that's what. I'm saying we need to get you on

Jeopardy, man. Like, you know what I'm way

better at is, is Wheel of Fortune just considerably better

than Wheel of Fortune? I love it.

I watch it with my 11 year old every day.

We have a great time. His name is Thomas, not

Ubabakayo. Naftis is the three horse here,

Los Al. I hate it for this guy.

He's over 14 in this meet Edgar Piraeus Paeras, excuse me, spent

so much of his career there in the evenings at Los Al.

A guy that I I really respect and I really enjoy betting on

Saturday and Sunday nights there.

He'll pick up the mount here. This horse did go 5 1/2 last

time under Paeras keeps the mount.

I wonder if the horse won't run a little bit better.

He was amongst the favorites last time.

No changes here. I think the number might drift

up just because the horse is over six this year, but I do

think the 6250 level makes a lot of sense for this one.

Of course, did run for the Mike Pipey barn before moving to the

Gennaro Baihejo barn there. Race four pick up there again,

amwagerandamwager.com. Go check out our friends over

there. Maiden 12/5 here going a mile on

the dirt. Millie is for Phillies and mares

3 and up, of course for maidens as well.

Go first here, Barry, and this is 1 was very, very difficult

for me to put together. I do think the favorite is a

worthy favorite here, dropping from Maiden 50 company to Maiden

12 five under. Kyle Frey keeps them out here

for Mike McCarthy. I'm purely going on class here.

I want to be very clear otherwise, Barry, you have the

same sheet as I do. Who do I have in the second

spot? I don't Hey Barry, who do I have

in the third spot? I I don't.

And so I bro, this was an impossible race for me to

handicap here. I think you either single the

four or you use as many as possible in a, you know, in a

horizontal kind of sequence here.

Barry, where did you land here and why was it the four?

Jaffer's girl. I kind of had the notion that

Lady Lollipop was just dipping way too far down.

OK, that that's a negative sign for me, especially for this

barn, for the McCarthy barn. They they really don't dabble in

too many claimers and especially 12 five claimers for this horse

to run here is is awfully suspicious in my mind.

But Jafar's girls run pretty evenly.

I I kind of like that race at 20,000, the maiden claimer

20,000 going to mild Santa Anita on May 23rd.

That was a pretty decent race. Came back off of that one, was

kind of wide the whole way. This is a way easier field to

handle than that one, even though they weren't at A at a

high level. And I think this horse might sit

a good trip too. Yeah, she seems to seem to have

just kind of quit when she was there.

You have Oscar night second. I looked at this one as well.

Is going Sprint to route here pretty good pretty good angle

for a trainer Hector Palma here hit some maiden claimers at

about 10% too as well. So I I guess I see the numbers

there especially Arantes who gets to keep the bug at this

point as well. So a little bit less weight for

this one. What do you think about the son

of Oscar? Dominated.

Yeah, I think the. Stretch out makes a lot of sense

and and this horse should run better on the stretch out.

Whether he really likes the OR she really likes the dirt or not

remains to be seen, but there's a lot of question marks in this

race, so Oscar Night running well would not even remotely

surprise me. Yeah, if I was looking at

another one, I might look at the Sergio Morphine train, Lady

Dosia, she'll break from the one in this spot.

Rojas Fernandez looking for his first win in this meet here as

well. But I do think that one going 2

sprints to route makes a lot of sense.

Stretch out that granddaughter of Scat Daddy so get a little

bit more of a distance under that one.

I think might be a worthwhile as well.

Closing out the early pick 5 is race 5 and I think is it the

only pick 5 on this on this card?

I got to get that right. Make sure I don't do that.

I think it is actually 5 furlongs on the dirt there.

Maiden special weight here is for Cal brats that are two years

old and for Phillies on this side.

We've got a couple that are starting their second race here.

Barry we are in early 2 year old season but lots of first time

starters. This is usually where you and I

are different is in these guys are main races or most different

I should say to be fair but I see one overlapping horse here

which makes me interested. But you like a first timer here

in two sassy make the case. Yeah, 2 Sassy is is I like the

workouts on this horse to be honest with you.

Showing a little zip has a full sister named Om Sassy who won on

debut the last workout. In particular, I like the June

13th 48 out of the gate at Saint Luis Rey.

And why not? I mean, there's there's really

not much to go on in in these kind of races.

If you can find a horse with a little bit of pedigree and a

little bit of precociousness, I'm willing to take a shot

against favorites. So there we are.

Yeah, she's a daughter of Ulmond.

That's that's an interesting line.

We we haven't seen a ton of high level success, but we've seen

success. Obviously the Munnings line

there interested interested in that one because the works are

so good and it how often Barry have we seen a horse that's

great with the works and then other horses show up and they go

whoa, whoa, whoa, this is wanted to keep working over there.

But no, if she puts together a race like she's been working, I

think she's going to be a problem.

Final table ladies is the is the is the favorite here?

Interesting move from State Bread Company over.

At Santa Anita to this spot, I know it's just a little bit less

money, but I thought she looked OK in that race, Barry.

I thought she was very competitive early and just ran

out of gas at the end. If this is a horse that

develops, take a step forward at all is easily the most logical

to me in this spot. Does have a bullet work last out

at Santa Anita, frankly. And then before that, out of the

gate, that May 16th work. I know you love that, but that

was way before this time, right? And she did that before her

debut in my mind. I think she's still very much on

track, those two to works before then no time to work since, but

we're turning around quickly. To me, that tells me that Jorge

Parabon, who's very good in maiden races, thinks that this

one doesn't need another work, is just ready to go.

And so I'll trust him on that. I know you have that horse.

Second, you like a longer shot? Slash alley.

Another firster in this spot. Yeah, I, I, I thought we could

take one downfield and try to throw 1 downfield to get this

one in the try. Has a a lone sibling who won on

debut. This horse has a nice work June

14th at Los Al, which is definitely something that piqued

my interest. Why not?

In a race that that's full of questions and question Marks and

who knows what they're going to do, why not go with a long shot?

Because I'm going with second time starter, Jasmina is the

three horse here kind of break keeps them out here.

For Simon Callahan, he does not do this too terribly often

moving horses from turf to dirt. It's not an angle that we see

very often from him, but he has one one of his last five times

doing that. He does hit a 10% of maiden

specials. I just think this level will be

a bit easier than what that horse tried to accomplish on

debut. So if I were to use a longer

ticket, I think I would just go 7 and 3 here.

I went 736 in my handicapping, which means I should talk about

keep the potholes, which is a first time starter here.

Not a great wrangle for Ed Freeman in this one over his

last 11. Gio Franco does get the mount

here, but he does hit at 12% generally in maiden specials.

Small barn, 16 starters this year so far.

But this is a horse Berry. Look at those works at San Luis

Rey coming out of the gate. Those are fast enough to win in

this kind of company. So keep the potholes.

My most interesting horse that is a first time starter in this

spot. Hey over there, that's Barry

Spears. I'm Louis Rabo.

We're hanging out with you on Socal Saturdays.

We're here every week. Get you ready for the big races

in Southern California. We're at Los Al this weekend

looking at the Los Al Derby that'll be in race 8.

We've just gone through the early part of the card and races

one through 5. We're presented by Amwager and

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Race six starts a later part of the sequence here and we're

talking about the late pick 4. Again, $1.00 minimum on all of

the pick fours there at Los Alamitos.

It's a $40,000 claimer going 6 far alongs and this is for three

and up. No restrictions on this race,

Barry. If your horse is in for 40, your

horse is in for 40. You and I have one overlapping

horse. Goodness gracious.

This is either going to be you're going to look great, I'm

going to look terrible, or the other way around, or both of us

are going to look terrible. Yeah, right.

There's just no, no in between here.

There is no fourth option where we both look good.

There just isn't one. That one doesn't exist.

And so I know you landed here on the 6th horse in the sixth race,

and that is Manny. Manny to wish.

What do you think that name is? Manny Mannitowish.

Yeah, I usually say Mannitowish, but.

Mannitowish OK, there you go. Why do you like Manny?

I like when horses take short layoffs or even longer ones, you

know, 6090 days and when they come back running that usually

spells that they have another good race in them and usually

it's right away. This horse was off slowly in

that race on June 13th at Santa Anita.

Didn't really get a great run, got a good number.

A good buyer figure drops in here and I think that's the

difference maker. This horse really dominated

event last year in September at LaSalle in a race very similar

to this one. Should get the same kind of

trip. There's enough speed in here to

set it up for something like that, and I think this horse is

the goods. I am on the favorite here, the

four horse Devil Among us. It will be First off the claim

for the aforementioned Libraato Barrocio, who is hitting only at

32% of those kinds of races. So I feel pretty good about that

90%. Second off, the layoff here,

which this horse is having run in March and then again in

mid-May ran good second in a 20,000 optional claimer at Santa

Anita at six furlongs. This horse has run nine times in

the money at the distance out of 10 possible start.

So 90% hitting the board in this kind of company or at least at

this distance I should say and two for four with two seconds at

Los Al as well. So this horse horse for course

also just good at the distance. I think this is 1 to watch.

Edwin Maldonado gets the mount there.

The two of them hitting at a terrible percentage.

So hopefully that will come up once we get to Saturday.

I went with the three horse here and you have that horse second

in your, excuse me, You do not have that horse in your

handicapping at all. Excuse me, You and I both have

the seven in our handicapping and I will let you talk about

awesome rhythm breaking from the outside, our guy Armando Iuso.

Yeah, it it makes you wonder why they don't run this horse on

dirt more. The the two races in the one in

January and the one in March were pretty good and they fit at

this level. The horse came back running on

the turf again and on the cutback seems to make a lot of

sense. Beef Winslow is a pretty nice

horse and this this, you know, if this horse takes to the dirt

a little bit might be pretty tough.

I I almost put this horse on top to be honest with you.

Yeah, and awesome rhythm. Looks like this is the exact

spot they need to be in. Víctor García, the trainer here

of his wins this year, by the way, he has three of them.

One of them is this horse, right?

Winning at the non 3 level, 30,000 claimer at Santa Anita.

So I'm with you largely on the seven who I have third in my

handicapping. I also looked at the five here.

Money run. Kyle Frey again for Peter

Miller. I'm obviously drawing a line

through the last two races and trying to get back to what this

horse does well. And that was win at the $40,000

level at the distance at Churchill Downs. 4 for 11

Lifetime. I I'd like to move to Kyle Frey

here a little bit of time off from September last year.

No, no worries there. Six month plus kind of layoff

for Peter Miller trainee is hitting at 14% and what do I

love that last workout Barry there at June 18th at San Luis

Rey out of the gate we get a bullet, we get a 59 and change.

That's the kind of workout I want to see from a horse that's

coming back. Awful long layoff.

I think money run is going to give us a very, very good and

honest effort on Saturday as well.

Go ahead and talk about the two horse here in Geezer, since both

of us very much identify that way.

You know, it's funny, in these kind of races, especially at low

sale, you kind of get the feeling that even though this is

a $40,000 claimer, it's playing like like more of a 30 or

25,000. Dollar Club.

I agree. And and that's the thing that

happens when you come from, you know, Santa Anita to this short

low sale meet and and this horse is dropping down quite a bit and

and it kind of scares me a little bit and the running

style. I think this horse might be a

little bit too far back to try to get in the wind spot unless

it's a complete meltdown. But this horse is obviously

talented, has four wins on the dirt at, you know, in general,

two wins at LaSalle, which, you know, this could be a horse for

the course, but I just felt that this horse might be a little bit

too far back to kind of get all the money.

Race 7 will start the late pick 3 again, a $1.00 pick three

there at Los Alamitos. Barry Spears, Louis Robo hanging

out with you, So Cal Saturdays. We'll be on the Sporting Tribune

later this later today. We'll throw it up on the YouTube

page there of course, as well. And if you're not watching us

there, read my weekly column at least at Sporting Tribune that

releases every Friday night or Saturday morning ahead of the

major race on Saturday. This an $80,000 optional claimer

here for non twos, $49,000 in the purse.

We've got a couple of very, very nice races that maiden special

in this one at a high level, of course, outside of the low Sal

Derby. I'll go first here, Barry.

I went 123 in this race and I'll take Fayette Box on top here.

This is 1 you speak about, you know, dropping out of stakes

company. This is one that ran third in

the Desert Stormer, last out of Listed stakes at Santa Anita,

going 6 furlongs on the dirt, only a field of three.

So of course you had to run in the top three there, but was

behind Shizmosa and Super Shine. So I think this daughter of

Sharp Azteca fits in this company really well.

The speed figure seem to work out there as well, is in good

form. Most recent workouts seem to fit

at Santa Anita as well. If I think she's got a real shot

here. Prancing through Paris is the 2

horse Juan Hernandez, whose name we hear for the first time

today. He'll be in the ride on the Lois

Al Derby in the on the favorite as well for Bob Baffert.

This one comes out of the Friends Valentine and out of the

Irish O'Brien. Now both of those are on turf.

It's something you and I have talked about a lot on this show

since we moved to Lois Alamitos. Is that move from turf to Dirk

horses batting 500 on the turf. But if the horse is ready to go

right now, Peter Urton saying, hey, no, we ran in May.

We got a chance at a purse. Look, there's $50,000 purse

here, right? I mean, there's there's money in

this race. And so interested to see her in

the spot. But I think it makes sense.

And guess what? She's won over this course

before at 5 1/2 furlongs. We're going 6 1/2 here.

So I I trust her a lot in the spot.

And then Grand Slam smiles. The three billion to Georgia

picks up the mound here. This is one that was running at

Pleasanton most recently under Frank Alvarado Godson but.

Feel like he's been riding since I've been playing horses and

that's a long time. Dude, I I shout out, shout out,

shout out to Frank Alvarado. Shout out.

Yeah, he's been at it forever. This one gets Lasix for the

first time. Isn't that interesting that this

horse has never had Lasix has been running in high level

races. We saw this horse on the Torrey

Pines at Del Mar, for example, Run a third behind a hop rod and

nothing like you, this sort of thing.

Interesting to see her here, but has moved to the McCarthy barn

out of that spec barn. Interesting.

I, I simply don't know. So I went 123 here.

Barry, you are not terribly dissimilar.

You went 7-3 and one. So you've got Sakura Blossom on

top, our guy or what do I use? So.

Yeah, I, I this is another one that it's it's boggling.

It's mind boggling why they don't run this horse on the dirt

more 3 for five on the dirt. He's never run at LaSalle, but

his last few races on the dirt stack up quite nicely here.

I guess where the gamble is for me is the cutback from a mile

and 1/2. That scares me a little bit

because of the fact is the pace. The pace is a lot different,

obviously at a mile and a half than it is at 6 1/2.

But in this horse's favor, they went to the lead and stopped.

So it could have been, you know, get a little bit more bottom off

the layoff. This makes a lot of sense.

This horse won a 50,000 Start Allowance 50 at Santa Anita

going 7 furlongs last year last February.

Fits well here. I I just don't see how this

horse can't compete well in this spot, especially with some

question marks with the turf horses and you know, the, the,

the inside horse, which I just don't like that post.

I would love to know the last time a horse ran a mile and a

half and then won a 6 1/2 furlong race on a different

surface. I can't even imagine how short

that list is. It's.

It's it's got to be super duper short unless it's like a quick

turn around, you know, they come back in in like 6-7 days after

kind of a workout in the longer race, but.

We'll see. This horse won the Arizona Oaks

is a three-year old, right? I mean, she's no slouch for

sure. And so that maybe just a softer

spot. Try to get that, you know, that

confidence back up something like that for the Leonard Powell

barn. But yeah, interesting,

interesting spot. But hey, you put 50 grand up for

a race, man, people are going to show up and we've obviously got

that. Well, you know, the the the

workouts, the last two in particular, it looks like

they're trying to go for speed. So you know that nice 46 and

then a 47 from the gate. You know, they're training some

speed into this horse. So I don't think she's going to

be too far, far off it and being on the outside I I think that's

an advantage as well. The Los Al Derby is race 8,

Barry, we're going to, we're going to start playing the games

that we play on the the horse racing happy hour here.

Are you familiar? I'm sorry.

How much do you love Married with Children?

I shouldn't ask if you're familiar.

I should ask you how much you love.

It is very high on my list of sitcoms.

All the time. All right, so we're going to

play a game since it is the Low Sal Derby.

And I'm thinking of Al Bundy. OK OK, So if your horse can win,

we're going to say yes, pig. OK.

And if the horse cannot win, we're going to say no, pig.

OK That's what we're going to play today here on the just.

The most professional show ever called Socal Saturdays were

presented by Amwager. My name's Louie.

He's Berry, $100,000 in this one.

A mile and an eighth on the dirt there.

A field of 53 Bafferts and O'Neill and a Garcia in this

one. We'll start with that.

Garcia. It's a factor.

The aforementioned many times. Armando Aiuso getting them out.

This horse is over six this year.

Won one race last year and that was a maiden 32 going 5 1/2 at

Del Mar Barry. Do we just thank this horse for

making this race go and move on? No, thank you, Peg.

No, Peg. Yeah, that's right.

I agree with you. And no Peg.

Thanks for being here. He is newly gelded.

Congratulations. I don't.

Know about that? No, you know, three years old.

He he might need those. Another newly gelded horses tis

secure he'll break from the 2 Bob Baffert and Drayton Van

Dyke. Barry, I know exactly what

you're going to say here. Oh yeah, he's he's a Polk High

champion. So yes, Peg, definitely.

Many touchdowns in the state championship.

You have him on top in your handicapping.

I do not I'm an A no peg on this one and so you and I very

different on the top of this one.

Of course, tis secure a son of maximum security.

Interesting seeing him in a Baffert barn there, but we move

on away from the a no pegs to race to the third horse here in

rank who ran in the affirm last out.

We see the RE Gaming won that one.

By the way, if you remember on this show earlier in June 8th,

the 8th of June, they ran the Affirmed and a gaming Nevada

Beach and Rank finished in the top three in that order.

Rank was the number three horse there.

Barry can turn around and be the number one horse here.

Maybe Peg? I got this horse 3rd and kind of

is the best of the other horses that aren't Bafferts.

But I think the running style fits here because the Varney,

the four horse might be kind of lone speed unless it's a factor

once the kind of tangle. And that's definitely quite a

possibility, because it doesn't seem like of the three baffers,

Varney is the one that they really want to win.

No, Peg, I'm off rank today. It's me putting Doug O'Neill

down. Bold move, Sir.

Is that Kizushi? I don't like that at all.

All right, now I'm going to know, though.

I'm going to stay off, you know. All right, we'll move to the

four horse here. Vardy, another Bob Baffert

trainee here, broke his maiden. They shipped him to, excuse me,

to Piblico for Preakness weekend to break his maiden.

We've seen him run at Santa Anita and now at Piblico.

What a world traveler, this one. Hector Berrios picks up the

mount here. Talk to me, Barry.

No peg. No, Peg, in this case, boy, what

is it like to be wrong? This one's a definite yes, Peg

for me for the reason that you just said, which is this one I

think has a chance to inherit the lead.

And with Bob Baffert trainees when they can get the lead,

that's essentially all I need to see.

So I think the four and the five are going to go.

I think he's going to be the one that goes.

I think he's going to set it up for Nevada Beach.

Obviously, if I'm talking about Nevada Beach that way, I'm a

yes, Peg on this. What say you, Sir?

Yes, Peg, definitely. I mean, I think, I mean,

personally, this happens with a lot of Bafferts when he enters

more than one horse in the race. One of them is a sacrificial

lamb. I mean, it was Rodriguez for a

while until the horse actually got good.

And then, you know, when they weren't riding that horse not to

win, the horse was winning. I think the similar kind of

situation with Varney, I think Varney's in here as a target for

Nevada Beach. So we'll see.

But. We've seen Hector on the front

too, though, and that. Right, exactly.

That's what I mean. It could go any one, any one of

three ways, obviously with the three Bafferts, but at least on

paper, Varney just doesn't look as good as Nevada Beach.

I think Nevada Beach needs a target and that's why Varney's

in here. I AM 543 and the Los Al Derby,

Berry is 2/5 and three and the Los Al Derby we will move on to

the closer. It is Race 9 at Los Alamitos.

We're going 6 furlongs on the dirt.

This is for state breads, 3 years old and up.

We're running for 12/5 claiming price and a $15,000 purse in

this one. Getting back into the state

ranks here, Barry, We also see a fair number of those horses

who've been running in the Northern California races, you

and I, this is our race this weekend that we are very, very

similar. We have the 8C Pride and the

nine Robo Rondo on top. Why don't you talk about Charlie

Pride? Yeah, I I like when horses do

what Charlie Pride is doing running at a higher level drop

down to a a lower level run really good not not win.

The second time they run at that level, they usually catch a good

field and and and are ready to win.

Unfortunately, in this case, this horse is going to be

favored, but looks like the goods in this spot for sure.

Comparatively with everybody else.

This horse has some you know, better races than than the ones

that have run. Yeah, 12, five claimer here.

We see Roborado is running at the 30 level there at Turf

Paradise. Put him up in that in the maiden

optional. Frankly, the race was 5 1/2.

Had the race been six, I'm not sure that this race that he'd be

qualified for this one because I think he breaks his maiden last

time. I think the six furlongs will be

better for him. We saw him run at the distance 2

back at Turf Paradise a second that wasn't as good as the one

previously. So hopefully, Barry, like you

said about Charlie Pride, we're seeing that as well with the 9

horse in Robo Rondo. I think frankly, if I what I've

been trying to do with this show especially, I'm playing that

late pick 4, the $1.00 pick 4, because that's what people play

with. That's what they think of when

they think of Los Alamitos. I'll use the 8 and the 9 as my

anchor in the last. You've got the 12 in the third

spot here and he's quite mischief, a son of Kerlin the

Mischief, of course, a Cal bred there.

And look man, what do you like about the source Let?

Us know he kind of embodies what I was just saying.

You know he was running at 30,000 before the layoff.

He got laid off December 6th, comes back May 9th in a state

bred maiden 12, five stops and pops against Charlie Pride and

riding by. Then goes into a similar race,

another maiden 12/5 and runs second to a runaway winner and

was clear of the third place horse.

A length and some change, right? I don't see why this horse can't

hang around and get to the lead and and kind of hang around.

Like I was saying before, that happens in races like this where

there's really not that much speed.

I mean, Far Overloaded might be out there, but there's also

those possibilities where horses just don't get out of the gate.

Far Overloaded. Doesn't seem like a great

breaker himself anyway, so why not?

Yeah, I have far overloaded to the third spot here just for the

reasons. Running against three-year olds,

I mean, there's a lot to like for a horse that's going to be

20 to 1 plus. Yeah, for the 12th horse here.

Yeah, I and I got the six in the third spot here.

Bautista keeps them out here. Ran a good second last time at

Santa Anita at 5 1/2. I think the six will be just

fine. This is 1, unfortunately, that

has run second six times and 11 starts.

That's why I don't have the horse anywhere near the top.

So I'll take 8-9 just like Barry.

But hey, maybe be a little eight 9 / 12 to close it out as well.

Oh boy, here it is, Louis said. Turf Paradise.

Three times that. Turf Paradise juice is coming

for a Jake. Oh, JD, you.

Put that on, throw that on me there, but there you go.

Happy Los Al Derby Saturday to everyone who celebrates and

partakes there in Cyprus. I hope everyone has a great day.

Say hi to those ponies for us. Tell Michael Rona to keep

posting photos of random tacos that he finds in Los Angeles as

well. It's all very, very delightful

out there. But for Barry Spears, I'm Louie

Revo. There's been another rendition

of SoCal Saturdays. I'll be out of Churchill Downs

tomorrow on my ESPN Louisville show.

You can join me 11:50 Eastern Time on that.

Easy to stream anywhere in the world either at

espnlouisville.com or somewhere else.

Talk with Kevin Gilroy and others.

Getting you ready for Stephen Foster Saturday there at

Churchill Downs Ellis Park preview on Wednesday next week

in the 11:00 hour of that show. Tyler Gafalon will be my first

guest as he gets back into racing following his injury.

I'm so, so glad he was able to carve out time for that

interview. Barry, he was working horses

this morning, man. I can't imagine.

I felt, man, that's so, so good. The sport will be better when

Tyler is riding again. That's all I'll say about that.

But lots of previews will be up at this platform, man.

Again, thanks to Amwager. They hang out with us every

single week here on SoCal Saturdays. amwager.com.

Go get that 100% deposit match up to $150 at all those tracks

in California. They want your business and so

they are trying to help you out with me.

Sign up bonus there Mary I'm Louie for us next week I'm so.