SoCal Saturdays 5/24/25 | Santa Anita Park

You see a bright wall behind me. That's because the sun is out

here in Louisville, KY, hanging out with Barry Spears.

My name is Louis Ramos. This is another edition of

Soulcal Saturday's hanging out with our friends, of course at

amwageredamwager.com and of course the good folks at the

Sporting Tribune in the Sporting tribune.com.

Berry, welcome in with post Preakness edition.

We had a good week last week on this show as far as

handicapping, giving out on top winners and that one.

In fact, little cold pick three from your boy here, Racist 5-6

and seven last week. Always love when that sort of

thing happens. Barry, it's your week this week,

my friend. No pressure.

No, none, none at all. I wish I played that pick three

because it played okay. Yeah, I might have paid 201 on

$0.50. Yeah, that would have been all

right. In that case, Barry hanging out

with us as he does every week here on Socal Saturdays.

Like I said, you can catch us at the Sporting Tribune.

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And this is the kind of day, Barry, that I'm so glad we've

been doing this show for months now because we've gotten to know

these horses a little bit right. Once we get into these state

bred kinds of races, it's a big part of what they do at Santa

Anita, at Del Mar, etcetera, Lo Sal.

Of course these Cal bred races, we're going to get a full card

of them on Saturday ahead of that massive card on Monday as

well for Memorial Day in Southern California.

But a lot of value in this card too, Barry.

Absolutely. This day notoriously usually

yields some big prices. And you know, the multis are

usually nice and healthy and you get some horses that are kind of

flying below the radar in other places that show up in these

spots and end up running well. So, you know, it's always a fun

day. We'll see a lot of horses that

have been running exclusively in Cal Company, some that are

coming back out of open company because of the conditions or

because of the purses. And so we'll be looking for all

of those things today. But we do start with race one.

It's a maiden special weight, so we will see something like 5 or

6 stakes on this card, Berry. But of course, mixed in are the

maidens, the claimers and the optional claimers.

We'll start with a maiden special going a mile on the turf

there, $60,000. And this is for Cal Bretz, 3-4

and five years old hold. It would be very easy to go

chalky here, Barry. So I imagine you're not going to

go very chalky. Definitely not, although I think

the horse that I picked will probably be close to second

choice. I went with #513 on top.

Now this horse didn't really get a good run at it the last time

on April 5th. Just didn't get out of the gate

well. Was 34 to one that day off

slowly, but this is a much easier spot.

And with that race under this horse's belt, I think there's

there's imminent improvement. You know, despite the bad start

and everything, the horse really didn't run all that badly,

almost split the field. And since that start, the

workouts have been much, much better.

And that indicates that this horse is going to step up and do

something better this time. Mark Glatt is really good second

time out, and that's where we're going.

Yeah, 20% second out for Mark. Glad I've got this horse.

Third of my handicapping. I would like to see Barry 'cause

what I worry about here is what we've seen from Kazushi Kamura.

This, this is 17 times hitting the board that Art wins, but

only five wins to start his his campaign here with.

You know, it doesn't mean he can't get over the hump there

for sure. But I have a third of my

handicapping. I did go to the 8 9:00 to 2:00

on the Hector Barrios ridden Winter Snow.

Hector Barrios sneaky good 23% at the start of this meet.

Horse finished third by 1/2 length last out.

We're second in the form cycle here.

That's a great angle for trainer Jeff Mullins, who hits at 18%

doing that 28%. These two working together at

Santa Anita most recently. I know you have that horse in

your second spot. We both have 5-8 and one in some

kind of combination here. So the one horse on the inside

is going to probably be the favorite just by the connections

between Craig Lewis and Juan Hernandez here in Ryde Gold.

What do you like about Ryde Gold?

I I like the market improvement once this horse got to the grass

and then stretching out seems to be very logical.

The only reason I didn't put this horse on top is because I

think this horse might get some pressure early from we the

hobby, the two horse and maybe another one that that might show

speed. Somebody like California rocks

or or French moonlight. I I don't expect this pace to be

just, you know, a, a slow dawling up front where a horse

like ride gold could win just going easy.

We'll have his hands full early. Or hers.

I'm I'm interested too the two we didn't mention we are the

hobby or we the hobby. Excuse me, is the second

favorite on the morning line here.

Barry is 1 though that has tried seven times in this exact

company to break her maiden and it just hasn't happened to this

point. Are you seeing the same thing I

am there? Absolutely, 7 cuts against this

group is might be a little bit too much and and calls for a

little bit of class relief. Yeah, it might be time for a

claimer with the two there. This is Socal Saturday.

Barry Spears, Lou Rebeau hanging out with you.

Thanks for making us part of your horse racing weekend, your

Memorial Day weekend, hopefully getting to hang out, watch some

ponies, good weather, wherever it is that you live.

Race 2 is a maiden special. We see the 2 year olds, I hear.

Barry, how about that bunch of first timers going 4 1/2 for

$60,000 here and so make sure to check this one out.

A couple of second timers in here, Barry, but where did you

end up landing in Race 2? I ended up on the Two Smiling

Carmen, George Parabon. This is kind of what he does,

you know, he gets horses prepared first time out that go

really, really fast. He has two in this race and I

suspect one of the two, if not both, will be really quick out

of the gate. I'm going to go with the longest

of the two Smiling Carmen, but this horse's body of work is at

least, you know, workout wise seems just a a tad or slightly

bit better. Got it.

Yeah, I went with the three here in final table lady, the other

Jorge, if you will, in this spot out of the Parabon barn.

Something that I've learned from Barry hanging out is to watch

those gate works and this one was a little bit faster out of

the gate on May 16th than his partner or her partner.

Excuse me in smiling Carmen. So I'm going on that.

Another daughter of Stay Thirsty.

Very similar sort of breeding here as well.

Different ownership, which means we don't have to couple this

entry, which is nice. Barry, if this were New York,

they'd probably try to make them couple.

It's just how New York works. But going out there, I do think

I've had the three and the two on top here.

You went 2-3. I landed on the 6th and the

third spot in Liberation. This is a 5 to 2 starter for

John Sadler, another guy who's good with first timers for sure.

This one's been working very steadily in that 48 range over 4

furlongs at Santa Anita. They tried this horse earlier if

you look Barry, on the synthetic for the workouts there.

And I wonder if that was potentially related to weather

and they just that was where you could work out that day or if

they were going to see if this horse was, you know, maybe set

up for a turf Sprint, something like that, you know, a son of

Omaha, a daughter of Omaha Beach.

In this case, it looks like they were like, you know what, never

mind. It looks exactly the same about

the two services. So we'll just go with whatever's

available in the condition book. So I ended up 3, two and six.

I know you have the one in the third spot here.

Yeah, I thought Liberation is probably be a a nice horse down

the road. It it I'm, I'm actually kind of

surprised of running a a horse like that in a race like this

because it it kind of screams like this horse wants to get on

the turf. But I'm I'm guessing a turf

sprinter. So this wouldn't be too bad of a

spot. But you know, there there might

not be any anything that fits the bill until later on in the

summer. But I thought that ain't right.

Might be able to run a little bit.

This horse is coming in from Emerald has one workout at Santa

Anita. That was pretty good comparison

to, you know, everybody else. And Steve Sherman isn't, you

know, isn't new to the circuit. He understands and knows where

his horses can fit. This is a decent spot.

Drawing the rail isn't the best place, but if this horse can get

out of the gate might be in trouble.

Yeah, dead, moved down from Emerald Downs, as you mentioned,

for her last work at Santa Anita.

Looked totally great doing it as well.

Race 3, they're at Santa Anita on Saturday is another maiden

special way going a mile. This one is for Phillies and

mares 3-4 and five again. So we're trying to fill out

these cards. We'll get 8 in here.

Barry. I'll go first in this one.

In race three, I did land on the 5 S trying to beat the favorite

with an 8 to 1. Wildcat Danzig here, son of

Danzig Candy. Of course, our daughter Kit

Danzig Candy keep doing that, but it's going to try routing

for the second time here. And I thought showed a lot.

Barry, if you go back and watch this race, tons of traffic for

this one. But also just once in a while we

we see horses just second time ever on the track, that kind of

thing and they're kind of looking around and kind of

figuring it out. I think this one under Drayton

Van Dyke, who gets them out again here figured it out about

halfway through the race got real close.

OK Rose is also in this race, this horse finishing just behind

him or her. Excuse me and winter snowing.

So interested to see if this second time routing can't get us

there. And I think we're probably going

to get every bit of eight to one on the five here in race three.

I know you love the three in this spot.

Absolutely. At at 15 to 1, I, I really

couldn't resist. I thought this horse just didn't

get a good run with it. Just like I I spoke about before

where the horse just kind of got out and and just ran around

there didn't really do much. Didn't look like there was any

intent other than to get a race into this horse.

This is more logical spot, especially kind of on the

stretch out. Mike Pipe does pretty good on

the stretch out. You know, limited starters, but

somewhere around 2728% and does well with second time starters.

Gets apprentice, aren'tes in the saddle getting a weight break.

All those things seem to help. At 15 to one, an English Channel

horse out of a Spikestown mayor. I got to give a shot of the

mile. Yeah, 15 to 1's, not the end of

the world for sure. On the certainly on the value, I

like the horse right next to it. And OK, Rose that I mentioned

finished right ahead of the horse that I'm going with on top

in Wildcat Danzig. But this one, unfortunately,

those eight starts but does have 6 times hitting the board here.

I love the move to Armando IU. So this is second in the form

cycle here and I thought Armando moved this horse forward last

time. Barry probably just needed the

time to ride just a little bit better and I think it's very,

very capable of doing it in this spot.

I know you have that horse in your third position.

What about Odie's memory lane? The four horse here?

Yeah, that horse has a potential to be lone speed here and and

could shake loose and they might not be able to catch.

This good point. If that that's very, very

possible. The only thing is the price.

I I I'm not really sure I can trust this horse going a mile at

at a short price, but definitely has the ability.

It's interesting too, because the connections on the morning

line favorite and hello Kid O Kid O, which is not a good way

to name a horse. Don't ever do that again.

The is this one did try the turf route a couple of times and has

been right there under Giovanni Franco.

Kent Desormo's going to get the ride here.

The mount for Labrado Borosio. That one just it's it.

I know I'm being hypocritical here, but at that kind of price

with Ken Desormo, I I would rather have Armando Ayuso on OK

Rose even at 7:00 to 2:00, you know, then a two to one on hello

kiddo, kiddo. And so I just I'm, I'm leaving

the six out of my handicapping here, Barry in this spot, but

it's not because I think the horse is totally incapable.

But we'll move on to race 4. Again, we're presented by

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Live in California as well. Race 4 that comes up next for us

and it is the first of the stakes races on this card.

It's called the Thor's Echo Barry.

But is there a moment when you think great California sprinter,

there's one who just retired a spectacular one in the chosen

from? At what point do we rename this

race after the chosen from since he only won it 308 years in a

row? I just, it's a question, I mean

it's at some point we got to ask the question, when do we name

this race after the chosen bra? Except that the Thor's Echo was

quite a great horse in his in his own rights. 6 furlongs on

the dirt. They're 100,000 in the pool here

for three and up in this spot. Barry, I'll let you go first

with our first stakes race to the day.

You landed on the five in Geezer.

Is that a? Is that a like a name?

Play about yourself? Yes, very old, but.

Yes. You know, I, I thought this race

was interesting because Booksmart, you know, even on

paper, Booksmart kind of stands out, but I don't think

Booksmart's going to get the kind of trip that Booksmart

needs to win this race. I think there's some people

like, or some horses like Tapatio Leo and even inside

Private Gem that'll give this horse some some problems early

and I think that might weaken him enough for a horse like

Geezer to come through. This horse has a few races to go

back to on the surface that would definitely win this race

if the setup is right, and I think it is.

I've got Private Gem on top for the reason that you just said.

I think he's a little bit faster from the gate than is Book

Smart. Book Smart tends to break well,

but I do think you'll get a nice break from Private Gem, who will

be able to sit just next to him. This son of Looking at Lucky,

all he does is win. And I know he's switching back

to the dirt here, but that's something Mark Glatt does just

fine. And frankly, we see so often out

in California, Barry is is horses switching between the

turf and dirt horses especially they're at Santa Anita.

It's no knock at all against Booksmart who's been running an

open company. And I think neither of us would

be terribly surprised if he won this race.

In fact, I'm 223 on top in this spot.

It's just I think Private Gem is just a gamer.

Only four runs in his life, has won three of them.

One second place finish and that was in stakes company over 7

furlongs last year at Santa Anita in the Golden State

Juvenile. And frankly, that horse had no

business not winning that race. It just never quite got up to

pass Magic Spoon in the stretch should have been right there.

And so I think that's the kind of company we're looking at here

and I think Private Gem could be the best of that group.

After that I went outside to Final Storm, the seven horse who

I know is second and your handicapping.

So I'll let you go ahead and describe Final Storm here.

Yeah, I I think getting back to the dirt is, is what the doctor

ordered and to this level that last time, he's just way

overmatched. Yaakovlev really ran a great

race that day in our Bucky Charm.

Those are those are really nice horses that were in that event

probably better than what's in this one, even though it was on

the turf. But I think this this horse is a

better horse on the dirt, should get a decent trip here.

It's just a matter of how far he's going to be back.

And then that's why I put him second.

I'm not really too sure how far back this horse is going to be.

And I kind of took two closers to to round out my picks here

with the six as well. I like to move to Antonio Freisu

here too for Final Storm. I think that his his riding

style won't allow this won't allow this horse to just sit off

of it as far back as he has been in some races.

Like you said, if you go back to that race on April 20th when he

was facing optional claiming California Bread Company in that

one, not only was he back 5 1/2 legs, which he cannot do, I

don't think in this company if he does that, we're talking

about the two or the three running away with this thing in

my opinion, Barry. But if he's closer than that, if

Antonio Fraser can keep him, let's say 3 to 4 lengths off, I

think he's got a legitimate shot certainly to hit the board.

That son of blame Race 5 will round out of course, the early

pick five. It's maiden 12/5 and Barry, like

we had last week. There was an $8000 claim on the

card last week. I aye, aye, and I did that and

then I was totally right about the winner.

So it started that that that it started that cold pick three

that I hit in the middle of the card.

And so we're going to try to not throw our hands up at these

races too much, except I'm going to do it because it worked last

week. This is a mile on the dirt

course there. It's for Cal breads 15,000 in

the pool here. And I want to be clear, I I know

we joke. Barry and I are so glad that

these races are on the card because they do spice these

things up like crazy. It's OK if it's a tough puzzle

to figure out, right? It's OK if it's a tough nut to

crack. And that's what these races are.

Barry. Race 5 Where'd you land I?

Landed on the kind of a long shot here with the four naval

Harbor. I.

I think the source basically ran better positionally, not so much

speed figure wise, but positionally ran a much better

race. And it seems like the source is

putting it together 12 to one in a race like this that looks

completely wide open. Anybody could do anything.

I'm I'm willing to take a shot here on that horse.

You and I have the same 12 to one shot on top.

This one, when it dropped into company last time did start

well, it faded a little bit toward the end of the race over

the six furlongs there. They're not going to force this

one out to try to be the fastest in this group this time, Barry.

And we saw, I think this horse, a son of Gig Harbor in this

case, can get the kind of trip where he's sitting a little bit

closer to the front rather than trying to be on the front.

And instead of breaking like a bat out of hell, if you get this

thing to slow down just even a little bit, he drops 4 lbs.

She. Yeah, he drops 4 lbs Here.

Excuse me. I this is 1, I agree with you, I

think has a real shot to get a lot better here.

The five next to him toppers wager is 8 to 1.

Kazushi Kaburra gets them out again for this one.

I thought showed some progress moving forward last time out.

Did get 3rd through DQ from fourth position.

Obviously a problem there before that had been running up the

track doing nothing. I wonder if the light bulb

didn't go on a little bit. 4 toppers wager last time out, and

so I'm going to use that horse in the second position here and

then Mary, I know you just one spot out of there.

Jenny's tis you're going to take a shot within your second spot.

Yeah, I mean, it seems like a logical drop down.

I I know this source is coming out of $50,000 maiden claimer

the one on April 6th. This source was behind just a

runaway winner and this horse ran pretty good behind that one.

I think the drop makes a lot of sense.

I wouldn't go crazy on this horse, especially at a shorter

price because this this seems like a really wide open affair.

Tim McKenna does hit at 19% in maiden claimers.

The favorite silver and black is trained by.

It comes out of Hespern, I should say, and he's only hit

one of his last 60 and maiden claimers and so this might be a

spot where you try to beat the favorite despite all the

experience for silver and black, the seven here under Kent de

Zormo in this spot. But that will round out the

early pick five there at San Anita tomorrow.

We'll get into more stakes races as we move along.

The Franz Valentine starts the all turf pick three race 6.

We love that bet $3 minimum and only a 15% take out mile on the

turf here. This is for Phillies and Mares 3

and up in this spot here, Barry. I'll go first in Race 6.

I landed on the three. This is the favorite here.

Prancing through Paris, a daughter of Sir Prancelot was

really good in the Irish O'Brien coming down the hill, but before

that did win going over the mile.

This is just a winner, Barry. She's won five of her 13

lifetime starts, has started all over Southern California,

whether it be on dirt or on turf.

The good news is this is on turf.

The good news is I get Armando Ayuso.

The good news is I get Peter Urton.

The two of them have won four. Four of their last nine races

together. This horse 4 for seven lifetime

on the turf. Not saying single here, Barry,

but boy, this one feels like a big favorite in this spot to me,

not to you. You landed on the five.

Yeah, I mean, we definitely have opposing views on the three

prancing through Paris. I I thought that win on February

22nd was a bit soft. They went 2348 and you know, a

horse like sneaker was doing, you know, 2246 and holding on on

the lead. You know, that's quite a big

difference in in my estimation and I would give the nod to a

horse like Sneaker before prancing through Paris.

But the horse I used on top is the five Blevis Tiger.

I think this horse is actually a little bit better than than what

the past performances might suggest, especially going a

mile. I can forgive that race on

September 2nd, Horse really didn't get into it and just kind

of ran around there, then got laid off for a long time.

Comes back April 4th. Runs a runs a bang up race down

the hill, backs it up with a nice one on the flat. 6 furlongs

and I think stretching out seems the most logical, expected thing

and I think this horse will thrive doing it in a race that's

kind of up for grabs. I, I, I don't know where this

horse would really want to sit. Hopefully about second, you

know, kind of stalking outside of the two speeds would be

perfect. Even if this horse gets shuffled

inside, that might not be the the worst thing in the world,

But I, I still think this horse has a lot of potential.

Has ran 2 improved races off the bench since last year and I

think that improvement continues.

Yeah, but Levy's Tiger will break from the five you

mentioned. Sneaker, you and I both have

this horse second in our handicapping, and it's probably

for the reason that you mentioned was in the Irish

O'Brien and did a bunch of the work there down the hill, but

came back in that royal heroine that I am praising other horses

for it. So if Sneaker could hold her own

in that 1 / a mile, certainly she could drop into Calibran

ranks and do the same. For the purposes of the pick 3

here, Barry, I would use the 1 and I would use the three and I

would move on from this leg. I know you would definitely use

the five in this spot, but you also have the six in your

handicapping here. Not a huge number, but nine to

two in A7 Horse Field. Not the end of the world either.

In Shocking Gray, we do get Juan Hernandez in the spot here.

Yeah, I mean this horse is a mile race, is involved in an

open company getting the state res where this horse fits a lot

better might make all the difference in in this

performance and find a little bit under the radar.

And I think that might make all the difference.

We get 6-7 to 1 on this horse. You might want to take a second

look at her. There you go.

That will be the first of the late of the, excuse me, of the

of the late stakes on the race. Again, that was the Franz

Valentine in a race 8IN race 7 we move back to the dirt and

this is essentially the Oaks race for California on the dirt.

This is the Muller. It is for Golden State eligible

3 year old Phillies and we see some names in here that we get

kind of used to. It's $125,000 by the way.

We're going a mile and a 16th, so same distance as the Santa

Anita Oaks itself. It's an interesting one because

we we know the, you know, once we get to these dirt races

especially, I feel like I know the the sires a lot better.

The Mendelson's of the world and the Stay Thirsty's and the Ohms

and the Bodhi expresses what have you.

Interesting field Barry, because I in this one stood out to me as

I have two in here that are super interesting to me.

You're going to try a long shot that you're going to have to

try. Talk me into in the air tonight

is the 2 horse here I mentioned. Stay thirsty.

This is Tiago Prayer. This is Steve Knapp.

What do you like about the two in this spot?

Well, this horse is kind of state bred, state tested.

I think that race on December 8th, the Soviet problem at at

Los Al. It was a really good race, at

least for, you know, in comparison to everybody else's.

A, it was A, it was a state bread steak that this is and B,

it was at a mile where a lot of these horses haven't really gone

a mile. And I think this this pace might

heat up. This horse proved that you could

pass some horses or she could pass some horses.

I think getting back to this mile trip makes all the

difference. You can put a line through that

turf race and then the six 6 1/2 races is really not this horse's

bag. I think this mile on the 16th

trip is, is just what the doctor ordered.

A little bit of improvement. Good trip.

We're in the winner's circle. She does have a win at Santa

Anita, breaking her maiden back in May of 2024.

I landed on top. I'm going to be super boring in

this race. Almond Joy, which I like is a

name, comes out of a 6 1/2 furlong Sprint win in the

evening. Jewel under Kent de Zorma, who

keeps them out here for Aggie Ordonez and before that broke

her maiden. I love this Barry because I I

love the angle of betting a horse coming out of a maiden

win, especially if you get to watch that the light go on for

that. You know that runner at that

point. This is a three-year old Philly

who took a full 8 attempts to break her maiden, but that was

essentially because they got her off the turf and now she's back

to the dirt. She goes 6 1/2 last time we're

going to stretch from there. I I think this one makes sense.

This is the munnings line. This is the hard spun line on

the damn side. I think this is a horse in the

case of Almond Joy that can make can get the two turns and I

think she can be a real problem in this one as well.

And then I went outside a Mizo fancy and this is one that tried

a mile in an eighth on the turf last night has never been on the

dirt, but this is a daughter of Karakanti.

We get souvenir copy on the damn side, which is really

interesting to me. Actually better wrist believe is

on unbelievable fire out there. This horse has never been worse

than second in six lifetime starts to win for for second

places. Tried that honeymoon last night,

last time at a mile and an eighth, and yes, I know it's on

the turf. But if you look at her three

races going two turns, mile, mile, mile and an eighth, she

finished second by less than a length and by less than 1/2 a

length. Neck, neck and nose in those

races. I'm going to trust that the dirt

to turf, turf to dirt. Excuse me for Leiter Powell, who

wins 1/5 of his race is doing that is the right spot for her

here. So I'll use meso fancy as well

in my handicapping. I know you like meso fancy as

well. Yeah, yeah, definitely same

reasons. I'm I'm not so enthusiastic

about the mile and 8th to a mile cutback, but I think the the.

Yeah, those Karakatis don't hate that sense, do they?

Yeah, right. They they like to go long, but I

I think the dirt is the equalizer here and just the fact

that this horse has been really running longer and has a little

bit more bottom goes a long way. Yeah, I agree with you.

I think that she's got a really, really serious spot here.

We both left out Sunset Grayson, who will break from the five, my

guy. Armando, IU.

So I don't want to necessarily lump you in with that, but

Blaine Wright trains here. Is there something that we

should be seeing about this horse or we all seen the over

three or the over 4 this year? I think the over 4 and the fact

that this horse probably isn't going to get the greatest of

trips because everybody's going to be trying to do what this

horse wants to do it. It's going to be tough sledding,

especially at a, at a short price.

I I couldn't do it here. I'm rooting for Cesar De Alba in

this spot by the way. Only 14 starters the entire year

to this point with one winner. This is a horse in Fibonacci's

ride. The six who has who has won on

debut at Los Allen September last year came back in May at

the beginning of the year was almost almost there against

winners for the first time comes back is going to try two turns.

But this is a daughter of clubhouse ride.

I I wonder with Fibonacci's ride if we can't get something there.

And this is the kind of day Barry where a guy no, but

seriously, this is the kind of day where a guy likes to say

sorry, de Alba. This is where he gets to win a

stakes race, right is where he's you know, he's got the kind of

you know, he's based in Socal. This is what he does.

So that's the one I'm rooting for at least in this spot, even

though I left it out of my handicapping Race 8.

We get back to the grass here, the Crystal Water $100,000 race

here a mile on the turf and this is for three and up.

Open company in this one as long as you are a cow bred.

We see Coalinga Rd. in here night, Kings River night as

well. Clouseau's in here and one of my

favorites from up there at Golden Gate Fields.

Freeport Show will round out the field on the outside.

God bless him. Still running these days doing

the damn thing. You and I both landed on the

four in here. Barry.

Sometimes classical in class. Yeah, I I think that's what we

have here. Not to mention this horse did

the same pattern two years ago, coming into this race with a

nice 6 furlong on the turf, then into the crystal waters and bang

wins by two into the winner's circle.

Cash it. I don't see too many horses that

can hang with this one in this race.

Might lay over this field, but the four might definitely be the

goods. Yeah, I think the fours, the

goods here and and frankly, you know, I, I mentioned that this

is the second leg of that turf pick three that I mentioned it

is the start of the late pick three, that $3 late pick three

at Santa Anita every day. And I with this one, Barry,

because I, I think this is a single in the middle of that

sequence for me, I'm probably going to move my $3 minimum up

to more like a $5 kind of pick 5 or pick three in this place.

Because if I'm going to get value out of a horse like that,

that's probably what I'm going to have to do.

And so I'm with you, Kings River Knight comes in out of that, the

sensational. And I just, I think, you know,

she showed she was ready. It was or he was ready.

Oh my gosh, I'm mixing up my food.

Colt races all over the place, but he was ready downhill, just

didn't have it at the end of the race.

Second off the layoff here, go and Sprint around, which John

Sadler does really, really well. This is a horse that's had large

layoffs between and he's waited for to be ready to go.

Reminds me a lot, frankly. You know Sadler, of course, the

trainer of Flight Line, just waiting for the horse to be

ready in those spots. I think he knows what to do with

Kings River Knight in this spot. But you have the three in the

second spot, as do I in takes three.

What do we like about Takes 3? Runs really well at a mile at

this class level or at least in state bred company and that last

race on April 5th was a lot better than it looks on paper.

You know was behind beef Winslow packs a wallop and Jules Leili

and actually packs a wallop is running on Monday in a steak in

one of those graded steaks they have on Monday.

But this horse has been holding his own and I think, you know,

this is a field that this horse can really.

Yeah, I'm with you. I have Clouseau in the third

spot here. The sixth horse, one last out at

the distance in an optional claimer against Cal Breds as

well. Before that was in the Hiragi

barn, has moved into the Papa Prodromo barn.

I hate that because his stakes record isn't very good, but I'm

trying to look at this race as more of a high level allowance

or something like that because it is restricted to Cal Breds

Berry. And so maybe Clouseau can get

there, you know, a son of Distorted and Humor get there

for a piece at least. But man, he's he's just so often

very, very comfortable not winning races.

But frankly, before this at Pleasanton was winning races.

Wanted Santa Anita over the dirt.

Interesting trying the turf here, but frankly was good

enough last out that it makes sense to give this kind of

company in this kind of purse a run as well.

What do we say about my boy Freeport Joe, though?

8 years old, still running. He's still out there.

You see the training numbers, He's still doing the darn thing.

Say to something nice about free porn, Joe.

Yeah, if he's still healthy and happy and and wants to run, it

looks like he's out there. He's still cashing checks.

Yes, for sure, that's exactly right.

So hopefully Freeport Joe gets a piece of that.

Asayel Espinosa wrote him at Golden Gate Fields in an

allowance in January of 2024, so God bless him.

Still making all those connections.

Late double will start in race 9.

If you are new to the program, it is a $5 minimum on the late

double, only a 15% take out. We love those higher minimum and

lower take out bets for sure. It is race 9.

This is an optional claimer, a little break from the stakes

company, but we do get a nice field of nine in this this one,

it's a six furlong Sprint on the dirt here for Phillies and mares

3 and 3 and up, blah, blah, blah, blah.

As far as the condition book here, Barry, you and I both have

the seven in our top two. You have that 7 on top in Lady

Gregory. What do we like about the seven

to five Haggerty? Just just a stand out I, I, I

don't think this horse can be faded in this spot.

There's really not much in here to compete with this source

really has to to stub his toe or her toe in in order to to not

win this one. She doesn't have the the

greatest of finishes, but she's right around it every time.

You know she's second by I know it was third by 1/4 a length and

a quarter, but I I I think she's just head and shoulders are

better than these horses. Unfortunately it comes in this

race rather than one earlier, but we'll take it.

Yeah, no, Lady Gregory 2 for five this year with two seconds.

On top of that, the only time finishing fourth was on the turf

spreading. We get back to the dirt here

where she is 4 for 10 lifetime, 8 times hitting the board in 10

runs, three for 12 at the distance lifetime as well.

I'm going to be a little creative here and try to use the

three to one on the morning line.

Sharp ride, the one breaking for team Dean Peterson on the

inside. Tiago Pereira gets them out

here. This is one that we saw two back

on the dirt win at 6 1/2 furlongs by a billion lengths

and before that at six furlongs at the claiming level.

So this horse is sort of slowly moving up.

It's almost, almost ready for the claiming crown later in the

year. Barry, if you will, is sharp

ride. But yeah, if we draw a line

through that, that Turf Run, this horse won its last two at

this kind of level. And so I'll be looking for Sharp

Ride. Who's in for the tag.

By the way, this daughter of Clubhouse Ride, in Sharp Ride,

you landed on the 6th in the second spot, one that I don't

have in my handicapping. Billy Anti Georgie will be

riding Thirsty Trickster. What do we know?

What do we need to know about this Thirsty Trickster?

You know, I, I kind of had the notion that this horse might

shake loose and, and carry him a long way.

I know there's other speed in here, but I don't really know if

anyone wants to really go to lead other than this horse.

And if this horse kind of shakes loose, it could be dangerous.

I I mean, these aren't the greatest of horses that we've

seen on this card. And, you know, loose leaders

tend to to win races a lot more than they should.

But I I think that one might stick around a long time.

Yeah, I'm going to go 1 and A7 in this spot.

I do think the three is interesting for a piece here in

No Cap, as the kids would say, Brian Korner, Kazushi Kimura

here, the two of them, not a great record together, but

frankly a very small sample size.

This is one that most recently ran up the track in 5th place,

but before that, back-to-back second place finishes at the

distance of 6 furlongs. Interested to see this one.

Try to get back into it, Barry. Maybe Kazushi can get this one

through the line moving forward, but boy, she is just totally,

totally comfortable running in the second spot here.

As far as picking up a piece of this, you like the eight.

There's a silver lining as well, OOP.

Unmute yourself there bud. Steve Knapp does really good

work off the claim and I think being for the place is probably

where the place to be is. The source was running in good

races back east, namely at Oaklawn, Churchill, Saratoga,

etcetera and even at Aqueduct. But something obviously went

amiss because the horse shows up in a $16,000 claimer at

Keeneland, gets claimed, and then ends up out West in a cow

bred stake. Or you know, a cow bred race.

I just have the notion that this horse might be just better than

most of these horses but won't win on Saturday.

Got it. Yeah.

OK, that makes sense. Clubhouse Bride on the outside.

Another interesting one. Drain Van Dyke keeps the mount

there. Was recently riding for Eric

Crew Yak. His son Ian will get this mount

and that one. The Snow chief will close out

the card. It will be race 10 on the card

there at Santa Anita. It is a mile and an eighth.

This is the Derby on the turf for Calbreds 3 year olds, in

this case, $125,000 on the line and bury this one.

You were on with me on Rebo and Co here at ESPN Louisville this

morning. And this was one where I

couldn't quite figure out the morning line be.

But to be fair to the morning line maker, so many of the

horses trying them, Alan and 8th here have been sprinters to this

point. So it's not as though you know

you got you got to make them line for whatever horses get

carted in front of you would be my way to put that to its side.

But boy, there's some in the spot period that I just I simply

don't understand how like like style cat, for example, who

we've seen go two turns once on the dirt.

I I guess we're going with the Cal Cup Derby there as as our

our point of of of emphasis, whatever it might be.

But it it's interesting to me that that horse is the favorite.

I landed in a different spot. Where did you land in the closer

in the snow chief, by the way, leg 3 of that that that altar

pick 3. Yeah, I landed on the seven.

Got soul. I think this horse has some

versatility to to them and at least on paper, it seems like

this pace might heat up with all these sprinters going longer.

Not not wildly fast, but I think a lot of these horses are going

to be quitting late and God's soul seems to be able to, you

know, have the ability to pick up the pieces and pass horses 8

to 1 seems really good price on a horse that's won two in a row

coming into this race and seems like he's ready.

He's ready to to make that step up and that's what I want to

see. He's training well coming into

this and I'm all for it. I I like this horse quite a bit.

Armando Aiuso was aboard the one Western Freedom last out, won

the race, was aboard Santa Barbarian, who won his race last

out. He chose to ride God's Soul in

this spot. So literally of the eight horses

in this field, Barry, three of them were ridden to victory by

Armando Ayuso last out and he chose God soul in this spot.

You and I landed on the same horse.

We watched him now twice in a row go the two turns on the

turf. And by the way, you mentioned

the versatility, it cannot be overstated.

Breaks his maiden getting to the front, staying in front last

out, sits just off the pace and blows by horses in the stretch.

I think that's what we're going to see on Saturday.

I think this horse is going to be sitting third fourth behind

all the sprinters that you mentioned that I mentioned open

this this race and get that best best turn of foot very late in

the race. I look for him to not just win

this race. I look for him to be very much

the best in this one, but there are other ones in here that are

interesting. I'll go next with bro bro the

five who better wristably gets them out here and this one comes

out of an optional claiming win. They tried the echo Eddie didn't

work out sprinting frankly nowhere to be found that day,

but before that did win a maiden over the Sprint.

I think that the keeping Alberto here going two turns again, this

horse has a serious, serious shot for Doug O'Neill to get the

job done as well. I know you have that horse third

in your handicapping. In between them you've got Cali

Cat. Yeah, Cali Cat's another one

that has a little bit of versatility to her, you know,

came off the pace and one on the lead.

But it's it's hard to tell when these horses stretch out.

She does have a win in a mile, which is encouraging.

The last workout is pretty decent and the stretch out

numbers for Sadler are very, very good.

So I expect this horse to to give his best give her best

shot. You know, American Pharaoh out

of a more than ready Damn. Seems like this horse should be

able to run all day on the turf. What do you How many would you

use in this race? In your turf?

Pick 3. I would single the seven to be

honest with you. OK, you play the Seven by

itself. I'm interested because I think

that five's got a really, really serious shot here.

And I wonder with Style Cat if I'm missing something, because

the horse did perform well in that Cal Cup Derby.

It was on dirt. But if I'm going to give other

horses a shot in other races going turf to dirt, then why

would I not give a horse a shot here going dirt to turf?

I'm with you. I think the seven is the

absolute class for Andy Mathis, for Amano Ayuso here.

But since I'm going to be singling in the second leg,

maybe I'll have to play one where I have the four single,

the seven single. But the end kind of go real

tight on it. Maybe play that for 10 bucks,

$20 total ticket, something like that.

But that would be my turf pick 3 for the weekend as well.

Hey, is there anybody, is there another race around the country

that you're looking forward to this weekend?

Stakes at Monmouth, obviously I'm going to be doing a preview.

I don't know what you're doing, but I'm going to be doing a

preview for Monday at Santa Anita for Memorial Day for their

big card. You're welcome to join me for

sure, Barry, but actually you already did one around the

country, DRF. That's even better.

There you go. Where?

Can people find that? It's, it's actually on X and on

their YouTube page, but not really I I think actually

California's might be the focus of, of a lot of my action this

weekend. I.

I, I like Saturday's card, I like Monday's card.

So yeah, that, you know, there's a lot of good, good races around

the country, so definitely keep your eyes open for those prices.

I talked with Matt Dennerman on the Horse Racing Happy Hour

yesterday. We talked Preakness Oaklawn got

into a little bit of Monmouth with him as well.

So if you want to hear what's going on with Matt Dennerman,

you're certainly welcome to check out that episode.

You can always find my segments 10/20 on Friday here at ESPN

Louisville. Stream that anywhere in the

world. It's always horse racing.

I even hear from guys like Barry Spears.

How about that incompetent people like like Brian Nadeau,

who really knows the stuff? Don't just he's got such a nice

vape, but it really bothers me. Barry Soul Patch and fade.

He's not. You know, he's very confident

about showing that off, too. So he's, he's Tyler likes to rub

it in everybody's face. He got Saffy with the chest hair

and the man bun and like it just, I don't know what's going

on at Gulfstream, but it's Rod Nicoletti's got great hair.

It bothers me, Barry. It bothers me.

I mean, it's in the water, you know, we got it like that down

here. Man, it must be.

Well, he's Barry Spears. I'm Louie Rambo.

This has been another edition of Socal Saturdays.

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today for Barry Spears. My name is Louie Rebeau.

We will catch you next week on Socal Saturdays.

Good luck this weekend. Hopefully you got some time off.

You're going to be able to enjoy the weather or wherever it is

that you're hanging out again for Barry.

I'm Louie. See you next week.