SoCal Saturday 8/23/25 | Del Mar

play music. What's a beautiful day here in

Louisville, KY sitting outside 80° and sunny Lou remote with

you alongside Barry Spears. Another edition of SoCal

Saturdays we're presented by AM Wager Am wager.com really cannot

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Who beats who beats sovereignty tomorrow?

Which what you got? Nobody.

But if somebody were to, it would be strategic.

What is a strategic focus? To a strategic focus.

All right, there you go. I think, you know, I had our guy

Matthew DeSantis on the show this morning and his sort of, I

don't want to call it an upset pick because he wasn't calling

for the upset. He's actually calling for

sovereignty to win by 10 plus lengths.

That's bold thing to say out loud.

But yes, he has strategic focus running second.

So there you go. Cold exact a four three for both

Barry Spears and our guy failed to menace in the traverse

tomorrow. But of course, this is so Cal

Saturday. And if you haven't joined us

before, thank you so much for hanging out.

We are live every Friday around this time previewing Saturday's

card. The Pat O'Brien is tomorrow.

We winning in for the Breeders Cup and so of course we want to

pay attention to that as last year's winner and raging torn

how he doing the Breeders Cup. He did pretty good.

Huh, He did. All right, so we get back to

that sort of race, 7 furlongs on the dirt.

It's that weird in between 2 Barry, because you have to make

a decision coming out of a 7 furlong race.

Are you a sprinter at six or are you more of a Miller?

Right. That's really a question we

asked once we get to the Breeders Cup.

We'll get into that once we get to the Pat O'Brien later in the

card. But Barry, I thought for a

Saturday card at Del Mar, you and I really just looking at the

quick, you know, sort of handicapping here.

I found more long shots on this card than you did, which is

interesting to me. Fair number of state bred races

mixed in on this card as well where I thought there were some

open plays, but should be fun. Let's get into it.

We'll start with race one, of course, the start of the early

pick five there at Del Mar going a mile on the dirt.

And this is for two year olds, maidens and $100,000 on the

line. We see a pair of first timers

for Baffert. Not a very common angle Berry

for him to start someone at at least a mile.

Yeah, I, that I, I definitely found that a little odd.

It's not an easy thing to do, although when he does it, he

does OK. I mean, you know, hovering

around 1213%. But I, I decided to go elsewhere

in this spot. I thought the second time

starter in Trepido might be where it's at.

Didn't get out of the gate that well last time against Brandt,

who's really, really good and and I think that race might be a

little bit better than this one. So we're going to use Intrepido

on top. The Intrepido will break from

the four. I have that horse second in my

handicapping. I do have one of the Baffert's

on top here, the Juan Hernandez ridden Provenance in the three

hole son of Into Mischief here. And the reason Barry, I'm going

to lean on this one is actually a gate work a couple back on

August 3rd and then followed up with another gate.

Good gate work on August 10th. Both of those works show me at 5

furlongs. This horse is going to be just

fine. Frankly, none of these horses

except for what biggie, Biggie, Biggie have ever gone a mile.

And so it's not as though there's a ton of experience

going the distance. I do think that look, his

numbers, he's getting better. Barry, terrifyingly at first

time starters, his numbers up to 35%, which is an insane thing to

say, of course, but he is. He's up to that number.

He and Juan Hernandez, of course, winning at a a paltry

42% at Del Mar this meet, which is a pretty remarkable thing to

say out loud. But I'll go with Providence on

top. I do have Intrepido in the

second spot. And something I didn't hear

myself saying about 10 years ago was I really like the move from

Julian Leper Roux to Hector Barrios, but here we are.

But I do think Barrios is going to be better in this spot

probably than Leper Roux would been.

I in the third spot. We both agree on the 1:00 here

in Charlie's Curlin. This is a royally bred one for

Peter Miller. Yeah, I I thought this horse ran

a decent race first time out. Falcon Jet came back to run

pretty good last time and this source was kind of why didn't

get the greatest of trips. Why not?

Might be a little bit better than the rest with the fact that

this horse has run already. Yeah, no, I I love a second time

starter. Peter Miller wins a fifth of

those races exactly on the #2020% there with second timers

is Peter Miller. We move on to race 2 here.

I make these nice banners. We should probably use them to

our race too. We'll be a claimer, 25 claimer

on the grass here. We're starting in the chute

going a mile and a 16th. This is for three and up, which

is never won two races. Simple non 2 lifer here.

Barry, I'll go first with the even numbered race here.

You and I have the same top 2 here.

This is your boring play of the day in here.

You have the one on top. I have the seven on top and let

Sheamus go. By the way, that's pronounced

Sheamus. Had I let you go first, how

would have you? How would you have said that

horse's name? I really was thinking about that

earlier. That's how much I think about

him, Sheamus. You know why?

Because I know. Well, you a lot of time in

Boston. WWE.

Wrestling. Yeah, I got a little everything.

Oh man, that's why I hang out with you.

In for the tag here for Brian Corner.

Jose Valdivia Junior is going to get the mount.

Wasn't great last out at the end of the race, Barry, but this one

I thought was competitive throughout.

We're second in the form cycle here.

Really good angle for Brian Corner at 16% as well.

Horse put in a nice piece of work the other day as well, so

I'm hopeful that we'll see something good from him in here.

This son of Justify. But the one horse on the inside

is your boring play of the day. Go ahead and tell us why.

For the fact that I cannot trust Let Seamus go.

That's the only reason I I think these two are really identical,

just with two different running styles.

I just gave the nod to the one on the fact that this horse

might be traveling a little bit better late.

All right, so I'm 71. Barry is 1/7 in the third spot.

Barry, you have the four horse here to round out your trifecta.

What do you like about Mischief's Causeway?

Came back off a long layoff, didn't run all that poorly.

I know this horse counter was lingering at the back but

clearly needed that. Race.

Numbers wise should improve and probably stacks up to where

where I place this horses probably third or lower.

Yeah, I'm probably in the same spot here.

I've got Volatile Storm, the three horse in here in the third

spot and that's an Armando Iuso piloted for Lauren Robson who

never gets out to the West Coast, has only had 24 starts

this year, but very clearly trying to attack this condition.

If we go 3 back, this is a horse at the maiden 17 five at

Gulfstream Park that went a mile in a 16th, lost by half a

length. Before that was at Gulfstream,

same conditions lost by length and 1/4 got over the hump last

out on the synthetic at Presque Isle, but before that tried to

slop it. Indiana.

This is one that's just run well on the turf ferry and I think it

at least get a piece of the three volatile storm.

I was surprised to see the five to one number.

I expected it to be a little bit higher just considering the

connections, but I'm excited to see this one in this gelded

three-year old son of volatile. By the way, wanted to give a

shout out. We've got a a new sponsor on the

program today, but the Sazerac brands Buffalo Trace cigar

today. They make a bunch of blends on

the tobacco side of things that you pair with your whiskey.

So it's not that this has been dipped in bourbon or anything

like that, but rather it is formulated to smoke alongside a

Buffalo Trace bourbon. Unfortunately, Barry, I'm still

on the ice. I'm on the iced coffee right

now. All right, so race 3 a $20,000

claim. We're going a mile on the dirt

there at Del Mar. This are three and up pure, pure

claimer. No conditions outside of the

claim price, $36,000 on the line.

Odd numbered race Barry means it is your turn to go first, but

you landed on an even numbered favorite in the three to one

number six ready to pounce. Yeah, I think this horse off the

claim is going to be pretty tough in this spot.

Prove that this horse can win at this spot back in March off a

small little layoff there ran really good then they kind of

went over their head and was weren't really drawn well in

that race at Santa Anita on April 27th.

But after that the horses run pretty good since and I think

this race sets up well. You know, there's enough speed

up front with the one contrarian Chieftain.

Great King should get involved early and and I think Ready to

Pounce is going to sit a nice trip off of those two.

In this, in this, in this group, that that horse makes a ton of

sense. The only thing I would say to

winning with ready to Pounce is that is a horse that runs three

races, then wins, run three races, then wins, runs three

races, then wins. And usually it's because they

do. What they're doing here is they

move from winning at 16 up to 20, and then they drop back in

the ranks. Now, the move from 16 to 20 is a

lot less pronounced than some of the moves that this horse has

made before going say, from A225 Claver to a $32,000 allowance.

That's a big step up for sure. But in this case, this is still

a step up. So I'm gonna try to beat.

I'm gonna get a long shot here. Fireman Dan breaks from the 24.

Armando Iuso and Van Belvoir, those 2 / 4 at Del Mar so far.

Why not? Let's go.

But this one did run pretty well at that 16 level, losing to your

pick here. But before that, if you go back,

what is Santa Anita at the $20,000 level for non 3 lifers?

We get rid of that non 3 lifer thing here.

We get into that $20,000 kind of level again.

I just think under Armando where this horse wanted Santa Anita

going a mile, he could be better this time out before that ran

really well in the $20,000 level as well, losing by a neck in

second. I just can't pass on the 12 to

one price there, Barry. I think it's totally playable

and I think in this field he's a very logical candidate to win

this 6 year old gelded son of Summerfront.

Why not? But after the 6th horse there,

you landed on the inside. We're going to the we're going

to the rail for Contrary Chieftain.

Yeah, I think the source is is kind of forced to get into this

race a little bit earlier than they probably would want to.

That being said, this horse is kind of on the rise claiming

wise and fits here pretty good. I I just think the the pressure

that this horse is going to get from great king and vice versa

should be both of their undoing and and allow for a horse like

the one I picked on top rated to pounce to to take over in in

late stretch and and win this race.

So I think contrarian Cheevan is going to be tough though and and

hang around a long way. Yeah, should be interesting this

this race, this field in general, pretty difficult for me

to figure out. I put the three and the four in

the next two spots. Great King is a French bread.

Hell of a thing picking a French bread.

They usually think turf with those, but this is a giant

Causeway. Grandkids.

Smart strike mayor kind of made for the dirt.

Has not missed the board this year. 2 seconds 2/3 and a win in

five runs ran at this level. Last out at Emerald down.

So this is a step into better company.

But frankly was running at Santa Anita on the turf before this.

We're going to try the dirt here.

I don't hate that after winning at Emerald Downs, maybe we can

keep that going here with Kazushi Kimura, who's starting

to come around over 10% wins now on this meeting as well.

Did win one time paying 1590 with Francisco Rodriguez already

at Del Mar this year. And so hopeful that we can get

back to that kind of number. And then I also think the four

is interesting and Father Delay, Edwin Maldonado rides for for

the Hesbarn here and this one was third last time, Barry and

up the track a bit. We're, you know, coming back in

about 3 weeks here I think is really interesting because at

Los Al before that, this horse was really, really good.

And we're moving out of that 40 range back into the 20 claimer

here. I think Father Delay is a real

player here. So I'm 234 and six here.

I think a lot of different horses can win here.

Barry, behind the six, you had the one and the four as well.

Do you agree with me on Father Delay?

Yes, I absolutely do. And when you you do talk about

French bread, I think about pizza.

So if you want to throw that in the mind of Spears, that's what

happens when you say French bread.

I don't think you know horses on the dirt.

I think pizza. But that being said, I I'm in

total agreement with you with father delay.

I I think the the drop in class alone emerits this horse a a

good chance. Did you you went to Catholic

High School, right? Yes, Sir.

Did you have a cool priest teacher?

Like like a math class or anything like that?

Yes, English. What was his name?

Brother Ernie. Brother.

Ernie Oh, even better. Brother Ernie Oh God, my man.

Barry's been through it, folks. He's done a little bit of

everything. French bread, math teacher or

English teacher, brothers like, all kinds of stuff.

Brother Ernie. Cool guy though.

Come on. Yeah, Yeah.

Taught me Chaucer. What a guy.

Look at that, I'm brother Ernie. I apologize for the glare off of

the top of my head. My name is Louis Robot.

This is So Cal Saturday with Barry Spears.

Should I get a hat? Are we okay?

Is this just funny at this point?

I think it's just funny. I think.

Do I get a tan line with my headphones here?

Man, I hope so. All right, we got an event

tonight. It's also my wedding

anniversary, so that could be very funny.

But we'll move on to race 4 here on our SoCal Saturday program.

We also want to know why is it called Barry's boring Play of

the day if he lives in the no chalk zone?

Very fair question from a podcast that no one pays

attention to, but I would say this.

You leave my man Barry alone. Yeah, I'm like, I'm like that

guy under the coverage yelling about Barry Spears, but that.

That is a good question, but I I I figured I gotta give something

for everybody, you know, I can't just once.

In a while you box, you got to just pick sovereignty.

Once in a while you have to. It's OK.

Like it's the right thing to do. Race for is a $25,000 claimer as

the Bugs start to get a little more excited around here.

I like that $25,000 claimer on the turf here. 5 furlongs for

Phillies and mares that are three and up.

Claiming price is at 25. The purse is at 43.

Even number race means I'm going first here.

Barry, I landed on the four and the five.

You have both of those horses in your handicap tapping as well.

Shangri Lama is going to break from the floor under Antonio

Frisi, coming off a long break here from June of last year.

But this is a great angle for trainer Steve Knapp, and this

horse has been working really well this summer as well.

And so I'm hopeful that this one will pounce back, jump right on

the turf and be ready to go. What gives me hope about this

Barry is that the last time this horse took a break from December

of 22 to May of 24, she won on 1st asking and so my hope is

she'll come back and do that again here.

So I've got the four on top 8 to 1 on the on the morning line is

a nice sort of upset pick or excuse me, longer shot pick

there. But I do think Itzel, the five

horse, who is the 8 to 5 favorite.

I don't think this horse will be 8 to 5 at all by the time we get

to the game. Five to two seems more right to

me. I think there are more horses

with chances than the morning line makers making here.

The horse ran 4th last time DQ D to 10th.

Whatever will push that aside. But that was behind Tejon

passing bad Uncle Barry. We watched Fed Uncle Barry come

back and win just the other day as Barry told you on this show.

And if that's the case, then that really does flatter the

form of this horse dropping into the 25 level.

This is a 5 year old mayor. She's already earned $180,000 in

her life. Maybe they're just ready to move

on from Itzel in this spot. Barry, I'm not sure, but I know

you've got a different one on top in Tam's Little Angel.

Yes, I do. But one thing about Itzel I, I

think they're really going to really, really bury this horse

in the windows. 5 to 2 is probably fair value, but I think

this horse is going to be. It'll go the other way, OK.

Interesting. Yeah, I I think they're going to

bet this horse under under that 8:00 to 5:00 morning line.

Unfortunately, just because the bad class, then you got bad

Uncle Barry in there after the last race and and I think

they're going to take the bait, but I'm not with it.

I'm going to #7 Tam's little Angel.

I think this horse sits a better trip.

Also on the drop last time didn't get the best trips,

although I Yuso goes to the four here, but I still think tomorrow

can get it done. Hopefully he gets it together

and gets a nice trip for this horse.

I I think that one's the goods. You know what's interesting?

I have, I have Demuro on top, I think either once or twice later

in the card as well. Barry, did you have a lot of

hesitancy with that just because it hasn't worked out for him

yet? A little bit, but he's good

enough. I mean, I'm with you, you know,

he's he's a journeyman. He's been around, he's just not

seeing the ball well right now. And all it takes is really one

horse and some of the times, especially in these lower level

races, it's the horse that's going to do it more than it is

the the jockey by any means. So I I I wouldn't be too adverse

to take a shot like this. There's a cowbred in the in the

9 hole here that I'm interested in.

In Sensational ZZ trying the turf for the first time, it does

have a win over the Synthetic at Golden Gate as a maiden back in

May of 24. This one ran all over Northern

California, then came down to Los Alamitos to run during the

nighttime races and fared very, very well.

Last out at Del Mar in a 16. Claimer didn't get claimed and

one under Kazushi Kimura frankly had the lead by three lengths in

the stretch and they just held on no problem.

Did sensational ZZ Hector Barrios gets the mount here.

If this son of Ohm or daughter, excuse me, of Ohm at all.

Barry ends up liking the turf I think by the way, because it's a

first time turfer and the connections.

I think 12:50 is the baseline for this horse.

I think you might get 15 to one or something like that.

Sensational ZZ and the 9 might be an interesting play here.

Yeah, Why not? Those are tough reads, those

horses coming from those really short quarter horse mixed kind

of races and. That's why I like having a top

and a half of Del Mar last out on the on the board.

Like I know I saw that right, That one.

I know, I know. That's a real, that's a real

option. And just having speed in a race

like this kind of puts you in contention because there's

always, you know, with these lower level claimers, they fall

in and out of form. Some horses might not fire.

And then all of a sudden sensation of ZZ's winging on

alone on the on the front end. And there we go 20 to 1 upset.

And I I think it's certainly possible in a race like this.

We'll move on to race 5, of course, the closer of the early

pick 5, but of course, we want to remind you about our friends

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match up to $150.00 with them. Barry, move on to Race 5.

You'll go first here in a state bred maiden 50.

We're going 6 furlongs on the dirt for $40,000 in this 1/3 and

up are running in This one's Barry Hoochie land on.

I landed on the 910 figures. I thought this horse out of the

Peter Miller barn. I'm sorry.

Little long shot action all. Right, Yeah, a little bit.

Little bit I thought I. Love that 8th 1 is not a long

shot to you. That's a good thing about

knowing Barry Spears. Slightly slightly better

workouts than the stablemate, the 10 cross right hands and I

think the drop and the experience might end up helping

this horse in this particular race.

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of speed here and from the

workouts and everything. I think this might be a little

bit of a push. They might try to go for the

lead getting lasix for the first time getting back to the dirt.

I I think this this race is kind of wide open.

So I'm I'm going to give the 910 figures a shot on top.

This is, you know, I got cross right hands, the 10 that you

just mentioned on top here, second timer for Peter Miller.

I'm going largely on that angle because we're going in the same

kind of company. But the horse what broke OK was

at least part of the race for a little while, did fade to the

back of the field by the end. But we've seen stranger things

that a horse do, you know, break better, get involved in the race

a little bit more early. I would have liked to see a

little bit better of a break from the gate in the last work,

but I think this horse breaking from the outsides has the

experience now, can at least get up and be part of the equation

during the race. I then went to Smooth Whiskey

going down the seven horse here. Gio Franco rides for Ian Kroyak

and so this one I thought showed a lot more last out.

Barry going the five and a half. So hopefully, you know, staying

at this kind of distance going 6 furlongs.

But the horse was making up and passing horses in the stretch of

Del Mar last time we saw him. So I think the seven to two

number makes a lot of sense for this son of Dad's Caps.

So I landed 10/7 and an 8 in here.

I know you like the 8 as well in Bazooka Charlie.

Yeah, seems very logical after they went long last time,

cutting back into a level where they they look like they can

run. I'm not really sure about 3:00

to 1:00 in this spot, but I think other horses are going to

get better. I think the sevens going to get

better a little bit and the nine and the 10 might take a little

bit of action to the point where the seven might actually, you

know, take really a lot of money and and be favored.

But we'll see. I I kind of hope that does

happen because I I think the seven is is a little

one-dimensional, doesn't get out of the gate very well and it

needs to make up a lot of ground.

As you can see by the the the races this year, this horse

hasn't really been betting any of them and is going to get bet

on Saturday. So we'll see.

That's a good point by you. It'll be interesting to see

where he ends up on the tote board there for sure.

But frankly that last race, I'm hopeful he'll be able to show

some of that pace again. Barry Spears, Luther Bow hanging

out with you. This is So Cal Saturday on the

horse racing happy hour platform and of course, we're presented

by Amwager and amwager.com. Race 6 up next state bread

maiden special weight here. We're back on the turf mile on

the 16th in the shoot there. This is 4 Cal breads 3 and up.

And I thought, Barry, we got to a race here where I think there

are some more logical sort of conclusions, except that I

picked a horse that hasn't won in 10 starts.

And so here we are. This horse just ran in May, a

little bit of time off the horse probably should have won in May,

frankly, right behind winning Patriot there.

But is back Antonio Phrase who gets them out here?

And I'm kind of baking on that. Barry, actually a little bit of

a change in style from Umberto over to Antonio Frisu.

And so interested to see if this horse bounces back and runs a

little bit better at Del Mar than he did at Santa Anita.

But I went 5-1 and eight in here.

You and I are pretty different here.

I do think big Bill on the inside for Umberto is the second

best horse in here. He's at least been part of the

equation the last couple of times.

Almost broke his main first time outgoing 6 1/2 on the turf

sprinting, but should get a better trip here. 2 back.

They tried to been open, you know, maiden special company

just didn't work Outback the state bred ran second was part

of the equation of early speed. I'm hoping they can figure out

with this horse how to rate if this horse could figure out how

to run third in a race for a little while and then you can

probably pick off a lot of races.

This son of English Channel. But yeah, so I went 5-1 and

eight. Barry, I know you went a

different direction here and you've got a longer shot on top.

Yeah, I'm going with #4 Mavman I I like that last race a lot,

actually. Any time you get a horse that

does something different and improves 10 points on the buyer

scale, to me that signals that the horse found what they want

to do, and now it's just about building upon that.

I think this horse ran a real good race from the far outside,

had some trouble but still kept running.

And I think that experience will do this horse a lot of good in

this race. And I think Ayuso will probably

be able to get this horse into the race a little bit earlier

than last time and get a way better position, and I think

that might make all the difference.

We're going Mavman on top. I like this one quite a bit.

You got Madman on top, you have Bonneville, Jim.

Second. If this exacta hits, buddy,

you're going to make some money. Hector Barrios gets them out

here for Jeff Mullins. It's almost kind of the same

sort of play this this horse improved going long.

I, you know, the buyer scale doesn't give that indication,

but to me they did because they were had a lot of trouble early.

We're going wide and kind of made-up some ground.

I I think with a better trip that horse would have been a lot

closer and it was something to build upon.

Gets the best turf rider I think right now over there at Del Mar

in in Hector Berrios, Jeff Mullins, his horses second time

out usually run pretty good. So I'm going to give Bonneville

Jim a real good shot in this race also.

Jeff Mullins 19% second off of at least a one month layoff will

send Bonneville Jim to the gate there in race 6.

Race 7, Barry, as we get into the later part of the card here,

late pick four does start here. We're going a mile on the dirt

here. Another State Red race is an

optional claimer, $81,000 on the line, $20,000 claim price at the

bottom here. A couple of favorites in here.

Barry. If we were going with Louise

Boring play of the day, this would be my race for sure and it

is an odd number race. You get to go first.

Would you land on at race 7? Yeah, I kind of figured Mr.

Disrespectful is just going to disrespect this field.

I I tried, I tried to get this horse beat, but they, you know,

he lost to Kings River Knight twice and just couldn't get the

lead. Barring that horse being in this

race, which clearly Kings River Knight is not, there is nobody

else that will get this lead. I think Mr. Disrespectful just

goes wire to wire disrespects this whole field unfortunately.

I agree. I have him on top as well.

I have longer shots in the second and third spots there and

I think that's very how I'm going to play this race.

Sonia De Vino will break from the 6th.

Daniel Herrera gets the ride for Peter Miller here, and this was

one that ran third last out on the turf after winning on the

dirt at Los Allen. It's something we talked about a

lot with Peter Miller when we were doing Los Alamito shows was

how often he was taking turfers and trying them on the dirt.

But this is 1 run that three back ran at Santa Anita in a

maiden special at a mile on the turf and a damn near 1.

And so this is one came back against winners for the first

time ever, ran third last time, including against Kasnani, who's

in this Kanani, who's in this race as well.

Excuse me, but Sonia Devino, I think getting back to the

surface, staying here at Del Mar, I think will run a nice

race here as well, back on the dirt.

And so interested to see if Sonyo Divino who broke her

maiden or his maiden, excuse me, at LaSalle over the dirt.

I can't get it here. Do you think there's a case for

him here? Yeah, why not?

I mean, behind Mr. Disrespectful, it could get a

little chaotic and I I would give pretty much anybody a

chance. You you think Carrie Gold right

next to him? By the way, Speaking of Eight to

One has a good shot here, too. Yeah.

Carrie Gold I was running an open company the last four

efforts and not running too poorly, dropping back into

state. Breads on the dirt.

The dirt efforts aren't too bad. Should be kind of best of the

rest. I can see this horse getting up

for a second. You also on your handicapping,

you have the four horse here in in a speed grazy.

It's an interesting race this way, Barry, where if the one

does do what we think he can, figuring out what's right behind

him could actually become quite a fun puzzle, frankly.

Kent de Zormo gets a ride for Aggie Ordonez here.

What do you like about speed gracing?

12 seconds at the distance really and then three at Del Mar

with one win. So I I think this, you know, the

elements were kind of there for this horse to kind of be the

best of the rest and finish second or third, which seems

appropriate in a spot like this where that horse has no chance

against. Disrespectful.

You mentioned horses that just hit the board.

Pete's Old Fashioned. The 9 is the third horse of my

handicapping for this one. Antonio Fraser keeps the mount.

This horse last three times out when 2nd, 2nd and so I'm just

hoping we're keeping that kind of form going.

This one has been running and claiming ranks, but last time

out was in a 25 claimer running at the 20 level here as far as

starter allowance is concerned. And so again, Barry and I both

think the one's going to win here, but I think Pete's old

fashioned with Antonio Freis you can at least get a nice check in

this one as well. Moving on to race 8, late pick

three starts here. If you were unfamiliar with

California betting, the late pick threes in Southern

California, at least at Del Mar and Santa and Santa Anita, are

$3 minimum or three dollar base a wager pick threes with only a

15% take out. Barry and I both love these

wagers. We're going back to the turf. 5

furlongs for sprinting in an optional claimer, 80,000 if you

want to put your horse in and 82,000 is the purse.

It's for non 2 lifers. Barry even numbered race means

Louis goes first. I went long shot here in Tejon

Pass for Peter Miller. This one.

One at the optional 40 lot level last time at 56 and four under

Juan Hernandez, who keeps them out.

This horse is never going to be 8 to 1.

I want to be very clear. I understand that, but I'm going

to try to hide it in a pick 5 or a pick 5 or a pick four play

late in the card here. But I think this one son of

Justify, we've seen these justifies on the turf just be

absolutely outstanding, Barry. And so the five lands on top for

me here in this race. Another long shot I think is

really interesting is the Mike Smith piloted Agency.

This one's been off since June, gets a little bit of a break,

but Mark Blatt breaks his horses back at 24% off this kind of

layoff. And this is one that one last

out at the $50,000 allowance level, we're dropping into the

20,000 optional claiming level. But this horse last time it was

in this kind of level at the optioning 50 level, finished

second by a length. And so I think it's 1 Berry that

can get there. So man, I I went 5/8 here

because I think those two horses absolutely have a serious shot.

You agree on Tejon Pass So that I'm doubting this horse is going

to get anywhere near 8 to 1. Yeah, I was thinking 8 to 1

might be a little bit of a pipe dream, but again, you see bad

Uncle Barry show up again. Bad Uncle Barry showed up again

in In Somebody's Past. Performances.

But yeah, I just think that this horse came back running.

I love when horses do what Tejon Pass is doing.

Ran in October, was kind of fading off, then comes back off

that kind of layoff running. So from October 5th to July

18th, this horse came back running.

I there's always a little bit of an improvement off of those kind

of layoffs. This is a certainly a good spot.

Tatum Pass can be on the lead off of it.

Lot of versatility there. I think Pete Miller is holding

the cards. I have the two in here in my

handicapping as well. Proof he rides Kyle Frey, gets

the mound for Sean McCarthy here.

Feel like I'd never say Sean McCarthy's name.

That's ridiculous. By the way, a much better

trainer than that was in that race with yellow card and Patron

Dioro, who will also be in this field, finished fourth in that

one for second off of a very long layoff here.

It's not a great angle for Sean McCarthy, except this horse just

put in an absolute fireball at work the other day after another

one breaking in July before this last race.

And so if that's any kind of indication of how the horse is

going to run, I think he's going to run really well.

So look for the proof he rides the two horse in this field as

well to be part of the final equation.

I know a horse you had in your handicapping as well.

Yeah, Proofy Rides I I do like, I just don't like in this spot

in particular because the two horses that I have picked in

front of them are just flat out better in Yellowcard and Tay

Home Pass Proofy Rides is is is a close third, but I, I just

don't think this is the greatest spot for this horse.

I'm definitely going to keep an eye down the road.

All right, so on this show, when we go through the biggest race

of the day, that will be Race 9, it will be the Grade 2 Pat

O'Brien. If you win this race and you are

healthy in November, you get a starting spot in the Breeders

Cup for free. Quarter, $1,000,000 on the line

here, 7 furlongs on the dirt. We see a lot of names, Barry,

that we know in here, but we like to play a game of buy or

sell if a horse can win. So I was trying to go with the

Irish theme with this one. OK, So if a horse can win, he's

an Oh, yeah, it's not my best work.

I think this one is much better. I think head pad is pretty

funny. If that one, the horse can't win

this. That's nice.

That's nice. Oh, you go over there.

Head pad do. I put the H on.

Oh yeah. Is that what you're saying?

Is that what I need to do? Oh yeah, yeah, whatever, it

works. Wait, should I just change it to

Oh yeah like that? Oh, because that, that'll be

like, that's like something for Gulfstream.

Like that'll be a Gulfstream thing.

Oh, yeah. All right, so let's go through

the field. Let's meet him here.

Doctor Bankman. Yes.

That Doctor Bankman will break from the inside of Verta Rispoli

rides here, which I think is something we can talk about

because Antonio Fraser will be aboard Stronghold instead of

Doctor Bankman head pad here. Or is this a an.

Oh yeah. This is an Oh yeah for sure.

OK, I know. Where do you have him in your

handicap? I believe I have him second

because the post position I I just don't like the post.

You know, being stuck on the rail again is real detrimental,

especially going 7 furlongs and they don't want the lead and

they're not going to get it here.

So it it puts them in a tough spot.

If they break well enough to kind of get tucked in behind the

speed, they might be OK. But lately this horse has been

shuffled back and and kind of has to make a a winning move up

the rail the last couple of times and they really don't want

to go around horses. So they're in a real tough spot

but can definitely win this race if things fall apart.

I'm going with Headpad here. I There's something about him

that I just don't like in this spot.

We've seen him three times this year.

He's run second twice in the Kelly's landing and in the

triple bend. He lost a roll on Big Joe who

has not turned out to be real great.

I think was just in good form at that point.

Lost by 5 1/2 Denisos. None of us are holding that

against him in the triple bend, but he comes back at the Bing

Crosby. Do we really think a lot of

world record in a jazzy Dewey? I'm not sure.

And so I'm going to go. I'm going to go ahead, bat with

him, man. I'm going to pass on Doctor

Venkman this weekend. I think the horse the most

difficult to figure out in the field is Speedboat Beach, back

for Bob Baffert after trying during Derby week, the Saint

Matthews Black type overnight in Churchill Downs, where he

finished 733 lengths behind. The next horse in the race, Fort

Bragg won that one. What do we say about Speedboat

Beach? Look at all my 7000 likes.

Fine. Don't be my friend, it's fine.

I was going to say it's just a head pat, not really too keen on

that horse's chances. I, I, I want to believe that

Speedboat Beach is in this race as a rabbit for the horse I pick

on top. Ma'am, Naman naman.

He's an absolute O Yeah, for me, an absolute O yeah.

Recent works have been outstanding, and I don't think

Juan Hernandez cares about Kazushi Komora's feelings.

And he jumped off of Mainmum and on the Speedbo Beach.

I think that is a giveaway that Baffert thinks that this horse

is ready to go. I don't think there's a planet

on which Kazushi Komora gets set ups from Juan Hernandez.

And so I'm going to go ahead and disagree with Barry Spears, who

has much better hair than I do, but I think Speedbo Beach isn't.

Oh yeah, the spot Spirit of McKenna will break from the

three spot here. This is usually where Barry says

something like, Oh yeah, and here's the reason.

Not this time, not. Fast.

My friend straight up head pat. No chance.

Not even going to attempt. Agreed with you.

Maimam comes in. Sounds like you have this one on

top. By the way, we agree this is a

no, Yeah. Yes, definitely.

And Oh yeah, I, I think Maiman is, is really has the look of

one of those horses that Baffert that gets hot at the right time

and, and kind of. It's a Breeders' Cup.

Right. And and then strings together 3

or 4 races in a row and you're like man, where did that horse

come from? This is Maiman.

We should try to find before the show ends what the Maiman future

is for the Breeders Cup right now in Vegas.

Like what it is right now cuz I bet you could get like, I don't

know, 80 to one or something on that horse.

Easy to for for breeders. Yeah, that, that would make

sense. Yeah.

And yeah, we're going through the Pad O'Brien field here on

Socal Saturday. We're presented by Amwager at

amwager.com. This is the horse racing happy

hour. Barry Spears, Louis Rabo hanging

out with you as we do every Friday.

Awesome rhythm will break from the five here.

Víctor García and awesome rhythm, excuse me.

And Armando, I use so on this one, who has won his last two

races and three of his last four.

All of those, though at a considerably lower level period.

Yeah, that's that's a head pat and send awesome rhythm on his

way. I don't hate his inclusion here.

I'm not going to lie. I think he's pretty fast.

It'll just be a it's he's, it's an uphill battle here against

this group. I said earlier that Speedboat

Beach might be difficult to handicap.

Stronghold might be in that group, too.

This was, this is 1, trying to figure out if the cutback in

distance is good for him, for this son of ghost Zapper.

We last saw him bury in January in the Pegasus World Cup

Invitational, the Grade 1 going a mile and an eighth at

Gulfstream Park. I believe you were there for

that one. That was never going to happen

for him. Does he have a chance here

though? He ran well in the Malibu last

year. Yeah, I think this is more his

his speed and I think the race might set up for his kick.

So he is an Oh yeah, in this spot.

I think he has enough class or back class to prove that he can

run fast enough to win a race like this.

If he gets the setup, he can certainly do it.

I just don't really like the price at 3:00 to 1:00.

I think it's a bit short. Yeah, I'm going head pat with

him here. I I don't hate the idea, Barry.

I just think it's a little too much of an ask at this point.

Could he win another race this fall?

For sure, For sure he could. But I think this one's probably

just a little bit too early on the calendar as far as his

comeback is concerned for me, for him to put out his best

effort, essentially. Another fascinating one.

Express train's going to try the seven furlongs here.

He's only done it once in his career.

This will be his 27th start, Barry.

Oh, yeah. Head pat for our guy.

Express train 12 to one. Head bet for the old man.

I, I, you know, he runs hard and, and I, I appreciate they,

they run them because he does cash checks, but I just don't

think he can win. Yeah, he still works really hard

in the mornings too. I always check workouts to see

how horses really feel about the job and Express Train still

wants to be there, so God bless him.

He's an 8 year old horse, son of Union Rags.

They bought him for a half million bucks.

He's earned 1.6 million in his career to Paulo will break from

the 8. John Sadler and Abel Escano in

here. He's also cross entered in

another race at Del Mar. I'm going to guess he's not even

going to run Barry, but I'll go ahead and put the head pad up

for me. Same, I I don't see how he gets

the lead but he can kind of make the pace even faster.

Yeah, he was in the Las Barrera and won that in May of last

year, but we have not seen that form since.

If we saw, if we'd seen that more recently, he'd be a

different conversation. But if that Las Barrera feels

like a long, long time ago, Mana Rose will break from the

outside. This is when we've seen it's Cal

bred. So we've largely seen in Cal

bred races before we dismiss Cal breds.

Of course the chosen Run was a winner of this race previously,

Barry, but this feels like a different Galbraith than the

chosen PROD for sure. Absolutely a head pat and I

don't see how this horse can win but I would like to see the

horse on this race to to add to the pace.

Yeah, no doubt about it. His better figures are actually

on turf, so I'm a little surprised to see him back on

dirt here, except that I'm sure they're hoping for a little bit

of, you know, at least a chance to get out there and get a bit

of a check. Did run really well in the

Johnston at Locile last September, but we haven't seen

him since November. So if you were playing a late

pick 3 Barry, who would you include in your ticket?

It sounds like Doctor Venkman, Maiman and Stronghold.

Yes, Sir. OK, so you are one, four and six

as far as your tickets for this race.

I AM 24 for this race and that's all I'm going to play in.

Here are two Bafferts and I'm going to try and lean on the two

horses coming off a big boy layoffs in this one.

We go to the closer. It is race 10 on the card there

at Del Mar. It's an optional claimer for

state bred Phillies going a mile on the turf, $81,000 on the

line. In this one, Barry and I landed

on the 10 horse toward the outside in lavender Love.

It's my wedding anniversary. Think it's gonna be?

Lavender. Ain't lavender at all.

Nothing. OK, Lavender love in it.

David Cohen. How about that?

Like seeing his name on there did break its maiden last time

out under David Cohen and I thought looked very impressive

doing it. I love a horse coming out of a

maiden win. This daughter of Grayson in this

spot. It is a state red race, so it's

frankly not at all a step up in class for me.

And Richard Baltz's horses go 21% back-to-back.

So I think that's enough of a reason for me to lean on this

one, Barry, in this race. So I landed on the 10:00.

I've got the one in my second spot, but you have guilty of

having fun the one on top. Yeah, arguably the two mile

races that guilty of having fun has are the probably the better

races that this horse has run. I, I know the buyers don't say

that, but the way the race set up and everything and how this

horse ran, I, I think they were or could be a little bit better

than any other races this horse has run.

Came back running on July 26th. Didn't get the best of trips.

I don't think this horse really likes that 5 for a long

distance. I think going longer is better.

Should be in the race a little bit earlier than they probably

would want to be. But I think that's a good thing

in this race because it doesn't seem to be like there's too, too

much speed. That's why you're 10.

It might be pretty tough winging it out there and I think the one

has the potential to sit right off that and and get first run

on these and and it could be the winning move.

Guilty of having fun piloted by Kyle Frey, who has hit the board

20. That's insane.

It's 32 times this meet only five wins.

The poor guy. So hopefully a breakthrough here

we saw guilty of having fun almost break is made under

Frankie Dettori at Santa Anita going the distance last spring.

And so the the form is certainly there.

You have the one on top. I think the 12, by the way, if

it does draw in Brev for Manuel Badilla, Antonio Fraser would

get them out here. That one almost one last out at

this level going this distance, etcetera.

So if the 12 does dry and I've got that horse in my

handicapping, I also have the four in here, Barry.

Hello, kiddo, kiddo. Juan Hernandez gets a mark for

Labrado Borosio. My first time mentioning in him

on this show today, which is ridiculous.

Big fan of Labratos. And so the brakes is made in the

last out. Everyone knows I love that

angle. Juan Hernandez keeps them out.

Had them out for the first time, last time with this horse.

So maybe get a little bit of back-to-back kind of momentum

with this one. So 10112 and 4 for me.

Here you went 1-6 and five. True patriot.

Oh, we get Hector back on the grass.

Yeah, I think this horse fits very, really well at this level.

His previous races, her previous races have been pretty good in

this spot. The only problem is is the

running style. This horse likes the pretty much

a dead closer should be a little bit closer to the pace.

I know last time just didn't get the greatest of trips,

especially in the stretch and looks looks pretty decent at

this spot. If you get 6 to 1, I might think

about putting this horse on top. You know, depending on how the

other you know all the other betting shakes out.

We're guilty of having fun lands 6 to 1 is is a really good price

on True Patriot if you can get it.

True Patriot, of course, will break from the six.

You also like a horse right next to her, and she's misbehaving.

Ricardo Gonzalez and Jorge Gutierrez combining on this one.

Kind of the same ideas True Patriot really fits at this

level, just doesn't like to win. I I thought this horse is a

really good try. Super kind of play.

With what you've seen from the card, the late sequence, what do

you think the better play is? Lean into that $3 pick three?

Or should we try to hit the pick 4 here or something like?

That with the. Pick three is gonna I think the

pick three could blow up this weekend.

It it, it certainly could, especially with that Tejon pass

the eighth race. Yeah, that that's going to be a

tough race and and you could get a price there.

I'd say either that or the pick 4 because you know, you could

really. Up the amount.

And then crush right single Mr. Disrespectful spread in a couple

races and and try to nail one in the last.

You might be able to to catch a good price.

Allrightwellnoheadpats@amwager.com Don't worry about.

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amwager.com. I forgot.

Oh no, I put up did. Did we get into my to Spears

today? Did we do that?

I think we did. We did.

We definitely did. 20. Two years probably better off.

22 years married for me today. Barry by the way, the the on the

lead guys agree with you on something.

How stunning. What a what a stunning thing for

that to happen around people would be.

Agree with Barry. Thank you.

Thank you for telling us that the marriage advice from Barry

Spears. What's the number one thing?

Make sure you stay funny. It's don't take yourself too

seriously. I don't hate that take at all.

If you don't, if you don't laugh with your spouse, man, it gets

it gets bad. Oh yeah.

Oh yeah. You ever you have that buddy

who's got a roommate. They don't like it.

It's their wife. Yeah.

That's not that's not what I want.

Yep. That's not what I want.

All right, well, I don't have that, and I hope you don't

either, but I hope you have a great weekend.

This has been So Cal Saturdays presented by Amwager here on the

Horse Racing Happy Hour. Tony Gwynn, the absolute go.

One of the great goats in my lifetime.

That's right. Harry Spears and his thousands

of dollars of hats. You like my wife with you.

Happy anniversary. Happy anniversary.

We'll be back next week. Good luck with those wages this

weekend. It's OK on Saturdays on the

Horse Racing Happy Hour Network. We'll see you next week.

Good luck with those wages.