HRRN's Equine Forum presented by TwinSpires - March 7, 2026

0:00This is HRN, horse racing's voice. Game on, dude, reach them! Game on, dude! Gonna write his way into the history box! Game on, dude! And Mike Smith have won the Santa Anita handicap! They approached the eighth fold in the Santa Eta Bell, and Midnight Beatsoo. Let go, by Smith! Shoot's clear from 13 squared! Midnight Beatsoo, after breaking a maiden in the graded stakes! Now, Comka's two turns in the Santa Eta Bell, she wins by a little over two lengths. Welcome to the Equine Forum, presented by Twins Byers. A hundred yards to go! Street scents in the given Saturday! Down to the wire! It's Street scents in the given Saturday! It's right back at him! These two heads of pike! Two close to call! Might've been Street scents in a fabulous race, running time on the board. One minute, 43 seconds flat for the Tampa Bay Derby. Midnight hawk battling in second,

1:00but it's all Calla 40 of Chrome as they come from. They wet nature's proud wings to get to Calla 40 of Chrome. Absolutely rumping in under Victor Aspenosa. Santa Felipe was a walk over for Calla 40 of Chrome. Now, here's Mike Penna. Good morning once again, everyone. Mike Penna, Baron of the Backstretch, welcoming you to the show that launched a network. It is the Equine Forum. It is all presented by Twin Spires, and all right here on the horse racing radio network. As always, you are listening, coast to coast across North America, on Sirius 162, XM207, along with our terrestrial partners, and live streaming worldwide on our website, horseracingradio.net. And don't forget too, if you miss any portion of this show or any of the shows that we bring your way every single week here on HRN. You can go back to our website, listen to the podcast, or you can do that too,

2:00on your favorite podcast platform, wherever you get your podcast, follow along with the horse racing radio network, and make us your home, as we've been rolled down the road to the first Saturday in May, which is only eight weeks away, only eight weeks, until the Kentucky Derby, and the stakes are really high on both coasts this afternoon, with the Tampa Bay Derby in Florida, the San Felipe at Santa Anita, you have 50 points going to the winner in both of those races. So a victory in either one, likely guarantees you a chance to run for the roses, 50 points, even if you have nothing in your bankroll right now, likely gets you into the field. If you don't run your race today, it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your next start, where you would absolutely need to run well in order to punch your ticket. It's, I say it every year, this time of the season,

3:01it is horse racing version of the NCAA's March Madness. It's here. Trainer Brad Cox, he knows all about the ups and downs that this time of year can provide. And he says, good as anyone at guiding his horses down the road to Louisville. Again, he watched commandment telly his third consecutive win, which places him now in the upper echelon of Kentucky Derby contenders. And maybe he goes to the head of the class. Now paladin's still out there, I get it. And there's some other talented where you'll renegade. Certainly we're going to see Brant later today. Further ado, another one. For Brad Cox, who goes in the Tampa Bay Derby, the likely favorite this afternoon. While commandment has done, he's proven that he can string big wins together and do them an impressive fashion. He's exciting. Now today, Brad's hoping that further ado will follow suit

4:02and take care of business in the Tampa Bay Derby. Further ado already has ten points in the bank. So a second place finished today, which we get him another 25, giving him a total of 35, puts him right there on the Derby bubble. And he still has one more preparation to go, which wouldn't necessarily be a win and you're in in order to get in, because you have 35 points. So anything above that gives him a good chance to get in. So it takes the pressure off, even if he finishes second today. But you're the favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby. You don't want to put that pressure on you in your next start when you can guarantee your spot with a victory today. And Brad's in great shape. Todd Plutcher is in good shape. We'll see him in the Tampa Bay Derby. Chad Brown is in great shape. We'll see him in the Tampa Bay Derby.

5:02Bob Bafford, as I mentioned, sending out Brant and the San Felipe. That's a horse with a lot of promise. Which of those trainers that I just mentioned is most likely to win this year's Kentucky Derby. Is it Todd Plutcher? Is it Chad Brown? Bob Bafford or Brad Cox? That is my poll question for you here on this Saturday morning. When you take a look at what, and by the way, you can go vote on our social media pages at HRN on X Horse Racing Radio Network on Facebook, another way to weigh in on that poll question. And if you don't do social media, go mic at horseracingradio.net to let me know your thoughts, and I'll pass along the results as we move throughout the program. Which of those trainers currently holds the strongest hand, if you will? I just told you about Brad Cox in some of his top three year olds.

6:03How about Todd Plutcher, nearly class president and a renegade? I guess would be his top three. Chad Brown, Paladin, Cana Leto, what's he, five to two second choice today in the Tampa Bay Derby? And Gotham winner, Iron Honour. Not bad. And then Bafford with Brent Boyd Cherokee Nation. Maybe the most approved there. Some serious ability, but they have to deliver and prove that they belong in this conversation with horses like Paladin who have already proven themselves, class president, who has now proven himself nearly. Listen, all of those horses we talk about it every week, they still have more to prove. But at least to this point, we know Paladin can run. We know class president can handle the distance, can run. We know Brad Cox is sitting there

7:03with a pretty good hand. We command it and further ado. But again, they have to further ado, particularly has to prove that he's developed from two to three when he returns in the Tampa Bay Derby this afternoon. It's an interesting question. When Dale and Tim join me at the end of the program, 1030 Eastern, our final segment here today, I'm going to ask him that question. As a matter of fact, our friend Shane and North Carolina who submits a question for that show almost every week came up with that. So I'll give him his credit. I think it's a great question. Which trainers holding the biggest triple threat at this point? Could be pleasure. Could be Chad Brown. Could be Bob Baffert. And Brad Cox looking to get him into the mix with a couple of talented runners, too. So make sure you weigh in on that poll question for us here this morning. Brad Cox. That's not the only race he's running in today, of course, at Tampa Bay Downs. He also has disco time, another talented runner,

8:04in the Grade 3 Challenger Stakes. He has Distino Dioro in the Hillsboro Stakes, Grade 2, which is the ninth race on the program at Tampa Bay today. And then it's Santa Anita. It's Big Cap Day at Santa Anita. The Big Cap this year is not the Big Cap we're used to seeing, right? Not historically. This is a race that has incredible history. It has had some of the greatest horses we have ever seen in the sport of thoroughbred racing. Win it. And even if they didn't win it, they competed in it. And there's some of the biggest names in our sport, historically. Not this year. Brad sends out just a touch in the Big Cap. Just a touch is a really nice horse. Just a touch has never won a Grade 1 race. Maybe today is the day. After the defections of Skippy Long Stocking

9:05and Westwood, just a touch is not going to be a favorite and a five horse Santa Anita handicap. And when you really, when you really dive into it, it's hard to see the Santa Anita handicap continuing to be what it once was when you're offering a purse of just $300,000. Now you're offering a Grade 1 status, but the money's not there. Not when you're talking about all of the other opportunities that are out there for horsemen. The Pegasus World Cup. Dubai World Cup. We'll talk more about that in just a minute with the situation in the Middle East. What's going to happen there? The Oakland handicap coming up. There are plenty of other opportunities that are going to offer more money. The Saudi Cup. They're going to offer more money than what you're going to get in the sand. And that's why this year's field doesn't have a runner in there that's ever won a Grade 2 or a Grade 1.

10:11But it is still a Grade 1. And it is still and historic race and it is still a fantastic race to add to your resume if you can find a way to win it. One of the cool stories in there outside of Brad Cox and just a touch is trainer Aggie Ardonas who is going to try to win it with Vodka Vodka. What a cool story this would be. Aggie is also sending out Am and Joy in the Grade 1 B-Wayne Hughes beholder mile earlier in the program. And that's a short field so it goes as race number 4. Both of the Grade 1s lacking in numbers. But Am and Joy, California Bread Champion trying to find a way to get to the highest level with that win in the Grade 1. Behold their mile this afternoon. Vodka Vodka trying to do the same.

11:15And with only five horses in that big cap now they are going to have a little world beater if you will. Vodka Vodka has a shot and what a cool story it would be. You are going to hear from both Brad Cox and Aggie Ardonas later in the program. Brad set to join me right around 940 Eastern at the end of our number 2. Aggie will join me just before Brad right around 920 Eastern. I am going to talk about the area which takes place at Oklahoma today. I am going to do that with Dan Ward. Majestic Oops is entering in there going to try to take down the champ Nitrogen who is a huge favorite on the morning line and will likely be a huge favorite when the gates open. She figures to be a handful. Can Majestic Oops find a way to play the role of the Giant Killer this afternoon?

12:16Dan Ward would be doing the same thing. He will join me here on the program. And then we will talk more about big cap day and all of the races associated with that program. All the stakes races. Jeff Chapman does a great job handicapping at Santa Anita. He will be with me on the show today as well. So here is your full lineup for you here this morning. Eric Campbell back from the National HBPA. The CEO they just finished their national HBPA. He is going to join me coming up in a few minutes after this first break. We will get a chance to talk about some of the topics which are hot button topics at that conference. Dan Ward at 835 talking about the Isari. 9 o'clock is Jeff Chapman. 920 Ag Your Donas. 940 Brad Cox with this week's Kentucky bread conversation. Plenty of things to get into with Brad who himself is a Kentucky bread growing up in the shadows of those twin spiders of church with Ashley Anderson comes your way at 10 o'clock Eastern time.

13:17Begin hour three. Kurt Becker stroll through racing history at 1020. March is considered optimistic month. So Kurt that would be fun with his first story of March here in 2026. To focus on a horse name optimistic gal. Nobody weaves the story together like Kurt Becker. So you won't want to miss that at the end of the day. So I'm going to start with I ask they answer it is a busy show we're talking about big racing coast to coast and even in between. We'll get to it in just a few moments but first. This week's Mojo Racing impossible trivia question lead Delapean has it for you right now. Thank you Mike. This week's impossible trivia question is brought to you by Mojo Racing partners get your Mojo work in this week's race. The goal is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winning horse. And how old is he?

14:17No Googling will give out the answer at the end of the show. Yeah maybe maybe not the most impossible I'll get I will give you a hint here this morning on this one. This horse recently celebrated a birthday. Maybe it didn't need the hint but if you did I hope it helps you get your Mojo work in the next year. Eric Campbell back kicks us off next. This is the equan form presented by Twin Spires on HRRN horse racing's voice. Race to Twin Spires where you can unlock a $25 risk free bet. Just use the code HRRN25 when you sign up and if your first bet doesn't win, Twin Spires will refund your account up to $25. Wagering on the app is fast with free pass performances inside our picks and power plays on the app. You can download the app today or your $25 risk free bet. Boy we're prohibited for turns to get issues visit TwinSpires.com. Must be 18 or older, 21 and older

15:17we're applicable for help with a gambling problem called 1-800-Gamler. Cool more stallion Corniche. A $1.5 million OBS April sale topper by quality road and a two time grade one winner. But it's Corniche! He's just to go! Corniche wins the Breeders Cup and titles are also in question. Moved $22,000, the basket's most robust. It's no surprise as 72 yearlings sold for an average of over $170,000 with a top price Colt of 720,000 in a top price Philly of 525,000. Corniche, standing for only $15,000 at Coulmore's Aschford Stud. The road to the Kentucky Durby Virginia Derby will be run as a road to the Kentucky Derby points race. Last year's winner, American Promise, went on to run in the Derby and Preakness. Join us for a history-making day that also includes the $250,000 Virginia Oaks, a Kentucky Oaks points race.

16:18Colonial Downs Spring Meet runs March 12th through March 14th. Host time 1230 Eastern Thursday and Friday, noon Eastern on Virginia Derby Day, Saturday March 14th. You're listening to the equine forum on HRN, presented by Twin Spires. Time of the day. Trevor Demen, bringing them home 15 years ago.

17:222011 game on dude capturing the first of his three. Santa Anita handicaps, boy was he good. game on dude among this year's field that's for certain but some competitive horses and we're gonna talk about that race moving throughout the program here today you know and that's not a knock on the other horses when I say no game on dude among that group the game on dude I'm shocked he's not in the Hall of Fame I've given him my vote the last couple of years when he's been nominated he's nominated again this year I will vote for game on dude to be in the Hall of Fame he's brilliant what a fantastic career for game on dude you win three big caps and all the other races that he was able to win it's just shocking to me that he's not in the Hall of Fame yet I'll do my best to get him in there when I cast my vote again this season Eric Camelback is the CEO of the National HPPA I'm pretty certain he would agree with me that game on dude should be in the Hall of Fame what do you think Eric absolutely

18:24not only game on dude I'm still trying to get his sire in there we need to get awesome again in there but yeah having having raised game on dude I wouldn't expect in that I'm sitting there getting goosebumps thinking about Bill Graves God rest his soul he came down and we looked at yearlings down as a Dean of South and he was he was one of my crop that year and I was very proud of him just thought he was gonna be a really good race horse and and I think just the fact that we did we did cut him and that was good because he he was one tough sucker but man he was a hell of a race horse yeah game on dude awesome again you're right I mean how on earth is awesome again that Hall of Fame I don't know I I joke back and forth with Tom Law all the time and Jill Bern of course was right there with with that whole run with awesome and yeah yeah but yeah keep trying for game on dude he was he was something special Eric what a week you had in hot springs Arkansas and I know you're still still there yeah

19:29and I appreciate you I appreciate you getting up early with me here this morning too to handle this segment but I wanted to look back at some of the key points that were discussed in some of the highlights of the National HPPA conference which just concluded this week tell me a little bit about some of the things that stood out to you my friend well thank you Mike it's it has been a great conference you know it's always difficult putting these things together and knowing how timely panels will be or sometimes not be so you know we get lucky every once in a while and and really nailed timing on a lot of these panels but you know once again we had a we had a panel that kind of focused on where we are with the horse racing integrity and safety act and some of the litigation but also some of the progress that's been made so that panel was I think well you know very well accepted and then you know we we had a really fun panel with Marshall Graham Tom Van Berg and Robbie Medina just talking

20:29about you know the perspective of owners and trainers that you know might not be household names but you know where they are in this environment and and you know the struggles but the positives and really really had a fun time with that panel was you know having ever doubts in here is the keynote speaker was a big highlight for me just because I think you know there's a lot going on in the industry some some out in the public some behind the scenes but it's a really good time for collaboration and I think Everett is bringing kind of you know a new perspective to the jockey club which which I appreciate I've known Everett for many years he was very supportive of it awesome again in particular with his farm there in Kentucky so I think that was a good good timing for both of our organizations to kind of have that have that time for him to be that the keynote was was good timing and then of course everyone's

21:33talking about now the the prediction market wagering I think is certainly what is an emerging threat as what I kind of tagged some of the some of the perspectives of our panel were really spot on we have to be prepared as an industry to look at any any creeping that they may do into our industry so that that was that was also extremely good panel that was well received Eric expand a little bit more upon that what what exactly is prediction market wagering and what effect could it have on horse racing so that the scenario that's going on now you're seeing across the country is they call it prediction market I always throw in the word wagering because if you can and some of your listeners I'm sure if not many of them have gone on and seen calcium as an app and you can make a wager on different things throughout the world that are

22:36going on right now whether it's you know will a hurricane hit at a certain spot yes or no it it started oh yeah I said I don't know how many years ago but it really started as a campaign prediction tool and those those poles that you see a lot of times on election nights where they talk about the percent of winning in this that and the other and it it really started there so now what they've done is starting to creep into you know normal every day life and also sports and so when you see a bet on you know which which which app is going to be downloaded during derby week right that was that was one that they did last year and they give you four choices you you know put your money in just like any other ADW and you have it there and you make a wager and then now all the

23:40sudden you see multiple states suing because they are not following or adhering to states right or states rules and regulations with result to gambling and they have this veil of what they think is protection because they feel like they're only governed by federal regulations under the CFTC and so when you look at horse racing fast forward now to horse racing where I think but you know very few but we are one of the only industries that would be protected under a federal bill and of course that's the Interstate Horse Racing Act so having that panel explain probably better than I did what prediction markets is and how we need to be prepared to protect horse racing whether it be through litigation but also there are opportunities you know

24:41that's the other side to look at is you know is there a partnership that we can develop a revenue sharing model and have prediction markets available you know as a wager within horse racing so it's it's something for us to keep an eye on as an industry one of the things that Everdobson and I strongly agree on is is watching and making sure prediction markets and those companies don't start to creep in to horse racing without having a revenue sharing model like you would any other ADW signal hmm so when when we joke around about hey that guy would bet on two birds sitting on a wire to see which one is going to fly off first now it's a real thing yes literally literally yeah you know and when I say they were they're kind of crossing the line and I'm sure some of your listeners probably even no more than I do about it but they crossed the line a

25:44little bit last week in particular with the the pending war or the war going on in Iran right now there was actually a prediction market wager on one of the hiatolas being killed and that's where you know you start to think about okay that that's a little yeah too much and and so they they've actually gotten into a bit of trouble with that one and so we'll see how that pans out but you know you can imagine there's no there's no restrictions on or I should say protections for you know a 17 15 14 year old kid getting on there they don't they don't follow the same rules that responsible gaming entities have to follow and that's what's making another problem you mentioned the keynote addressed from jockey club chair Everett dobson Everett and much of the jockey club has been in the crosshairs of owner micro poly on social media in recent months tell me about his message what did he want to get across in

26:47his speech I think the message really revolved around the understanding that we have to come together as an industry on certain things but it's okay to disagree I mean obviously he knows very well that that the national HVPA is in litigation with the horse racing integrity and safety act but even himself said at his address during the jockey club roundtable back in the summer there are things that that need to be fixed with his especially when it comes to the fees and the charge that that they are putting on the industry and that's not sustainable but the collaborative nature of his message I think rang true with all of my audience and understanding that now the jockey club is not there to dictate they are there to cooperate and work with other entities and he was pretty open about the fact that he needs the time to get around and talk to

27:50everybody obviously the jockey club has been on a certain direction from you know 40 something years but it's not going to be easy to just turn tides and make changes he needs the time to get his hands around everything that's going on now but yeah he didn't and nor did I expect him to address the attacks from micropoly whether you think they're warranted or not I think that it just proves that in this day and age you have to be pretty transparent and open up and understand what everybody else is going through so from that standpoint I appreciate might you know making things come to light and having you know everyone in the industry understand that today today's a new day you know the industry needs to be moving in a better direction and here's some things we can do to change Eric what things do you take away from the

28:53conference that can I don't know steer the industry in the right direction almost immediately where there are a couple of things that that you could point to well I think you know collaborating around making sure we have protections over this prediction market wagering that's something that needs to be done immediately and I think is being done I've spoken to Tom Rooney about this and obviously with Everdops and there are people that we need to be prepared to litigate or come to the table with these folks quickly so they don't have a negative impact on horse racing for me that was very apparent the other thing too and I didn't touch on this yet but the panel that we did on artificial intelligence obviously AI has been around for a long time but how does it help our industry at a great panel including John Julia owner breeder from

29:54Pennsylvania but AI is his world and those are the things with you know Kyle McDonald was up there with echo base those are the things that you know can help us now and understanding AI and make the industry more efficient so that that is another thing that I feel will come out of here and be something that we can grasp on to very quickly Eric I've got to get to a commercial break here in just a minute but I don't want to let you go before I ask you about my man Jinx fires who spent the full hour with me on trainer talk a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun so inspirational Jinx fires is what horse racing is all about and he was honored as an HBPA living legend I tell you it was very emotional I said from the stage I had met Jinx when I was I believe I was 15 you know growing up here in North Louisiana and working Oklahoma on in Louisiana down as a kid it it was pretty special for me when we told him that we were

30:57recognizing him as a living legend we did not know that it was going to be his last year of training so that was pretty much a shock but to have gosh his his whole family from from Rivervale Arkansas he even joked from the stage that hope nothing happened in his hometown because all the people were here in the room but his his family was just so emotional and it was it was just an amazing amazing thing and I and I have to give a shout out to Nancy Holtis who who interviewed him from the stage and and she she's amazing at being able to coordinate a discussion like that and the emotion you know Jinx broke up a couple of times and you can see the tears and and it was just a very special time for a very special man who's who's had a very special career and it's touched so many lives now the podcast of that trainer talk conversation available on our

31:58website and your favorite podcast platform so do yourself a favor go back and listen to Jinx he was fantastic as was Eric Campbell back here this morning Eric appreciate the visit brother enjoy the rest of your day we'll talk soon thank you Mike appreciate time you got it Eric Campbell back CEO of the National HBPA time now for your legends of the turf segment short commercial break when I come back we stick with Oakland Park in hot springs Arkansas Dan Ward joins me to talk about majestic oops trying to take down nitrogen in the Isari later today that's next after your legends of the turf in late July of 1964 a well match for you'll answer the call to post for the running of the Brooklyn hand to cap over 10 for longs in that stellar field were Kelso with Milo Valenzuela in the saddle gun bow with Walter Blum at the controls and iron peg with the shoe woolly shoemaker up there were eight total starters but the consensus was that the race would be decided among these three and consensus profiled in what turned

32:59out to be a memorable performance by the eventual winner a lot happened during the race and a lot happened before as the eight horse field was loaded into the gate Kelso knelt down on his stall as they're preparing to pray rather than getting up on his feet he reared back and sat on his haunches it seemed totally out of context for the grand old champion who had been common both the paddock and during a parade to post but for whatever reason he was rank indeed at the gate in fact a starting gate went slightly as skew as he went to his knees Kelso had entered himself in the very same way while in training in California once before and that haven't cost him the winter of racing when valenzuela and an assistant starter finally got Kelso righted starter George Cassidy got the field away immediately and in good order Kelso broke alertly enough but by the time the field had gone barely an eighth of a mile he had dropped well back into seventh place by the stands they went and on into the clubhouse turned with gun bow under Walter Blum setting the pace and breezing along uncontested

34:02while increasing his lead around the turn and on into the back side gun bow opened up a margin so commanding it looked like a one horse race with the rest of the field far in a rears iron peg the suburban winter under shoemaker had been the one that figured to prompt the pace but he had all he could do to just keep close enough to have gun bow in sight you couldn't find the rest of the field with a sheriff's warrant by the time they had gone five for a long Kelso was so far back that valenzuela began whipping him to try to close some part of what was a monumental gap to gun bow and there was half the race yet to be run gun bow reeled off sensational fractions on the front end and no doubt a great man in your crowd stole a look at the tele timer to check the fractions at the top of the stretch with still a quarter of a mile left to run it was all over but the yelling with the only remaining question to be answered was what the final margin of victory would be and of course the final time. Blum was in the proverbial cat bird seat for the entire trip opening up a lead of seven then nine ten and finally twelve

35:07lengths the winning margin he had never faced any kind of a challenge at all for the entire ten for longs the final time was the expected sensational 159 and 3 until this race gun bow became the first and only horse who have ever clock less than two minutes for the distance in New York Kelso appeared to have suffered no effect from the incident at the gate returning after the race in good shape with no soreness it was very simply that gun bow head had his day and a five star effort indeed it was July 1964 in the running of the Brooklyn Handicap. Race to Twin Spires where you can unlock a twenty five dollar risk free bet just use the code HRRN25 when you sign up and if your first bet doesn't win Twin Spires will refund your account up to twenty five dollars wagering on the app is fast with free pass performances insider picks and power plays every day you wager Twin Spires download the app today to earn your twenty five dollar risk free bet boy we're prohibited for terms and conditions visit TwinSpires.com must be eighteen or older twenty one and

36:09older we're applicable for help with a gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler. It's time now to shine the spotlight on the darlie taking the reins performer of the week he points him in the right direction and he is gone steel sunshine looks like he needs room to try to get into second he just found that room to try to outrun flying lamb but the goal street mile is a strong park for night's bridge he's an eight length winner night's bridge the son of Darlie Stallion nightquist tellied his fourth consecutive victory with that emphatic win in the grade three Gulfstream Park Mile it was his third consecutive graded victory night's bridge registered a one twelve buyer second highest only to sovereignty's one fifteen over the last year and a half he is now pointing to the grade one Churchill downstakes on Derby Day and that brilliant win makes night's bridge your darlie taking the reins performer of the week Darlie Stallion nightquist the sire of three graded stakes winners already in twenty twenty six only not this time has more learn about nightquist and all the Darlie Stallions by visiting darlieamerica.com

37:16you're listening to the equine forum on HRN presented by Twin Spires glory head in the red blinkers has a head in front a sternious right there to her inside not asked for a vest yet then a dead and counting outside for the stretch drive his third three team as they come off the turn glory head a sternion and all out drive and here comes majestic oaps majestic oaps let loose between horses by Francisco area and majestic oaps has taken the lead with a fur long to go a sternious second then a dead a third then glory head coming to the finish majestic oaps confidently handled here could not have won this easier in two thousand twenty six her first start of the year is a win and a decisive one in the american beauty majestic oaps doing it nicely welcome back to the equine forum presented by twins spires might penna bearing in the backstretch with you up until 11 a.m. eastern that was met dinnerman with a call of the american beauty an impressive victory for majestic oaps to kick off her six year old

38:16campaign for trainer Dan Ward she's back in action today but the waters much much deeper is she ready for the assignment when she steps into the starting gate today she will look to her left and she will see champion nitrogen from the barn of mark Cassie that will be her assignment today can she find a way to get past nitrogen and everybody else we know she's talented we know she's in great hands with Dan Ward and Dan Ward is with me now here on hrrn Dan appreciate the visit the big concern right now is the weather here because i got the door close you want to listen to uh oh it is raining so hard and they got lightning and they got a tornado warning so they announced the track will not open before nine for training but sometimes it gets to be nine and they say we're not going to open so hopefully it gets better but i mean right now we can't do anything you know what's the forecast for this afternoon is this supposed to move out no no they say two and a half

39:17inches um today but it feels like two and a half inches and well i mean it is raining so hard i can't believe it oh my goodness well hopefully everybody stays safe in the hot springs area that's that's priority number one my friend right right absolutely what did you make a majestic oops's performance in the american beauty it's a good starting point you know we gave her time off and um it's easier to get her ready to run six four longs than try to train her to go long first time back and we know she can sprint so she can finish like that uh going two turns if she settles the first part the only disappointing races last year where once she was you know kind of kind of sent along and chasing and didn't have the finish but if he can get her to settle going along which he did the time he wrote or he covered her up like a turf horse had her in behind horses and then we need tipter

40:18out she just took off so we need that kind of a patient ride the first part of the race and then she can produce that finish Dan have you heard any talk of the races potentially being canceled today because of that weather no no they'll do everything they can here to run and uh which would just not allow in training now because of the lightning but hopefully that that lets up it's it's it's very early and um i mean if it was like it is right now they wouldn't be running because it's really running hard and the lightning is it's not safe so yeah yeah see what happens well well considering that it looks like there could be a wet track for the azary later today um you look back to her effort June 14th of last year on a sloppy track once you won the lady secret monmouth boys you ran away with it that day right right and she she actually here we were running i believe there's an allowance race it was sealed and then they harrowed it i don't know if they called it muddy but i think that counts as one of her off track wins also and she can run it

41:21on anything when she's informed and and she gets the kind of trip where she's relaxed the first part and then you know produce in fact good finish dan you think okay well maybe the off track would work to our advantage when you look at nitrogen but then you see when she ran on a sloppy track at saratoga last June in the wonder again grade three she wins by 17 lengths i guess they decided to make her a main track for us after that but no she's got really good form and she's a very good horse and um you know we respect her and we're gonna we're gonna give it our best i i think a race last year that we won the stake here we were going against a big favorite who's your filling we kind of trapped her down there on the on the inside and got the jump on her and and ideally you know you never know how it's gonna come out but we'd like to get the jump on her tell me about the decision to go to the azary this year you know they were originally thinking about the the matron and the the gold this year is to get

42:23a graded stakes win and the matron is not graded and the owners also have a part ownership in hall and ice who's gonna run in that race so we decided to to give her a try here she likes the track she's in good form and the last race proved that she gets printed so we can go in any direction after this race but right now she's really good and and we'll give her a shot dan how special is this mayor bend to you to your career uh i know you've got a and a steam background but how cool is this bend to have her alongside you especially cal bread you know i was in california until 2020 and the way she's she's developed has been very special and she's just a joy to work with really really easy to work with and she's very happy right now she loves the cold weather she loves this track and we're looking for a good race if people don't know what i'm referring to dan when i talk about your background you

43:23spent 22 years working alongside the late hall of famer bobby frankle then you joined the barn of hall of famer jerry hollandorfer and worked alongside jerry so you've learned from some of the best i don't think correct me if i'm wrong i don't think bobby frankle gets the do that he deserves when we start talking about the greatest of all time bobby was as good as they get well the the thing about him is um you can't you can't put any limitations on him you can't say he can't work with claimors he can't work with two-year-olds he can't work with grass horses he can't work with europeans he can do it all you know we we work with all types of horses when i started with him i was i was a claiming barn and then we got some good horses dirt horses horses came from europe that were turf horses and we turned them into dirt horses he could do everything what things did you take away in your time working with bobby and working with jerry that help you as you are now training on your own others good things about about both you know bobby was

44:30very very sharp you know knowing knowing when horses were doing well and and not doing well and he was patient and he gave the time and everything in jerry very very hard worker knows how to read the the book and where to run the horses and we take good care of them and we i've worked with a lot of good horses so you know songbird and unique bella and before that with bobby the first Judd Mon horses we got market tree and exporn and two saw and some nice horses you know you you take care of all of them the same but but um again they're all different you know this filly here is it is very small 15 hands you can train her like you you train a big horse so did you get the same care but the training is different from horse to horse try to look at your goal with each horse and the best way to get them there because they're all different so how how do you train majestic oops stand to get the most out of her

45:36she puts a lot into the gallop so you don't need to work that much we worked her four times she was off from november to that race in February she had four works in two three eights and two halves and just one works since the last race and uh we let her finish and that's been working well for the past year and hopefully it works well one more time in the azary coming up this afternoon at at oakland park it's a solid race again the champion nitrogen in there just here inside tell me a little bit more about the ownership involved with majesticoops you said they're they're also involved with another big time horse so tell me about majesticoops owners well the breeder was the owner originally some lunch table and he's so 90% of her before the molly pitcher and we've got a group with medallion racing agave racing Evan trauma and agave owns part of hall and ice and i believe she's gonna run into matron that's the plan with her so we're gonna you know you don't want to run against her she's very good and very good on this

46:37track and we're giving her we're trying to get the graded wind today while she's good and she's on a track that she likes and now's now's our time to take a shot and we get we get weighted properly because the race is last year that she won we found ourselves carrying top weight most of the time we gave seven pounds and who's your filly we gave weight to randomize when she beat her we gave way to a cult when she won the lady secret so we're in with 19 and last year it seemed like every race she was carrying 24 so i think now's the time for us to take our shot yeah and the man aboard francisco arietta has has had a lot of success with majesticoops they just seem to click together yes yes if he can get her to you know just turn it off the first part of the the race and not pull and then he can do that he's a very good rider and he really likes the sauce dan listen i want to wish you all the best this afternoon i hope she runs a monster race for you stay dry stay safe and i'm sure we'll catch up again down the road

47:41thanks for having me you got it dan ward one of the real nice guys in the sport of thoroughbred racing i always enjoy catching up with him and here he is trying to to play the giant killer role this afternoon and you say wait a minute Baron majesticoops is three to one on the morning line it's not that big of an upset well yeah it kind of is when you're going up against the champion nitrogen uh and the way that she looked the last time we saw her on a sloppy racetrack in the grey three wonder again winning by 17 lengths and i know it was a three horse field and she towered over those two rivals but she handled the slop just fine and she comes into this race off of that win in the grey three by a koa which sets her up beautifully for this run in the azary and i know marty is just thrilled with the way that she is doing should be a fantastic race majesticoops will have to run the race for life as she's going to to do that but you hear dan talk about her and he truly believes that she has a shot

48:43to be in the mix if she can stay covered up relax and make that run that we're accustomed to seeing her do and and do it going around two turns at a longer distance that win last time out in the american beauty was six for longs but as dan said a good starting point for majesticoops fun race should be a good one by the way post time for that azary and dan said that even though it's pouring now and there are tornado warnings in the area he said there was no talk of canceling racing at oakland this afternoon which is good hopefully that track drives out enough and it's a safe track for all five forty four eastern it's race nine on the program that's four forty four local time in hot springs arc and saw post time for the grade two a zary when i come back i'll get you ready for our number two we'll have this week's edition of calling all three year olds presented by spend thrift and we'll begin to look ahead to races

49:45like the big cap and the Tampa Bay Derby that's next on the equan form on the horse racing radio network woodford feed where tradition merges with technology family on since 1940 and providing exceptional customer service woodford feed specializes in the highest quality feed using only finest ingredients to ensure optimal nutrition for your horses in addition woodford feed can help with all your farm needs including field seed fertilizer and wheat control to whether your horses spreading around the racetrack or has a full buyer side can on woodford feed to provide the quality nutrition necessary to perform at the highest level woodford feed for sales Kentucky did you receive a call or message that mentioned social security and demanded immediate action did the caller know your social security number or other personal information and tell you that your social security number had been used in connection with the crime did you feel worried that your social security number might be suspended your bank account might be frozen or seized or you could be arrested that is not the social security administration social security will not

50:48threaten you demand your personal information or instant payment email or text you pictures or documents or use a real government officials name to gain your trust social security does not accept payments by gift card prepaid debit card internet currency or by mailing cash criminals use these forms of payment because they are hard to trace do not be fooled hang up ignore them report this criminal activity to the social security administration office of the inspector general at oig.ssa.gov and rely here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the and there they go almost on time this morning mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-armed kid carry looks like dad has the bags daughter is bringing up the rear oh but the diaper bag wasn't closed diapers and toys are everywhere oh but mom is just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler and now the eldest daughter who looks to be about nine or ten has secured herself in the

51:53booster seat dad sits the bag closed and they're off but looks like mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is still on the roof of the car and there it goes oh that's a shame that mug was a fam favorite don't sweat the small stuff just mail the big stuff like making sure your kids are buckle correctly in the right seat for their agents eyes learn more at NHTSA.gov slash the right seat visit NHTSA.gov slash the right seat brought to you by NHTSA and the ad council Thursday evenings 6 to 7 p.m. Eastern is the brisnet.com call-in show it's your chance to call in and let the horse racing radio nation know what's on your mind call us at 888-966-HRRN that's 888-966-4776 and discuss the topics you choose in the world of thoroughbred racing the brisnet.com call-in show serious 162-XM207 and streaming live at horse racing radio.net

52:54this is HRN where racing comes to talk they're all in line and they're all spend-thrift farm presents calling all three-year-olds with Bobby Newman there were three important Kentucky Derby qualifiers in the U.S. last weekend on Saturday Gulfstream Park featured the great two fountain of youth commandment son of into mischief was sent off the slight favorite off his resounding win in the moochomacho man previously he settled mid-pack behind a solid early pace made his move on the far turn and use the inside path the out game lightly raised chief wallaby for the win at aqueduct the great three got them saw eight Kentucky Derby hopefuls going a one-turn mile Chad Brown's iron honor was the odds on favorite despite only having one prior start but he was too much for the more experienced crown the buckeye in winning by a length while well clear of everyone else he's now two for two and likely headed for the wood memorial then Sunday at Oakland the great two

53:57rebel featured Bob Baffert's litmus test versus the return of Kenny McPeaks blackout time but down the lane it was class president and silent tactic stealing the show they battled all the way to the wire with class president narrowly holding on for the win all three of last weekend's winners earned 50 Kentucky Derby points there are two more 50 pointers today at Tampa the great three Tampa Bay Derby features the return of graded stakes winner further ado for trainer Brad Cox he faces eight others including cannelletto talking and the puma and at Santa Anita the great two San Felipe sees graded stakes winners brand and so happy clash in a battle that also includes potente and secured freedom next week the focus shifts to colonial downs and the half million dollar Virginia Derby which is also worth 50 points to the winner i'll be back with this week's top five list right after this word from spendthrift cyber knife was a very talented horse from day one fast

55:01horse able to carry it around two turns looks a tremendous amount like gun runner saying ability and talent holds the track record in the Haskell you want an impressive fashion beating a very good group of horses excited about him passing on his durability his soundness and his talent we could definitely be a breeze shaking style multiple grade one winner cyber knife standing at spendthrift this week's top five list of Derby contenders looks like this number five renegade looked awesome breaking is made in the sand Davis and it looks like extra distance is his friend number four nearly improving pleasure trainee look great in the holy bull he's pointing to the Florida Derby at Gulfstream on March 28 for his next start number three commandment big wins in the Mucho macho man and fountain of youth he's another Florida Derby probable number two further ado followed up a monstrous maiden win with a nice score in the Kentucky jockey club he runs today in the Tampa Bay Derby and number one is paladin keeps improving and now has 60 Derby points all but

56:07guaranteeing his spot in the Kentucky Derby he has one more race scheduled before that though the bluegrass at Keyland on April 4th that's your calling all three year old segment presented by spendthrift the breeders farm now talented group we'll find out the answers to all of the questions coming up in just eight weeks when we get to the first Saturday in May which of these trainers is most likely to win this year's Kentucky Derby is it Todd Plutcher is it Chad Brown is it Bob Baffer or is it Brad Cox those are your four choices on this Saturday morning you can go to at hrrn on our x-page to cast your vote you can do that too on Facebook course tracing radio network on Facebook or if you don't do social media email the show and let me know which of those four trainers most likely to win this year's Kentucky Derby right now 48% of HRN nation saying it's going to be Todd Plutcher narrowly over Chad Brown with 38% Bob Baffer just 10%

57:12Brad Cox only 4% keep the votes coming and I'll update you later in the program Sally Ellen our good friend at country life farm up in Maryland says Brad Cox Chad Brown Todd Plutcher how about other Steve Asmoson Bill Mott maybe hmm yeah maybe one of those two is the one standing in the winter circle wouldn't be all that big of a surprise would it but for right now for the purposes of this question here this morning you get those four choices let me know your thoughts hey your travels no doubt if you're a horse racing fan we'll likely take you through Kentucky at some point in the coming weeks in the coming months and if that's the case you want to make sure you get your reservations now at Tonys of Lexington I've been telling you about it for years on this program the best stake you are going to get anywhere and I mean anywhere it's fantastic you want a great meal you want to impress your friends you want to bring them to a beautiful place great atmosphere Tonys of Lexington the place to go give them a call right now make your reservations we'll

58:17may wait a little bit until they actually open but get in touch with them and make sure you make those reservations and get in at Tonys of Lexington and you will not be disappointed I promise you that they're on Main Street right behind Rapp Arena also too this is the time of year to start planning your spring seating and your fertilizers also all the weed management in your pastures and there's only one place to go woodford feed in Versailles Kentucky I had the chance to stop in there yesterday they do fantastic work great people they'll get you anything you need they can answer all of your questions they're incredibly knowledgeable Bob Cleveland the owner my friend Greg Dotson who works over there just hooked me up this past week and took care of me with some things that I need for my farm they do great great work and if you're a horse farm it doesn't matter how big how small where you're located here in Central Kentucky they'll get it out to you whatever you need for your spring seating and planting and fertilizer needs if you need lime

59:17they've got that too whatever it is they will take care of you at woodford feed in Versailles make sure you tell them that the Baron told you to stop in and they'll take great care of you I promise you okay um our two getting set to come your way next we're going to talk about the big day at Santanita big cap day Sant Felipe day beholder mile day a lot of big races coming up there four greatest stakes two of those are grade ones when I come back to kick off hour two you're going to hear from Jeff Chapman who does a great job handicapping the races at Santanita we'll walk through all those greatest stakes Aggie or Dones is going to join me at 920 and at 940 Brad Cox with this week's Kentucky bread conversation plenty to get into with Brad here in hour number two that's all straight ahead right after this 10 second pause for station identification this is the horse racing radio network where racing comes to talk this is the equine forum presented by twin spires

1:00:31one hour down two to go here on this week's edition of the equine forum presented by twin spires kicking off the month of march yeah our first show in the month of march here 20 26 and happy to have you along for the ride eight weeks away from the run for the roses plenty to talk about in hour two and in hour three I mentioned Jeff Chapman said to join me from Southern California momentarily Aggie or Dones at 920 Brad Cox 940 10 o'clock Eastern begins hour number three the twin spires triple play and Ashley Anderson will join me to give you three races to watch and wager on this afternoon with twin spires Kurt Becker stroll through racing history at 1020 that's a cool story about a horse name optimistic gal that you won't want to miss and then at 1030 I asked the answer with Dale Romans with Tim Wilkin get a chance to talk to them about some of the hottest topics in the sport today and one thing I'm going to bring up to them is about the trainer that currently holds the strongest triple threat if you will of Derby contenders it's a question

1:01:35that was submitted to the show by Shane and North Carolina is it Todd Pledgeur with nearly class president and renegade Chad Brown with paladin canneletto and iron honor or Bob Baffert would branch boy Cherokee Nation I think it's a really interesting question and I'll see what have to say about that coming up at 1030 Eastern time plus we'll play a round of buy or sell it's one of our favorite games to play when we get to I asked the answer and I'm going to ask them if they're buying or selling the Gotham winner iron honor how about the fountain of youth winner commandment he's probably a buy I think he's a buy for most people runner up chief wallaby what do you do with him is he a buy or a sell off of his effort I think it was a fantastic run in his two turn debut and then he have class president who upset the rebel for Todd Pledgeur last weekend are Dalin Tim buying or selling the rebel winner and then silent tactic who listen

1:02:36he's never been worse than a second in five career starts and he once again was game and defeat in the rebel he's a nice horse from Mark Cassie are Dalin Tim buying or selling silent tactics we'll talk about that when we get to that segment 1030 Eastern time here this morning I ask they answer I know who has some answers for us here this morning on what's happening at Santa Nita that is Jeff Chapman does a fantastic job he joins me now live from Southern California up early on this big cap day Jeff good morning good morning you guys got me up bright and early for this I love it yeah I listen I'm sure that you know quite often on on a day like this big cap day it's hard to sleep the night before because you're so pumped up for the good racing there are four graded stakes on the 11 race program two of those are grade ones this afternoon tell me what's happening at the great race place yeah like you said we've got obviously headed by the big cap of we got four graded stakes races we've got the beer festival today on the apron and whether

1:03:39is probably maybe 74 75 degrees sunny should be a wonderful day we love these big days out at Santa Nita and I'm ready to rock and roll my friend I've actually been up for about an hour two cups of coffee in I'm ready to talk all day did I hear you say beer festival yes beer festival I'm in for a couple of days I'm in I love it come get this I'll give you all the various like let me tell you we're ready to go I assume you're going to get a great crowd for that too yeah no we should we should have a huge crowd today and everybody's looking forward to it they've got some motorcycles in the infield and food trucks so there's a lot going on at the great race place today yeah and of course I mentioned the big cap which is now down to just five horses it's not the big cap field that we're used to seeing historically anyway but it's still a grade one race still 300,000 bucks on the line why don't we start with the first of the four

1:04:40graded stakes and let's talk about the grade one b-wayne Hughes b-holder mile it's race number four because again a bit of a short field 434 eastern 134 Pacific the post time tell me a little bit more about what we're going to see in the b-holder mile yeah like you said kind of a small field right to start us off they put this race early so it's not in the late to cry over the pick six obviously I think Splendora's got them over a barrel four to five on the morning line look she's going to be what one to five maybe and she's all class she she can sit she can you know she's one what's four to row and I think she's going to make short work of this field for Bob backert once again taking down the b-holder mile coming up later in the program after this segment agiordona is is going to join me and we're going to talk about almond joy who is the california bred three-year-old female champion from last year this is a tough assignment for her does she have

1:05:43any chance at pulling off the upset in the b-holder mile you know I don't think she has a chance to pull off the upset but I'll tell you what she's done such a terrific job I mean you think with almond joy and also vodka vodka she's got these horses running and winning often obviously this is a big step up you know bots they've gone into open company the last couple times they did take down the Tory Pines at grade three I think this horse hits the board at least and I'd love to see agiordona at least run second or third in a couple of these races what a terrific job you know one of our girls Jessica over in our social media did a little sit down with her and I talk to it agiord for a few minutes yesterday at the women summit she's just over the moon and obviously she's done what a great job with just limited stock and what a great story and I just hope she keeps keeps the momentum rolling what a wonderful woman and and a great trainer obviously Jeff as you mentioned Splendora kind of has him over a barrel she's four to five

1:06:48on the morning line in that b-holder mile for Bob Baffert she comes in on that four race win streak if if Splendora doesn't run her race which horse do you point to in here and say this is the most likely upsetter I would probably say the five bless the broken for Brad Cox coming in I mean this horse is second off the layoff source ran one one of stakes and then ran well in in the Kentucky yokes obviously running in a third and you know Brad Cox does very well 29% second off the layoff 29% plus three you know 31 to 60 days I think this he's got this horse going to sit just off and for some reason Splendora runs her C plus game maybe I think blessed the broken or maybe hopefully I'm enjoy runs a huge race so I think it's it's the four on top and maybe the five in the one filling out the exacter of the tribe again that's race number four the the

1:07:51B-Wayne Hughes B-holder mile race eight is the second of the four greatest stakes and it's a good one it's the grade two San Felipe my line of 16th on the main track this one essentially a win in your end for the Kentucky Derby you get 50 Derby points if you can find a way to win it what do you think who wins it all right so obviously all eyes are going to be on brand right has it ran since October but the horses looked very impressive in those three races ran third in the Breederskept Juvenile I'm gonna look another way obviously Brandt's gonna be odds on in here I'm gonna go towards the three secured freedom for Kim Yachtine this is a big giant horse wants no part of of one turn obviously one six for at six furlongs then went to the Bob Lewis was caught very wide switch leads kind of late down the lane I still think this horse is learning a little bit green but I do think this horse has a ton of talent I think he he wants to run all day so

1:08:54the longer the better big giant beautiful look at horse at eight to one I think secured freedom is worth a play here to upset the apple cart and you know I'm hoping we get maybe five to one on secure freedom maybe four to one somewhere in that range what do you make of the other Bob Baffert runner potente well look Bob you know that was impressive first time out you know got bet down obviously in odds on I work I watched one of the work since work very easy Bob's known to do things like this I think the upside is huge on potente so it wouldn't be surprised I would be surprised one bit of potente ran a huge race here I mean obviously they paid what 2.4 million for potente so they're looking for bigger and better things down the line obviously two turns should should hit this this horse right between the eyes as well so I think potente is going to run

1:09:55well and and I think potente has a big shot here but I'm still I've been on this secured freedom train since I watched the force run early and hopefully today's the day do you give any chance to so happy from the barn of mark lat it would be an emotional victory for him it's going to be an emotional day regardless he's still dealing with the passing of of his wife and trying to get over that grief so happy undefeated two for two what do you make of his chances undefeated two for two is looked very impressive ran a big number and sit in the San Vicente obviously the story would be wonderful right so yeah if this horse wins you know that would be amazing for the family and everything that that they've gone through lately that the what concerns me just a little bit is the workout watching it on first TV on February 22nd which is going to eventually take

1:10:56me into another race but this horse worked in company with me Hermana Ramona obviously me her or Hermana Ramona is an older horse I didn't like the work so much I thought so happy got a little bit tired I know what me Hermana Ramona's older but me or Hermana Ramona is also a turf horse I just think maybe two turns isn't going to be so happy spread I might be wrong but I'm a play against here even though I you know obviously like we talked about earlier it would be a wonderful story and I'll be the first person to you know be in the winter circle and congratulating them if so happy runs a big race and wins this but I just not sure that horse was all out in that work I know it says 111 and they got the bullet but I always watch it how they do it rather than the time and I I'm a little bit against that work so I'm kind of taking a pass today I'm so happy

1:11:59walking through the greatest takes races at Santa Anita this afternoon with Jeff Chapman he's up early on the west coast to be with us we certainly appreciate that Jeff the next race the grade two Frank E. Kilro mile one mile on the turf and this is where we do find me Hermana Ramona tell me a little bit more about this race okay obviously you know if you look at this race it's absolutely loaded with speed I mean El Patente wants to go El Patente may be can sit a little bit but Cabo spirit likes to leave me boggo is just all speed final boss likes to go to the front it's just amazing how much speed we we found in this race so if you look through that it looks like it's going to set up for me Hermana Ramona maybe Almond Harris or gas me up possibly even astronomer who hasn't won since 2023 so we're not going to look there so I'm going to look at me Hermana Ramona I did like the work I know the source hasn't ran since June of 2025 marked lap there's another good

1:13:02story to get them ready I love the work as we just talked about it February 22nd I see this we're sitting fifth or six and I think this sets up perfectly for a closer so I would say by two eight horses in here would be me Hermana Ramona and gas me up who's also going to be running late and I also think it sets up for Almond Harris coming from off the pace you know Al Patente is going to get that if El Patente who likes to win races can sit just a little bit maybe you know he can get the trip from all the speed but he likes to go so it just looks to be like it sets up for one of those three closures so I'm looking at one two four that would be me Hermana Ramona gas me up and Almond Harris from off the pace the race it just looks like it's loaded with speed and they're going to be rolling early yeah yeah it does there is a lot of speed in here El Patente translates to the powerful and very well could prove to be too powerful for this group but he's

1:14:06going to have to overcome some other company on the front end if he's going to get it done here this afternoon all right Jeff one more to talk about it is the big cap the Santa Anita handy cap mile and a quarter on the main track race number ten seven forty three eastern four forty three local time at Santa Anita in southern California down to five horses who walks away with the top prize yeah unfortunately let's get the long stocking not making it and then Westwood getting scratched and we're down to five horses and this is another race that's you know it's not let's say one of the best renditions of the Santa Anita handicap uh you I think obviously just the touch is the class of the field but there are question marks here I mean can can just a touch go this far just a touch is actually never won a graded stakes uh that being said like we just talked about I think this is a weak field and um I think just a touch just unclass alone it's just better than

1:15:10these horses I would surprise me if somebody else won though but I don't know who to go to next so I think that maybe by default just a touch and maybe it obviously a very talented horse you know ran second to see early on in the in the bluegrass I think just a touch is just too good in here yeah just the touch will likely be the favorite in this spot now with those defections and he has run some really solid races and maybe today is a day that he adds a great one to his resume Jeff uh what else is going on at the great race place today do you have another race that you like or other wagers that you're looking forward to this afternoon you know I'm gonna now you said that I'm I'm gonna give you one obviously look through the card earlier right and I'm gonna I'm gonna give you one horse that a price that I think is very interesting in a maiden race we're gonna go back to race six which is a maiden special weight going six and a half I think there's some talented horses in here bob bafford has the morning line favorite memory the nine

1:16:13horse at two to one and is very very talented ran against worked against patente the last time who we just spoke about but but I'm gonna lean towards the rail horse I know there I know there's bit some gaps in the works but this first time or for bob bafford at ten to one on the morning line don't love the rail draw but maybe that's why we're going to get the good price this horse had a huge workout a couple back with stronghold an iron man cow I think there's a lot of talent here and at ten to one hopefully breaks well take some gate to wire and we get we get a nice payoff here with the first time or you know with everybody who talks about the the bigger price of the two baffords but I just think the talent is here and at ten to one is worth a play yeah I love it yeah a little value there on this Saturday morning any special wagers tied to big cap day you know obviously we the the big wagers we always like out here now are you know the the

1:17:17early fix five is always you know popular the late pick five of course but with the with the all turf pick three that's the three dollar wager you get the 15% low takeout and also the late pick three as well which is the three dollar bet and those things that they've gone over well very well here but the 15% takeout and the payoffs have been terrific so I always look to play I'm kind of leaning in towards the late turf pick three and hopefully we can have a big score on a big day at the great race place and you know hopefully I've been up and I said I've had a couple cups of coffee I didn't realize I got before 45 hopefully I haven't been babbling too long but you got me up and pumpkin ready to roll for the rest of the day. Jeffrey another great appearance appreciate you taking the time and getting up on this here this morning enjoy every race that is going to be part of a great big cap day this afternoon good luck at the windows my friend we'll talk again soon appreciate it thanks for the time have a great day. All right you got it yeah Jeff Chapman

1:18:21walking through all of those big races coming up and Aggie Ordona set to join me next we're going to talk about her California bread champion Philly I'm enjoy um who goes in the beholder mile we're going to talk about vodka vodka who tries to pull off a bit of an upset in the big cap later today we'll do that in the next segment but I I want to pass this along if you missed it at the top of the show our mojo racing and possible trivia question for this morning I don't know if this is as hard as some of the ones we've given out but you still have to think a little bit who is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winning horse and how old is he that is the part that makes it a little tricky keep that one in mind get your mojo working the answer will be revealed at the end of the show right around 10 55 Eastern this morning Aggie Ordona's next this is the equan forum presented by Twin Spires on HRRN race to Twin Spires where you can unlock a $25 risk free bet just use the code HRRN 25 when you sign up and if your first bet does it win Twin

1:19:25Spires will refund your account up to $25 wagering on the app as fast with free pass performances insider picks and power plays every day you wager to inspire download that today to earn your $25 risk free bet boy we're prohibited for terms of conditions visit Twin Spires.com must be 18 or older 21 and older we're applicable for help with a gambling problem called 1-800 gambler the National HBPA is continuously working to protect the health and welfare of horses by advocating and funding research to help reduce equine injuries lobbying for a national testing lab to oversee and establish absolute uniform laboratory protocols advocating for every track to undergo an annual independent surface assessment passionately supporting off-the-track thoroughbred retirement facilities and adoption groups and so much more see additional HBPA initiatives at national hbpa.com the road to the Kentucky Derby once again passes through colonial downs on Saturday March 14 the $500,000 Virginia Derby will be run as a road to the Kentucky Derby points race

1:20:28last year's winner American promise went on to run in the Derby and Preakness join us for a history making day that also includes the $250,000 Virginia Oaks a Kentucky Oaks points race colonial down spring meet runs March 12 through March 14 host time 12 30 Eastern Thursday and Friday noon Eastern on Virginia Derby Day Saturday March 14 you're listening to the equine forum on HRN presented by Twin Spires and here comes the threat Oman Joy has struggled up on the far outside and as close again as they come into the final furlong it is still so there she was trying to pull off the upset here Oman Joy comes to take her on on the outside these two down to the wire together and Oman Joy and Kentis Omo win the Tory Pines vodka vodka looking for a scene finding it now one from the outside extreme outside is Kerry gold and in behind words is Cardiff crack vodka vodka comes to take the lead with

1:21:31a 16th to go and finishes fuller on vodka vodka and Kentis Omo winning the night gap Larry Colmas Frank Miramati doing the honors Oman Joy vodka vodka both impressive victories recently for trainer Aguio Ardoniaz who joins me now live from Southern California they're both in action this afternoon and both in with a realistic chance in their races today Aguio appreciate the visit oh it's a pleasure to be here Mike it's such a wave of energy going through San Anita right now with the big races and some good horses coming in and the biggest day of my career for sure two great ones and one day what unbelievable I have to tell you my wife was so excited when I asked you to join me on the program because she likes nothing better than kicking back with a vodka and an Oman Joy I think it's a perfect day I'm loving out with your wife

1:22:34I think she got it right on yeah she she loves the names and listen Oman Joy is more than just a really clever name boy she can really run this this is a good filly and and it took her a few races to really put it together she's a little bit of an airhead it took her a while to learn you know breaking from the gate but once she got her game on what a ride we had with her in 2025 with five in a row and the Tory Pines was was the highlight and and and and then represented well at Keenan we were proud of her she ran a big race a little traffic trouble I mean minuscule but with all the good luck that we've had with her I cannot complain Aguio we haven't seen Oman Joy since October at Keenan October 18th when she was fourth in the grade two Raven run what did the past few months been like for her well we turned her out for six weeks six weeks it was a little more six or seven weeks and for no other reason then then just a giver a mental

1:23:40break and and put a little more weight on her she she started after a year a great campaign she was she was growing and adding weight every single race but towards the end of the year after the Ravens run I said nice she's starting to go the other direction I want a good four-year-old so let's let her recoup and we centered Kingfisher Farms for six weeks and she came back bigger and stronger we put about a hundred pounds on her gave her a month of jogging and then cranked her up and and ready to roll well you didn't mess around either you bring her right back in a grade one against the likes of Splendora and some other talented fillies what led you to to bring her back in this spot was this always the goal Mike don't get me wrong if there was a mild Calbread dirt race should be in it should be in it but I do prefer her on the dirt I do want to focus on routing her and and this is the race that's available in our time frame and when the horse is ready that being said I'm not afraid to try to take big swings that's that's in my nature I love

1:24:44swinging being one once in a while and if she gets a piece of this I'd be thrilled if you know but I winning it I don't think it's I don't think it's out of the question this is a good fillies she's going to be a better fillying as a four-year-old and and four-year-old fillies they tend to blossom there's something about that year when they make that transition I compare it to you know from they're not high school girls anymore they're they're now college athletes and and maybe a little bit better and and their bodies change and their their mind matures and and it's a great year to be a four-year-old Aggie take me back to August 30th of last year at Delmar when I'm enjoy wins the grade three Torrey Pine your first greatest states victory as a trainer what was that day like well the fun with I'm enjoying every race we're like boy I know she's good but can she can she break her maiden on the dirt yes she can now I know she's good can she win a stake yes

1:25:45she can well can she can she get the mildest yes she can every race we went up there with a few questions and then of course at the end of it well do you think she's good enough to beat Bob Bafford can she beat open company can she can she win a grade six so we never walked over there feeling like we had this she was she was having to prove herself every step of the way and she kept rising to the occasion so we began to expect you know for her to rise to the occasion um and did she ever she she put on such a performance that day with another perfect ride by Kent the Sorma who's been flawless and and been such a pleasure to have on the team um that I mind blowing just just the magnificent day I her ownership group all of us including myself were all I would um 50 and up and we were standing in a group in the tunnel at Delmar and we're watching the race and you would have thought it was like retro back to Jane Fonda that we were a bunch of teenagers

1:26:45in like an aerobics class we were jumping in the air jumping in the air no one would ever say that these were some uh in in the later years of our life uh it that's the energy that um enjoy has given us hey age is just a number Aggie it's only a number yes it's all in the mind tell me about the owners of almond joy the the champion philly california bred chill thank you let me say this three-year-old philly of last year just went to the CTP bid bid dinner uh on monday at lameridian here across the street from sananita what a great night what a what a celebration of calbrids and so proud to be honored for a three-year-old philly of the year she was nominated for horse of the year we were in and running for that um but um maybe this year we can we can get the whole big shebang um the owners were there and and enjoying every moment of it connie and jerry breaker bred this mayor and um are have become my my dearest friends they we we feel like family

1:27:48they are two of the finest people that i've met a a marriage that would should it a billboard for what marriage should look like they support each other love each other they're both great uh lovers of the game both great handy capers that's the only time there might be some squablin they they argue over over their picks um they're they're all in as far as horse racing goes and what what a pleasure what a pleasure to have them you mentioned kent to sorma when you get a guy like this the hall of famer who has won so many big races over the course of his career when you walk into the paddock uh i assume you don't have to tell him very much right uh we sometimes talk about the lakers in the paddocks i mean we but no there's not much to tell kent i i mean i couldn't be more confident when i leg him up i i mean i honestly i feel like i i i'm i'm sending out michael Jordan and and a pickup game in the neighborhood when when i've got kent on my team well you'll get

1:28:48to leg him up twice today not just on i'm enjoy in the b-wayne hues b-holder mile but then you come back in the big cap with vodka vodka and kent will be aboard once again tell me about vodka vodka vodka vodka what a what a what a pleasure it is to have him i've had faith in the source from the day he got off the van uh that this was a good horse it he had some issues earlier in his career um and we just we just pressed reset on and we kicked him out for five months and brought him back in and he came in a different horse uh we yelled at him that was that was one of his issues he was uh wanting to wanting to breed everything so with that with that off of his mind and him focusing more on his on his business um he's been a hell of a resource uh he he's kind of a tough guy and and you have to kind of let him call the shots kent as really he rides them both so

1:29:49differently there's such different personalities for being half siblings and and he treats them differently he's obviously wonderful with joy and and and treats you like the lady she is and coxuser and and comforter and and um and with vodka he's got to be careful not to uh tell him too much what to do and let him do his thing when he wants to go he kind of goes and you saw that on um what i thought was his best race that was at del mar on breeders cup weekend in that it was just a one other uh one x allowance race open um still a very tough race uh but but you know it would it seems almost like an early move but but kent said man he grabbed it and decided to go the the guy next to me was chirping to his horse vodka heard it and decided to go I let's go it it's your call you do it this horse runs for the joy of it you can see it in his face he he just a happy joyful free run and horse the last time he went turf to dirt was was in that race at del

1:30:50mar that you just mentioned maybe the best race for his career when he won by two and three quarter lengths coming out of that turf race moving to the dirt he he comes from another turf race on january 17th where he wins the turf classic and now goes back to the dirt for the big cap was that by design aggy absolutely yeah i love i love using the turf i think the turf perhaps a little bit softer on them prefer a little more gentler on horses and and they use different muscles and i i i i almost use it as a freshener and when they are dirt horses it will go both ways if it's they're comfortable enough to go both ways uh use it as a prep for their big effort on the dirt so i think it set him up just right for um our big swing today in the big cap you don't have to deal with skippy long stocking you don't have to deal with westwood so you have four rivals to contend with size up the competition you know he ever hear the term uh i'd rather rather be lucky than good i almost i almost feel that going on with vodka vodka's race with those two direction

1:31:53defections um um i i really didn't want to take on skippy long stocking i hadn't anticipated him being in the race so that was a big uh uh eternal luck for me for him to be out um as after that i i just i don't really worry about the competition i i worry about my own horse and and can't will manage uh how to ride him in the race um i do see him forwardly placed uh um but but i'll i'll leave the i'll leave the handicapers to uh take worry about the rest of the horses Charlie Wittingham Gary Jones Richard Mandela Bob Baffer Bobby Frankl uh just some of the names of the trainers who have won the big cap in recent in recent years in history um Aggie Ordonia's maybe the next together Aggie Ordonia's i think it has a great ring to it yeah can you can you imagine could you ever imagine the chance to see your name alongside those greats it's not something i have imagined i i i spent years at what what most would consider a minor

1:32:59leak track uh started out of the big leagues at hialia and belmont with my dad that's where he rode and trained for a lifetime and and that's where i grew up and and then kind of wandered across the country landed at golden gate fields and and spent and spent 20 years with with some lower level horses i wouldn't trade it for the world uh i learned a lot from them uh i i pride myself on the tlc i give my horses and i those guys need it more than anything the lower level horses that are just plugging along and in the fourth thousand non-three in the life type races at at golden gate but when uh you know i made this move to san anita it felt like coming home to to just another first class track and uh and and and why not why not take aim at some at some big races and win in the san anita handy cap uh let it dream let it dream agam so glad you bring up the tlc that you give to each of your horses that is an integral part of your program and it has been for a very long time what does that look like tell me about the care that you give to them

1:34:04well my day starts with with tracking them uh just almost like waking up your kids like is everything okay you know you'd look at their eyes and and and their body and of course the dinner and and and uh the critical part of are their legs great and sound and cold and good shape and i start off with with uh believe it or not a yoga class i i stretch my horses i love stretching my horses i entice them with a carrot i have them bend into the left bend into the right and then tuck in their head between their knees and it's really a beautiful thing to watch them how much they get from that they how they anticipate it and sometimes i'll step back in the stall and watch them and they'll continue on stretching they'll do it down dog and and then arch their back and uh let a hind leg stretch out behind them i mean it it it begins to encourage them when they realize just this feels so good and they carry it on it i think it's a great way to start the day i wish i did it for myself more often i never felt better than when i was doing yoga um but for

1:35:08right now i'm focusing on the the horses and their yoga uh and and that's just a little one of the few things but uh i i love the personal connection with the horses that's what makes me tick i mean i love just pushing my face into their muzzle and the smell of a horse and i love them with all my heart and i could never be um you know there's different type of trainers there there's there's some guys out there very successful guys that are almost uh more like a CEO than um then trainer i mean we're all trainers in different respects but i i almost cringe at the word trainer i'm a caregiver i'm uh i'm uh i listen to my horses and try and interpret what's going to bring them to their best and um and work with them instead of telling them i mean i've learned more from horses and i think i've trained into a horse uh just let them be their best and keep them healthy and happy that's that's how i go about it aggy here's to hoping that you get to snuggle in the winter circle with um enjoy and vodka vodka later today at least one but let's go snuggle with both of them

1:36:12i love it i love it thank you so much mike all right really appreciate it good luck later today my pleasure have a great one yeah you too so much fun huh how much fun you want to be pumped up about the sport of thoroughbred racing and and about you want to know what it what it means just so many people in our game to be around these horses every single day listen to aggy or donia's so positive so beautiful the way that that she describes how much she loves just the smell of a horse just snuggling up to the horse and then the care that she gives each of her horses how about that she puts them through a yoga class to kick off their day so unique it and it i say it all the time for 99% of the people involved in racing whether it's in the breeding sheds working on the farms every morning dealing with the foals working at the sales working at the racetracks for 99% of the people the love of the horse

1:37:20is what absolutely gets them out of bed every morning and that's certainly the case for aggy or donia's what a what a fun interview there best of luck to her with almond joy vodka vodka coming up this afternoon in southern California well Brad Cox is going to be hoping it's not a good day for aggy or donia's because he's going up against her in both of those races i'll talk to him next with the Kentucky bread conversation this is the equiform presented by twin spires on h-r-r-n horse racing's voice race to twin spires where you can unlock a twenty five dollar risk free bet just use the code h-r-r-n twenty five when you sign up and if your first bet doesn't win twin spires will refund your account up to twenty five dollars wagering on the app is fast with free pass performances insider picks and power plays every day you wager twin spires download the app today to earn your twenty five dollar risk free bet boy we're prohibited for terms of conditions visit twin spires.com must be eighteen or older twenty one and older we're applicable for help with the gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler cool more stallion corniche a one point five million dollar OBS

1:38:25April sale topper by quality road and a two-time grade one winner but it's corniche he's just to go corniche wins the breeder's cup juvenile voted champion two-year-old male following his win in the breeder's cup juvenile it's no surprise his seventy two yearlings sold for an average of over one hundred seventy thousand dollars with a top-price cult of seven hundred twenty five thousand and a top-price billy of five hundred twenty five thousand corniche standing for only fifteen thousand dollars at kumor's ashford stud fans a tremendous day of racing excitement and entertainment awaits you here are the great race weight stand on the park look at the racing line we have eleven big races and four big-stakes races highlighted by the big cap presented by Yama Makasino and Resort at San Manuel my favorite race today is the San Felipe pity so happy against brand that race is going to be a humdinger and to attack those races we have a tremendous weight-dream menu that includes the retail only first coast to coast pick five of five dollar

1:39:29late daily double a three dollar all-terrific three and a three dollar late pick three all with the low fifteen percent take on don't forget the very popular two dollar traditional pick six to enhance the big day we have a big cab hat giveaway for our first reward members a family fun zone in the infield all weekend long in the ever popular fiesta Santa Anita with great food music in my favorite and Lucia leave it for all the details going to Santa Anita dot com today come out to the great raceways would you know what to do in a poison emergency would you know whom to call well the answer is poison help 1-800-222 1-222 poison help is a 24-7 government hotline staff by poison experts it's free to call and available in over 100 languages every second counts in a poison emergency don't waste it wondering who to call save poison help in your phone today 1-800-222 1-222 hey this is Bobby Newman

1:40:29join me every Friday afternoon to dive deep into handicapping the races we'll cover the live action from some of the biggest tracks in the country talk to some of the major players in the game and hopefully make a little money along the way you can also call the show to share your opinions ask a question or two or maybe just vent about some bad beats it's betting with Bobby every Friday from four to five p.m. Eastern on serious 162 xm 207 online channel 999 or streaming live at horse racing radio.net you're listening to the equine forum on HRN presented by twin spires and us for to sorrow from back in the field tries to make impressions as they swing in the highly divine world cup and is mixed oh who goes up to challenge for good stars forever young has a mighty task ahead of him Wilson to sorrow goes with him in third and fourth hit show running on from the back but it's mixed oh who hits the lead here with 150 meters left to go mixed

1:41:30oh but double nil and frankly to hurry and hit show help when it's all too late and hit show right over the top hit show before it's your ruin and broadcasts in the divine world cup wins in spectacular fashion mixed oh second over third forever young four-build miracle oh from walk of stars brilliant victory for hit show in the Dubai World Cup last year his connections now monitoring the situation in the middle east and they'll make a decision on whether or not to go back to defend his title shortly Brad Cox is going to join me here momentarily to tell you more about that and about the other horses that he has running this weekend it is our Kentucky bread conversation presented by the Kentucky thoroughbred development and breeders incentive funds which paid a record 20 million dollars in awards to breeders participating in the kbif program last year for racing in 2025 Brad a lot of things on your plate right now my friend not just this weekend but looking

1:42:34ahead to the Dubai World Cup what can you tell us about the situation with hit show well he's doing well you know we're happy with where we are from a training standpoint it's just about you know just getting the personnel over there obviously the horse as well so you know we'll we'll find out more over the next few days and ultimately have to make a decision I think Saturday morning on you know whether we're going or not we're planning on going but you know just some some you know questions not able to quite answer right now and who's going and all that stuff what are you hearing from the folks at the Dubai Racing Club about the situation there now you know look I think they're trying to you know hope I hope in things will be resolved by the middle of our you know hopefully I don't know if I can use the word resolved but you know quiet and down and you know that planning on having the event you know unfortunately for us we

1:43:34have to you know go over you know a couple weeks out you know so what we'll see like I said how everything plays out over the next few days on you know shipping Friday or Saturday I should say yeah and I can imagine Brad it's a difficult decision for you on a lot of levels but certainly because of the fact that you do have to send your help over there early yeah yeah so you know once again still kind of working on that and you know I think I think we're going to be fine you know think Merceau or transportation's working well with us and trying to get all that organized and you know I think it's it'll happen I do believe just trying to get every fell the paperwork passports and all that in line and it's a lot of a lot of behind the scenes stuff what do you see from Hitcho and his training that that lets you believe he's ready to defend his title well you know more of the same he's always a good filling horse trains forward good mover

1:44:35he's I loved his race last time out there at the fairgrounds without it was a perfect prep and I think it hasn't set up for a big effort so you know he's a really unique horse that he's you know seems to be getting better as he gets older and he just sturdy dude that brings it every time very consistent of the mornings and the afternoons so you know once again love the ways to train Brad I throw out a poll question on the show every Saturday morning and my poll question today is which of these four trainers most likely to win this year's Kentucky Derby Pletcher Brown Baffer or Cox and so far Todd Pletcher's leading with 40 percent 20 percent for Brad Cox I guess not a lot of believers in commandment last weekend I certainly am yeah I am too um I really really am I thought his race was very impressive and you know you can die for race any way you won you know the trip they get but the one thing about this horse is

1:45:37I think he can set any trip and respond when asked and I think that's big I think he showed that when this first four runs you know he didn't have to be outside it can be inside he can be outside it can be between horses he can split horses he can come up the fence um so I think that's worth a lot when you're you know you're you're running against 19 other horses and obviously we need we need another run before that uh with probably the Florida Derby but uh you know I'm very very happy with with what we saw from him last weekend and I was obviously a fan before but I'm a big fan now and I thought I thought his race was very very good the big question that all of these three roles will have to answer in eight weeks when they get the Louisville is the mile and a quarter distance what what gives you the confidence that commandment will handle that assignment that he's able to maneuver in and out of spots that he can you know at respond when asked from a rider he can you know drop you know just relax when need be um go between horses

1:46:41don't have to have a certain trip um I thought he broke really well last time you know going to two turns you never really know when they go two turns especially off three one turn races how they're going to respond if they're going to break and you know be a little forward going to the first turn if they're going to even handle it um I thought it was a perfect race from him um in regards to what we need to see to act you know with moving forward to getting that mile and a quarter so um you know next steps of mile and eighth and uh you know I think he showed everything he needed to show from a mental standpoint and uh to to to have the confidence that he could handle the mile and a quarter I know that you want to win the Tampa Bay Derby this afternoon but what do you want to see from further ado in this effort returning as a three-year-old? uh break sharp get involved and stay on um you know I went back and watched his race last night at uh Keylin and I mean obviously it was a 20-leaf win but you know you you just want to one won't go back and watch it really close again and you know just the way

1:47:42stayed on the way gal that uh you did it with ease um you know I obviously don't expect to see anything like that but you know I do expect him to run very well his works have been very very good at pace and um you know he's fresh he's running off the layoff hopefully he'll relax um hopefully brings well and then he'll relax and get into a good rhythm and he can finish up well. Brad that's interesting that you would go back and watch that race again what what specifically were you looking for when you went back and watch that Keylin victory um probably just how quick or how sharp he broke just uh obviously he's his first time going two turns and he broke well and you know looking for for him to do that uh today they it's you know on paper to me it looks like a lot of horses that have are gonna you know try to set the same trip and break and be forward um you know obviously these are horses would not a lot of runs under their belts so they're still trying to figure out who they are and how good they are but uh you know I think that'd be the

1:48:47ideal trip based off uh you know some of the early pace figs uh that these horses have shown to start their careers what are you seeing from him um over the past three months have you seen development physically mentally or is he is he about where he was um he's always been really good so it's hard to say oh like he's a tremendous amount better than he was I mean I've said it several times there's a reason why we took him to Saratoga to start his career he's a really good warhorse um he showed that at Keeland we moved him over to church hills Saratoga was starting we thought we'd send him up um and he ran okay first time was a little green and then second time I thought he improved but um now he's he's he's obviously gotten better he got better as a two-year-old and I feel like physically he's uh really moved forwarded in in December I thought his coat was just a little flat and uh maybe you need to put on a little weight and he certainly has over the last couple months and he looks he looks fantastic and like I said his works have been phenomenal

1:49:50Brad I want to ask you about the big cap and the beholder mile at Santanita but before we do you got two more horses running at Tampa Bay Downs and Stakes races today with disco time Distino Dioro tell me about those two i disco look we're trying to get started to win streak with him um you know obviously uh you know one of the choices there and the Pegasus things just didn't go quite as well as we were hoping um uh you know and I'm not really a whole lot of excuse other than maybe just went a little quick early but you know we'll he's trained well since I thought this would be a good start or a good race to getting started again and uh let him determine you know exactly what he wants to do how far he wants to go obviously we have I think six total runs underneath of him just still trying to figure out maybe what he's best at obviously I think his best rate to race today was the Dwyer it was around one turn so you know we're still trying to figure out what he's best at but I think this is a good race to to rebound and hopefully runs runs a big race

1:50:54just a touch now the favorite likely favorite anyway in the big cap after some defections he'll face four other rivals and then he had blessed the broken and the beholder mile uh let's start with just a touch what are you seeing from him that the lead you to believe he gets a grade one on his resume today well I mean I think he needs a break and go forward um and I mean man he's he's an awful talented horse and I think to think that he's not one of great to stick this point I mean he's he's always been you know a really good workhorse a talented horse um obviously we do a lot at him to start his career with Braggness Maiden straight off to the Gotham on in a muddy track and then the blue grass he run respectable in all all this races obviously the Derby didn't go quite as well as we thought but you know you got to start career off to to a good start and then we kind of hit a hit a wall there with him um in the Derby the Iowa Derby didn't go quite as well he rebounded came back last year and I mean he look I think he's a great one talent it's all about um

1:51:56you know having things go his way and you know look I think he's in a great spot today there's a reason why he's three to two morning line and uh but he has to go out there and he has to get it done um and uh you know I feel like our team's done a good job uh getting to this point basically it's up to him he needs to pull through today how about blessed the broken uh big ask cross country obviously facing a uh very good Philly and uh Splendora uh but training well thought her race off the layoff was really really good she's had plenty of time to recover from that um she's really training well leading up um but like I said I think some things would have to really fall into place uh for to get the win but I think you know she's very very capable you know getting getting a placing and and she's doing well Brad this is our Kentucky Brad conversation this particular segment here on Saturday morning you yourself Kentucky Brad growing up right next to Churchill Downs uh we've talked about this in past segments here but just what is it about

1:52:58that program in Kentucky now that that just makes everybody want to be there well I mean it's the money I mean you know you know we're right you know $100,000 or $100 plus thousand dollar major races uh you know and and allowatrices and you know a great stake schedule so look it's it's um it's it's an unbelievable program it offers um you know a lot of races throughout the year obviously dirt turf we have to synthetic in the wintertime they're turf waste so you know it's good year round racing um good purses um obviously and uh it's it's it's amazing program and you know it's very healthy racing good field size good competitive racing and for a four and five day week racing between Keenlyn Churchill and Kentucky Downs has done race a lot but it's it's a very competitive meet and we have turf as well so and Alice Park so um it's good healthy racing and just very fortunate to be a part of it yeah and those rewards

1:54:00for Kentucky breads winning races all over the country all over the world doesn't hurt either right yep fantastic stuff Brad at busy day for you I'll let you go my friend always appreciate the time uh good luck with all those races and listen safe trip over to Dubai with hit show in the team thanks Mike talk to you soon you got it Brad Cox here with this week's Kentucky bread conversation you know a record twenty million dollars in awards was paid to breeders participating in the Kentucky thoroughbred breeders incentive fund program last year for racing in 2025 KBIF has provided more than a quarter of a billion dollars to breeders of Kentucky breads winning eligible races worldwide since the program was implemented in 2005 Kentucky remains when the leading racing jurisdictions paying out two hundred thirty nine million dollars in combined association purse and Kentucky thoroughbred development funds for an average of one hundred twelve thousand six hundred forty eight dollars per race think about that in an average field size

1:55:03of eight point eight in twenty twenty five make sure your horse is KTDF and KBIF eligible to secure your share of lucrative awards worldwide for more information on thoroughbred racing and breeding in Kentucky visit Kentucky breads dot com or register KBIF dot com I'm back to take a look at a historical date and racing history or two when I return this is the equiform on the horse racing radio network I'm fifty four so basically it's too late to start saving for retirement right not starting to save even in your fifties can really make a difference well right now saving seems hard to wrap my head around plus with the way this year's been going hey listen it's okay you still got this just go to aceyourretirement.org it's an online tool from AARP that can help you get your retirement savings on track no matter your age it's free and only takes about three minutes I like three minutes yeah at aceyourretirement.org you'll chat with AVO the friendly digital

1:56:05retirement coach just answer a few questions and you'll get a personalized plan and tips to help boost your retirement savings tips that are easy to understand and tailored to your lifestyle I like that too plus it's sponsored by AARP so you know they got your back just head to aceyourretirement.org and make your plans to start saving for retirement thanks that's aceyourretirement.org a message from AARP and the ad council think back to the last time you were in nature what comes to mind hiking through a lush forest floating on a lazy river or perhaps watching a vibrant sunset on a beach full of glistening plastic bottles and food wrappers unfortunately this isn't a joke here in the US we generate the most plastic waste in the world with 70% of it ending up in landfills and by the time you're done listening to this ad more than a dump trucks worth of plastic will have made it into the ocean plastic has become a useful part of our everyday lives but it's polluting the air

1:57:08water and soil that all life needs to survive this is a human problem that can be solved with human action but it's going to take all of us from individuals to businesses to governments and everyone in between help create a cleaner future for both people and nature visit www.earthslashplastics most people out here think that taking care of one another is important and most people would step up for a neighbor going through a tough time most people around here help out friends and family when they need it but the funny thing is most of us won't look for help when we need it if you're struggling with mental health you should know that there are resources out there that can help and it's okay to talk about it if you need to one place to get started with information is loveyourmindtoday.org loveyourmindtoday.org offers a range of guides instructions and insights for dealing with difficult situations are getting through a tough time if you're struggling with

1:58:13mental health get the help you need because most people out here really care visit loveyourmindtoday.org that's loveyourmindtoday.org brought to you by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the ad council check out the all new horse racing radio.net all the same great horse racing radio content in a new easy to use design listen to all of our shows streaming live or access the replays anytime see our schedule sign up for our newsletter download our latest podcasts and so much more it's all on our website at horse racing radio.net that's horse racing radio.net you're listening to the equine forum on HRN presented by Twin Spires getting ready for hour number three not a lot of time here as we transition for historical dates and racing history but i will look back on yesterday march 6 1965 the day the jockey early

1:59:15fires rode the first winner of his brilliant career and tomorrow march 8 1985 the day that christmas caron rode his 4th thousandth career winner hawkley in the fifth race at santa nita christ ended up with 7141 career wins 11th all time two hours down one to go here on the equine forum presented by twin spires stay with me hour three straight ahead right after this 10 second pause for station identification this is the horse racing radio network you this is HRN horse racing's voice

2:00:17approach the eightfold in the santa eater bell and midnight be to let go by smith shoots clear from 13 squared midnight be to after breaking her maiden and a graded stakes now conquers two turns in the santa eater bell she wins by a little over two weeks welcome to the equine forum presented by twin spires 100 yards to go on street sets in the given Saturday down to the wire it's street sets in the given Saturday is right back having these two heads of fire to close the call might have been street sets in a fabulous race running time on the board one minute forty three seconds flat for the Tampa Bay Derby midnight hawk battling in second but it's all california chrome as they come from they wed nature sprout wings to get to california chrome absolutely rumping in on the big to ask for no sir San Felipe was a walk over from california chrome now here's Mike penna welcome back hour three of the equine forum presented by twins fire is Mike

2:01:23penna baron of the backstretch happy to have you with me on this first Saturday in the month of marches we edge ever closer to that first Saturday in May I know many parts of the country still a little on the cool side and um that thought though should warm you up on this Saturday morning and I hope it has I hope the conversation over the first two hours of the show has helped to warm me up a little too because we spent a lot of time talking about big cat day San Felipe day out in california it's santa and eat it we spent time talking about the Tampa Bay Derby and of course these are mistakes down at oakland uh if you missed any portion of the first two hours of the program head back to the website horse racing radio dot net that's where you can listen to this show and all of our podcast for every show they're all there for you on our website and on your favorite podcast platform so wherever you get your podcast type in horse racing radio network and follow along with us all year long especially this time of year as we lead up to the Kentucky Derby because

2:02:23there was so much to talk about in thorough bread racing and if you can't tell i'm pretty fired up about it here this morning lots to get to an hour three it begins with the twin spires triple play ashley anderson will be here momentarily to give you three races to watch and wager on with twin spires on this Saturday afternoon curvebacker stroll through racing history coming up at 10-20 cool story about a horse by the name of optimistic gal so stay tuned for that and then at 10-30 we wrap up the show final segment as we do every single week it is with i asked the answer dale romans team welcome they'll be here to tackle some of the spots hottest topics will play around of uh... like it love it or hate it will also play a game of fire sell with them coming up to talk about some of the top derby prospects on the road to louisville but without further ado we say hello to ashley anderson in this week's twin spires triple play hello ashley good morning happy big cap day

2:03:24Tampa Bay Derby day a zary day lots to be excited about a whole lot to be excited about yes it's a huge Saturday yeah it's massive coast to coast and really looking forward to it you know we we seen some really good performances along the road to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky oaks for that matter to and you have to expect we we may see another one or two this afternoon that to give us another horse to get excited about absolutely in the Tampa Bay Derby especially we have further ado who's going to be making his three-year-old debut and he won the Kentucky jockey club coming off he had a twenty length made and went and then came back to church all down and won the Kentucky jockey club so he's coming in with the high profile but we also have a chat brown runner in there who has a lot of hype around them so i think the Tampa Bay Derby could potentially have a huge Kentucky Derby contender emerge from that race today and in the Tampa Bay two we have some bafford runners in there but trying to play against them actually just i like to do that just for fun

2:04:29well you got to look for value you're not going to give value most of the time betting on bob bafford in greatest stakes in southern california so you have to look for value that's what we're going to do in our three races coming up here this morning you selected races 10 11 and 12 from Tampa Bay Downs and for good reason twin spires has some special offers yeah we have the road to the Kentucky Derby ten dollar betback offers so you get a bonus bet up to ten dollars back on your first win wager of your horse minutes the second or third and select races add tracks along the road to the Kentucky Derby today at Tampa Bay Downs it's going to be races 10 11 and 12 so i'm covering off three of those and then at sananita we have races eight races eight and ten so the sandflip bay and the sananita handicap all right let's jump in with the ladies the florida oaks grade three per se of two hundred thousand it is race number ten this afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs myelina sixteenth on the turf course post time five o'clock eastern big field too how'd you see this one i did i go over with number five dandana who last

2:05:34out made her turf debut going seven and a half for longs and was last in the opening stages and then closed to finish third with a one eleven late pace rating on brisnet now in two star she's shown she's a late closer and she was likely compromised by a slow pace in her turf debut but i expect a hotter pace here today we have the eleven for patrick being cone likely to go to the front and shreda vows runner the number two alone times shows a lot of speed i think the three Abigail will press the pace so with a hotter pace and added ground i expect huge improvement second turf start for dandana and she's getting played me in proud of board and working out very well at goal stream ahead of her second start off the layoff so i thought it was good value there you get five to one on the five and i think the late closer has the potential for a really good setup in this race yeah pace makes the race is the the the saying that we often hear when we look at and especially turf races too right if you get a fast pace on the turf most most most most likely i can say that uh you're going to see a horse coming from off the pace to get the top

2:06:36price yeah definitely definitely the case with a lot of dirt races too but i think in turf races you see it happen a lot and even in sprints you see five for long sprints you can see a late closer comes from out of nowhere yep yeah there's no doubt about dandana six to one on the morning line you know james scully was out of me here last weekend ashley and and he declared this a no chalk zone so we we can't be taking chalk in these spots here today i agree and we were on the twin spires jerry on thursday and james reference that again we actually none of us went with chalk in our three selection our three races that we discussed so i like to stay away from the chalk zone as much as possible and i'm trying to do that today too dandana offers some value in here how about number seven time to dream who is five to two on the morning line and looking at the back class angle with this philly it would appear as if five to two would be a good price if you can get it on this toddler pletcher runner so for me personally i have to toss time

2:07:43to dream simply because i was burned in the judgment and then when you saw the way she ran in the juvenile philly's turf i was lost in faith in this horse and i think five to do do short for me after especially with the judgment just the way that that horse that was a weird race there was a huge long shot that won that day and time to dream and is that finishing a length and third but i'm just not feeling as confident in this horse maybe there's improvement off of four months layoff but i think this is a good chance to play a different horse here because i need to see more i need to be i almost want to be proven i want time to dream to prove me wrong and then maybe i'll consider this horse in the future Ashley you sound like a grizzled bitter horse player i was burned in the judgment by this horse you know but that that's a thing i mean i i know a lot of times if if i play a horse and you know it gets in trouble let's say i'll give it a second shot and then if it has no excuse i'm like all right i'm done with you i i just can't do it anymore

2:08:45yeah i mean you gotta learn from your mistakes and sometimes those horses come back around but i'm gonna wait and see what time to dream okay looking for value in race number 10 at Tampa Bay Downs number five dandana six to one on the morning line Ashley's top pick how about the Tampa Bay Derby that's race 11 five thirty five eastern the post mile into sixteenth for the three year old boys essentially a win in your in for the Kentucky Derby four hundred thousand bucks on the line two who wins this one so i just thought very negatively about a roboly horse and now i'm gonna talk positively about one power shift number five who is seven to two on the morning line now you have a Chad Brown runner who's gonna be coming from the outside who's gonna go straight to the front in caniletto five to two further ado i talked about who is a very heavy favor morning line favorite here nine to five who is coming off back to back wind but i thought this was a good chance to play a horse that's gonna come from a little bit farther back power shift

2:09:45is still a maiden but was barely beaten on debut and top lecture the trainer has six wins in this race the Tampa Bay Derby so that's another feather in power shift cap but looking at that debut performance had a ninety eight breath net speed figure the highest last race speed figure among this field and recorded a 103 late pace rating this horse is eligible to improve in a second route race bred to go long the constitution cult who's out of a stakes winning quiet american mayor of course quiet american sired real quiet the derby and preekness winner in nineteen ninety eight and i think power shift gets a good set up here to come from a little bit further back and you get a better price and you're gonna get on caniletto as well as further ado now if you want a big price i also think hulk amania could be and play at least to hit the board here this is a cult that went on debut at Tampa Bay downs going seven for longs and trainer wet bagman doing very well at Tampa so i thought hulk amania big price if you want to throw big price in there but more realistically power shift shows a lot of upside to me and coming in as

2:10:49a maiden but just barely coming in as a maiden in the street actually i've often looked at Tampa Bay downs and said the surface is different than other race tracks in south Florida Gulfstream in particular right and if you handle the surface well then you can say okay this is a horse we should look at their next start when they come back to Tampa Bay downs if a horse is running there for the first time like further ado is going to try doing it can be a little bit more challenging and maybe a dicey or play is that another reason that you take a shot against them for me further ado is a horse that okay every time i try to play against this horse i've been wrong the horse one by twenty like it comes back to being better another one of these but i think you can look at that with Brad Cox he's good with shippers let's be honest like he's a twenty seven percent winner with horses that ship it and this further ado has been working out very well at pace in park but there is a chance that running first time over Tampa Bay downs

2:11:51doesn't do as well so there are plenty of horses in here that have form over Tampa Bay down surface so if you're looking for a reason to potentially shy away from further ado or even cannellado neither of them have run at Tampa Bay downs but you do have the puma has some form over this track and there's a couple others including my pick that has run very well over Tampa Bay down so it's certainly possible that further ado just doesn't like the track and I suppose we'll find out today yeah interesting group but actually we'll take number five power shifts seven to two John Velaska's Todd Plutcher they never want to race together have they they're always and of course the Repole colors going aboard power shift later today we'll see if if that could be a little bit of an upset in the Tampa Bay Derby all right actually one more to get to race number twelve it is the finale on this program here today maiden special wait for the three-year-old ladies mile in the sixteenth on the turf another good sized field here probably some value to be had I

2:12:53would assume I think so this is an interesting field that we have a couple Chad Brown runners in here again and they're short prices but one is coming off a very lengthy layoff of more than seven months and making their U.S. debut and then you also have a first-time starter the eight fun flows gonna have I'd rather to use junior aboard and then the eleven is gonna have Flavian proud aboard so very very good jockeys that are aboard to Chad Brown runners here but looking at the variable of the long layoff or the first-time start I thought there was a chance to go for value and I landed on the ten considering me first who's trained by Bill Mott the source was running over Tampa Bay Downs turf last out and was beaten the neck that day but didn't have the cleanest trip was bumped at the start and then bumped again in later stages of the race now going to be racing on lay six the second time and making her second start off a layoff which high percentage for Bill Mott you're gonna have junior Alvarado picking up the mount and this horse has the highest last

2:13:53race speed rating actually tied among the field it's a 71 it's not the highest speed figure here but this is a field made up of a lot of first-time starters or some horses trying turf for the first time so I'm gonna take a horse that already has run well over the turf and specifically campus turf five to one on the morning line so again sticking with the theme of a no-chalk zone here on the Twin Spires triple play consider me first junior Alvarado aboard for Bill Mott the topic of Ashley in race number 12 so it races 10 11 12 let's recap the three selections Ashley race 10 you'll take number five Dan Donna at odds of six to one race 11 the Tampa Bay Derby you'll go with Todd Putscher Johnny V number five power shift at seven to two and it race 12 number 10 consider me first it odds of five to one and we started this segment talking about the promotions with Twin Spires on these three races let's hit that again before I let you go right we have that rose the Kentucky

2:14:54Derby $10 bet back offer so again a bonus bet up to $10 back on your first win bet if your horse finishes second or third in races that Tampa Bay down it'll be races 10 11 and 12 and then St. Anita races eight and 10 we also I wanted to quickly say we have a number of tournaments going on today plus a two thousand dollar late pick five hit it and split it at St. Anita and then I wanted to quickly mention two that twins buyers is now available in Mississippi so we're excited to support our Mississippi horse players yep that's really cool I like that that's fantastic news you mentioned earlier that you were playing against Bob Baffert in the San Felipe later today do you want to reveal your pick and who's going to beat Bob Baffert in that race so I went with the three secured freedom who is trained by Tim Yachtine going to come from off the pace I think the two and the three they're both going to have potentially similar trips here the two is trained by Dan Blacker and if you watch the Twin Spires jury the two is Darren Speck I want

2:15:58with the three you're getting great value on both the two is 12 to one the three is eight to one but looking at the fact that brand I'm assuming goes out to the front the five the ten day for Bob Baffert as well at least went to the front last time and on debut but I don't know what the plan is who who Bob Baffert actually wants to get the lead but both those horses will be forwardly placed as well as the seven so I thought once again I'm going with an off the base runner here and secure freedom I think has a lot of upside coming out of the great three Robert B Lewis and gonna be trying to route for the second time so yeah I went with value here to try to beat those Baffert runners a bonus play for you here this morning on the Twin Spires quadruple play on this Saturday morning Ashley appreciated as always good luck with those selections and all the races you're going to play this weekend and again we'll encourage everybody to make sure they're taking advantage of those promotions at Twin Spires and that they're betting

2:16:59all the races they're going to play with Twin Spires have a lovely weekend you two all right Ashley Anderson Twin Spires quadruple play here this morning a bonus bet for you uh Kurt Becker stroll through racing history coming your way next but if you missed it in the first couple of hours of the program this is your Mojo Racing and possible trivia question for this Saturday morning who is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winning horse and how old is he that's your question for this morning uh you can go to our social media pages and put your answers in there you can email the show and let me know your thoughts to that question but get your Mojo work and see if you can come up with it I will reveal the answer to this week's impossible trivia question coming up at the end of the show right around 1055 Eastern lots to get to Kurt Becker stroll through racing history Dale Tim still to come at 1030 Eastern this is the equine forum presented by Twin Spires on HRN race to Twin Spires where you can unlock a $25 risk free bet just use the code HRN

2:18:0525 when you sign up and if your first bet doesn't win Twin Spires will refund your account up to $25 wagering on the app is fast with free pass performances insider picks and power plays every day you wager Twin Spires download that today to earn your $25 risk free bet when we're prohibited for terms and conditions visit TwinSpires.com must be 18 or older 21 and older we're applicable for help with a gambling problem called 1-800-Gamler the road to the Kentucky Derby once again passes through colonial downs on Saturday March 14th of $500,000 Virginia Derby will be run as a road to the Kentucky Derby points race last year's winner American promise went on to run in the Derby and precness join us for a history making day that also includes the $250,000 Virginia Oaks a Kentucky Oaks points race colonial down spring meet runs March 12th through March 14th host time 1230 Eastern Thursday and Friday noon Eastern on Virginia Derby Day Saturday March 14th 10 to equine and pet care products have been keeping world class equine athletes happy and healthy

2:19:10for generations keep your equine athlete looking and performing well with tendon next generation wound and skin care treatment along with nutritional supplements, leg and muscle care products, saps, hoof care, poultice, topical aids and grooming products visit tendahorse.com today fans of tremendous day of racing excitement and entertainment await you here with a great race weight sand on either part look at the racing line and we have 11 big races and four big stakes races highlighted by the big cap presented by Yamalaka Sino and Resort at Sandman Well my favorite race today is the San Felipe pity so happy against brand that race is gonna be a humdinger and to attack those races we have a tremendous weight dream menu that includes the retail only first coast to coast pick five of five dollar late daily double a three dollar all-terrific three and a three dollar late pick three all with the low 15 percent take on don't forget the very

2:20:11popular two dollar traditional pick six to enhance the big day we have a big cab hat giveaway for our first reward members a family fun zone in the infield all weekend long in the ever popular fiesta Santanita with great food music in my favorite and Luke Charlie with it for all the details going to San Anita back home today come out to the great race place you're listening to the equine forum on HRN presented by Twin Spires hello I'm Kurt Becker thanks for joining me as I take another stroll through racing history presented by Keenland Greg in Illinois asked us recently if we would feature a filly named optimistic gal on the stroll as he fondly remembers watching her run at Keenland in the 1970s and since March is optimism month we figured there was no better time to highlight the filly with the optimistic name fold on April 29th 1973 in Kentucky optimistic gal was a dark bay or brown

2:21:13filly by sir ibert she was from his second crop and she was the first full out of hopes ahead by traffic judge her american bread sire was horse of the year in the united kingdom while her damn one twice and 17 starts and earned less than seven thousand dollars consigned by breeder birch from lender to the summer yearling sales in 1974 optimistic gal caught the eye of trainer lee roe jolly who was shopping for fillies for clients burt and dianna firestone jolly liked the fact optimistic gal was a lovely filly as he put it and she had an absence of bold ruler naz rule in the arco blood which would make her perfect for breeding someday to triple crown winter secretariat in whom the firestones own shares purchased for fifty five thousand dollars optimistic gal would make her debut as a juvenile in 1975 and racing in the name of missus birch from firestone would win her first two starts by a combined margin of nearly ten links following a grade one placing in the sorority at mom with park behind dearly precious she would win the grade three at

2:22:18a rondack at saratoga for her first takes victory cruising under the wire nearly ten lengths to the good another runner up finished to dearly precious in the grade one spent away made the latter the front runner for the eclipse award for champion two year old filly but dearly precious concluded her campaign soon thereafter while optimistic gal began racking up graded stakes wins in her absence there was a win in the grade one mage run under jockey braulio by aza by six and a half links in september followed by a victory in the grade one for zet by three and three porters links on october 4th then on october 18th on a sloppy track at keenland she ramped home in the graded alcibiades by a margin of twenty one links optimistic gal added another grade one win on october 25th taking the salima at laurel race course for jockey daryl mccard she got the mile in a sixteenth and one minute forty two and four fifth seconds missing the track record by just one fifth of a second despite that late season flurry of successes by optimistic gal voters named

2:23:24dearly precious champion juvenile filly of 1975 the fact dearly precious had won both head-to-head meetings between the fillies was enough to carry the day optimistic gal returned to the races in april of 1976 and opened her season with back-to-back wins at keenland including a score in the grade three ashland 13 days later she captured the one hundred second running of the kentucky oaks at church hill downs after finishing runner-up as the favorite in all three legs of new york's filly triple crown and after finishing sixth in the grade three test dates at serratoga optimistic gal regrouped from that four race win list streak to take the grade one alabama at the spa by sixteen links with eddie maple aboard optimistic gal got the mile in a quarter in two minutes one in three fifth seconds making for the fastest running ever of the race to that date the race itself dating back to eighteen seventy two and optimistic gal wasn't done three weeks after the alabama optimistic gal was sent

2:24:27to delaware park for the grade one delaware handicap jolly chose to skip the gazelle where his filly would have carried 124 pounds against three year olds in new york instead opting for the delaware event against older to get a five pound break in the wait for age race with eddie maple once again in the saddle optimistic gal went to the post as the two to five favorite and got the ten four longs in two oh one flat becoming just the seventh three year old to win the race in thirty nine runnings for the final start of her career optimistic gal returned to keenland where she was already three for three lifetime for the twenty first running of the grade one spinster the day was described as dismal and rainy and the track was sloppy crag perrette was named to ride and he had visited the firestone sparm in virginia a few days earlier to study film of the filly's prior going to the post as the two to five favorite optimistic gal made her move on the final turn and was on top by ten lengths turning for home she was handwritten to the wire from there to win

2:25:31by a margin of five lengths optimistic gal concluded her racing career with thirteen wins and twenty one starts including six grade one victories for earnings of six hundred eighty six thousand dollars but she was once again denied by eclipse award voters at the end of the year as losses to a fillet named ravadir in both the coaching club american oaks and the ruffian stakes resulted in the latter claiming championship honors it had been a remarkable racing career nonetheless for optimistic gal who would produce fourteen folds but just one stake source as a brood bear prior to her death in nineteen ninety nine at the age of twenty six it has been fifty years since optimistic gal raced the racetrack yet folks like Greg and southern Illinois remember her well they have never forgotten the graceful and first of all filly or the visually impressive victories which made her a champion in the hearts of her fans please join me again next week when i take another stroll through racing history presented by keenland for hr rn i'm Kurt Becker

2:26:39nobody weaves a story together like Kurt Becker my thanks to Kurt for that story if you missed any of Kurt's stroll through racing history segment check out the stroll through racing history page on our website horse racing radio dot net and you can listen to all of those shows and don't forget to about our weekly brisnet dot com call and show six to seven eastern every Thursday with Bobby Newman and James scully it is your chance to call in and talk racing with our experts every Thursday six to seven eastern here on hr rn coming up next i asked the answer with del romans and tomb woken this is the quim form presented by twin spires on the horse racing radio network you're listening to hr rn horse racing's voice race to twin spires where you can unlock a twenty five dollar wrist free bet just use the code hr rn twenty five when you sign up and if your first bet doesn't win twin spires will refund your account up to twenty five dollars wagering on the app is fast with free pass performances insider picks and power plays every day you wager

2:27:42twin spires download that today to earn your twenty five dollar wrist free bet boy we're prohibited for terms of conditions visit twin spires dot com must be eighteen or older twenty one and older we're applicable for help with a gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler a keenly in session topper from the first crop of the all conquering vacoma Jonathan's way was touted by purchaser john moinehan as quote one of the best looking horses you'll ever lay your eyes on out of an undefeated steaks winning juvenile daughter of indian charlie jonathan's way is a complete outcross through his first five generations and comes from the immediate female family of the great dina former brilliantly talented with the pedigree and physical makeup to be commercial dynamite jonathan's way a future stallion star standing at every stud think about it the road to the Kentucky Derby once again passes through colonial downs on saturday march 14th of five hundred thousand dollar virginia derby will be run as a road to the Kentucky Derby points race last year's winner american promise went on to run in the derby and precness join us for a history making day that also includes the two hundred fifty thousand

2:28:48dollar virginia oaks a Kentucky oaks points race colonial down spring meet runs march 12th through march 14th host time twelve thirty eastern thursday and friday noon eastern on virginia derby day saturday march 14th this is i ask the answer on the equine forum on hr rn moving up on the outside and challenging his chief wallaby dropping back his rockies balboa they reach the first finish line top of the stretch mark on the outside chief wallaby lays down the challenge to solitude dude commandment with a big opening toward the rail the red sea parts for commandment and he's charging after chief wallaby to the first finish line commandment on the inside chief wallaby to the outside commandment with the momentum chief wallaby makes him earn it commandment chief wallaby commandment wins the fun of you it's commandment for the money narrowly over chief wallaby second solitude dude third then bravaro and fifth for the high five Napoleon solo 143 and one

2:29:50pd yellow with the call of the fountain of youth the third consecutive eye opening victory for commandment who is surely a buy for most kentucky derby handicapers but our down and ten sold on what they've seen from the talented son of into mischief plus with foreign horses now able to earn points for the kentucky derby has the time come to consider increasing the size of the derby field and nira and woodbine have partnered to create the empire trillium series we tell you if we like it love it or hate it all of that coming up on another loaded edition of i ask the answer with trainer dail romans and turf rider tim wilken all presented by the university of looble equine industry program in the college of business and all starting just 30 seconds from right now the spark turns into a dream and your dreams fuel a love that will last a lifetime turn your passion into a career with experienced guidance a thorough study of equine business as well as opportunities to get your hands dirty and put your mind to work located in the heart of course

2:30:55country let your passion fuel your profession at the uofl equine industry program apply today dail tim ready to roll a mix of listener submitted questions a couple i came up with guys we're going to start with one of our favorite games to play here on the show it is buy or sell and we're going to look back at the the races from last weekend as they pertain to the Kentucky Derby picture we will start with gotham winner iron honor who ran his record to a perfect two for two with his win in last Saturday's gotham tim wilken buy or sell i'm selling this one and only because just the history of the gotham and as it pertains the derby and we've gone over seems like a hundred thousand times but there's only the one gotham winner that's ever won the derby that was secretary it since 1980 49 horses have exited the gotham there's only the two second place

2:31:58finishes out of all those i mean chad is it isn't a nice horse though but don't get me wrong and and chad brown places and sources just as well as anybody in the game where he you know the schedule he puts them on and it looks like he's going to go to the wood next and um but it seems like chad has used the wood for a prep for the pretence rather than the derby but with cloud computing i mean early voting was the winners but uh you said two the nine horses he's running the derby he's only ran in the gotham twice that was highly motivated was third in the gotham ninth in the derby and then shagoff in 2016 to one the gotham and then we're good and finished so you know i think this is a nice horse i think he's going to do some good things later on but i don't think it's going to be on the first set of the day at least by nightquist out of a blame mayor that's a pretty good pedigree if you want to go mile in a quarter not bad not bad i'm selling too i just only use good enough don't think the races good enough don't there's better

2:32:59horses out there they'll yeah puts him in the horn let's sail all right well how about a race you participated in last week on the fountain of youth the winner commandment rattled off a third consecutive victory in impressive fashion for trainer Brad Cox are you buying or selling commandment del romans fine i'm buying the first two finishes in the race i think they're both talented horses we talked last week how much the best uh of all the races this this race was and uh it lived up to its feeling they give it to them there it is the cash register rings for del romans buying commandment and runner up chief wallaby who is going to be my next horse to talk about anyway Tim how about for you so they'll jump the gun he's he's way ahead of the game today no he's a i didn't get my didn't get my chin chin until late well i'm buying commandment for sure i mean uh that fountain of youth put you know he impressive win he just um

2:34:04he just looks like it in the two turn race he just looked like he's going to get better is the distances increase so you know i'm i don't see anything i don't see any holes right now in him how about chief wallaby well if you buy commandment you got to buy chief wallaby i mean he was he was a game as they come second where's my where's my where's my sound thanks Lee but i mean he's you know that he that was his second start after breaking a maiden and go mad with he wanted to get some questions answered in that race and he got him answered and you know i'm not going to go against him who i think is one of the best trainers we've ever had and um i i i think that he's going to be have a lot have to have have some things to say as we go deeper into the triple crown season all right i'm going to tie these next two horses together because they were one two in the rebel last weekend class president upset winner of the rebel for

2:35:07Todd pletcher and the mark Cassie trained silent tactic who has never been worse than second and five career starts he was once again game in defeat in the rebel last weekend Tim buy yourself class president and silent tactic well this might seem weird but i'm going to sell class president and buy silent tactic there you go i mean silent tactic has been very consistent i mean class president ran a bang up race winning by a nose and that eight and eight to one um you know i think he's uh on the lower end of the Todd pletcher three year olds but sound tactic i mean the mark that mark Cassie sends him out and he always shows up so i think he's he has more of the upside in my opinion you sell them both yeah not good enough move turn the page don't need to go on the beach though they're just not good enough to make the derby horses an impact on the derby okay all right we're gonna find out

2:36:13hey my opinion right it will find out let's have a poll about it there you go you know that love says pull we'll rank them down why don't we rank them yeah all right we'll rank them seventeen and eighteen whatever we're ranking yeah i think you should do a ranking on what are the best polls out there right because you love the world i'll do that yeah there's only one poll he cares about right now sure you're racing attack you don't really care about that it's too early for that running for office like run into race they've got to line them up and see what happens so let them go vote and see who wins we don't need all the polls well this next question is really interesting it stays with the three year old Shane and North Carolina are good friends amidst this one he's trying to get back in your good graces Dale i'll talk about that in a minute which trainer currently holds the strongest triple threat of derby contenders is it Todd Pletcher who has nearly class president and renegade

2:37:17Chad Browne paladin canna leto who is five to two on the morning line the Tampa Bay Derby and iron honor or is a bob baffer with brant boyd and Cherokee nation who was impressive last week as well Tim what do you think an interesting question from our pal Shane you know i'd be when you have what we first weekend in march second weekend in march it's it's still too early to say who has the best of of the three year olds but from what we've seen so far and if you go by the points which is uh you know everyone has to get points to get in the derby you'd have to say right now that Chad Browne right because he paladin has 60 points iron honor has 50 even though not wild about him can't let about not any but um he might

2:38:18after today he may he may but you know and you know Todd nearly only has 20 points renegade has 25 but nearly was impressive winning the holy bull by five and change lengths renegade on the same davis we saw a class president did last week and you know i think you got to give an incomplete grade to baffert because brant has nine points Cherokee nation three boy doesn't have any i mean brant has run in the sand for leap a day and boy i believe it's going to run in the derby next week in Cherokee nation we might not see him till the center needed derby so as far as the who would be holding the good hand right now point wise i guess you'd have to say Chad Browne because he says the most points but what i do and paladin is the horse that i like um he's my number one picking the nti rapole so i'm going to say she had brown for right now Dale bob baffert's not going to be happy timmy didn't go with him

2:39:20no but you know how to sit there thinking you sure lucky you don't have to take till pay Tim by the word it's all that right he talks so long i forgot what the question was well if we paid you by the word you'd be going out collecting cans yeah you're right but that's because i got off an airplane don't do any research and i do want to thank you for carrying the show today because i have no idea what we're going to talk about but that is a very interesting question i and that's one i was thinking well Tim was talking that i wish i had looked up and paid attention to and i want to go back and research it but off the top of my head i'll go with Chad i think Chad's got a very strong hand but that's an interesting he's got the top three horses we got to figure out some way to make a bet on that i mean it could it could it could be in flux it could change every week it could it could it be interesting it's like a you know bend the futures well i mentioned that our friend Shane is trying

2:40:24to get back in Dale's good graces last week Dale said that's it he's not getting the barn tour when he goes to the Kentucky Derby for his for his birthday gift that his wife has bought for him Shane really wants to do that with you Dale so he feels bad about not asking you about the fountain of youth in your horse last weekend so he wants to know if you can give him an update on project ace now he's really in the doghouse uh-oh you know the project case had a little injury and he's off the derby trail and i had just stopped thinking about it Shane don't even bother going to the derby yeah well i mean yeah don't even come say your tickets go to stubble you'll make some money this poor fella he just keeps doubling down he just dig it hold it we'll try again i was gonna let him off the hook already because he asked such an interesting question but now he's really backing the doghouse i had just quit writing about that so if he's in the doghouse he will be back and he will be back and win the traverse so we'll worry about that this summer if he's in the

2:41:28doghouse of the door lock well not yet he can still get i don't hold grudges to him you know that i do know that but you know sometimes the punishment has to be given out right he's got a few more chances he's got a few more chances to get back on Dale's good side yeah one good question every backhand it just pick a horse that's still in training will you Shane exactly all right well let's say hello to the Hall of Famer Nick Zito and Dale and Tim get to tell me if the following statement is right or wrong yeah right or wrong am i right what are you saying right or wrong guys this comes from our friend Tom and St. Louis and he says hey there always seems to be a solid three-year-old or two who finds themselves on the outside looking in when the derby field is drawn with spots not being given to foreign horses is it time to consider increasing the size of the derby field to 23 you would have 20 the top American qualifiers three foreign qualifiers what do you guys think would a move like this be right or wrong who's asking this question Tom and St. Louis that might be the

2:42:38worst dumbest question we've ever had everybody in the industry trying to fight to cut it back and change the whole dynamic of it i'm fighting to hold it for 20 at 20 because of the history and this guy wants to make it 23 no but there's never going to happen just to just spend a lot of money on a 20 horse gate and i'll cover it's good 23 they did run it 21 or 22 one time I remember when somebody sued they didn't get in they just made them run 1981 they ran 21 21 yeah mystical ruler was a horse on the outside that wanted to get in they sued and let him in Freddie worked trained him written by Kevin worked my good friend you know you know you don't like the idea of a three horse auxiliary starting gate no nothing about it don't like anything about it it's you know five minutes of talking about this is five minutes of our life will never get back to me what do you think I just think you know

2:43:38I don't know maybe Tom was uh into the rows that a wine or something when he wrote up this question because I mean I you know 20 horses is in my opinion way too much you know but since 75 okay that's when they limited it to 20 and since since then they've only had 20 horses 14 times I mean it's you know it's a stampede but it's what it is and you know it's you put three more horses in there I just think you're asking for trouble um you know and I and I get why they have 20 because you know a lot of people want to run in the Kentucky Derby and I get that but you know it's it can be it could be such a dangerous proposition remember the alley schema race um um it's it's I love I love the Kentucky Derby but I hate the fact that you know I mean it's almost

2:44:39like it's an accident waiting a half and I 20 horses a lot of horses but um put making it 23 that would be insane well Tom we love your questions normally but apparently today this one didn't go over very well try again next week my friend and keep those questions coming we still love we do love Tom he's he's with us every single week here on the show so we know we can give him a hard time he's a good guy all right guys appreciate it we're gonna do that segment right or wrong next week as part of I asked the answer we do it every week with the Hall of Famer Nick Zito how about this one guys this week Naira and Woodbine announced a new partnership in which the two companies will create the Empire Trillium series it's a 14 race program of stakes restricted to New York or Canadian bread foals worth $3.2 million in purses here's the way it works eight stakes will be contested on the Topeta surface at the New Belmont Park between December of 2026 and February of 2026 and then six more stakes are going to be run at Woodbine between April and July of 2027

2:45:44we often talk about thinking outside the box this is a creative concept so I'm going to ask you Tim Wilkins do you like it do you love it or do you hate it I like it anything that's going to increase the exposure to racing is a good thing and this should increase the exposure to racing and it's a boost for the Northeast region and it's um I mean it's you're gonna have owners and breeders and trainers and everyone I think will be interested because you know money talks in this game and they're putting some good money up and I don't I don't see any negative at all for this series I think it's a great idea and can applaud uh okay uh Woodbine and the Naira who put it together I think it's going to be great I don't know if it's going to be great but it's a nice idea to try that it's not a novel idea though if you look at Frank Stoney Cadd is the uh competition of California against Florida breads and I like that I thought that

2:46:48that went well for a few years and then the breeding programs in both states have kind of duendled so much I don't think you get enough horses but if they get enough horses it'll be a great idea but what's it called again? The Empire Trillium. Contillium. No Trillium. What's that mean? Oh. I can understand that. Yeah, I'm like good with that. Where did they come up with this thing? You might understand the Empire part in our state but is that something to do with Canadian things? That's what I'm asking is that a Canadian term that we don't know about? They could have called the Empire Terrace race or something. Yeah the only time I've ever heard the term used it had something to do with plants or something but oh here you go. Lee says a plant with a solitary three petal flower above a wall of three leaves native to North America and Asia. And Asia. What's it got to do with horseries? Yeah, we're going to have to come up with that.

2:47:51Ask Naira. Ask Wood by one. I'm going to call Mark Holiday when we hang up and ask you. There has to be another meaning to the word. If somebody knows that it's attitude. That's what comes up. Yeah, the flower has to have some meanings to Canada. Is that their national flower or something? Don't know. I don't know. Well, stay tuned. We'll let you know next week. I got it. I tell you what, the Trillium stakes as a Canadian thoroughbred horse race run annually Wood by. Maybe that's what it is. Right. I don't know. I still don't make make sense to name a series after a race. We'll hit the reason that there's a reason that race run at Wood by this problem named that. We've got to get to the bottom of it. Well, you know what? I'm not going to make it a priority. Timmy, thank goodness for Steven and Rochester, New York. He submitted a topic that we can move on to

2:48:51at this point in the show. And Steven loves when his man Tim Wilkin shows off his researching skills. So Tim, he wants to know which horses you consider to be some of the greatest full siblings in racing history and Dale. If you have one or two, you want to throw in there, feel free. But Tim, what do you think? Boy, my man put me on the spot on this one, didn't he? Black horses, New Yorkshire Bay. I got a couple. I mean, in recent times, I mean, I wouldn't call them the greatest in history. But, you know, Mage, one of Kentucky Derby in 23 and his full brother, Dornat, one found to use in the Belmont the year after. They were both by good magic out of the Mara Puka. You go back in history. I mean, somewhere across the globe, but there are horses that people remember. Frankl, a great Frankl, who was 14 for 14 in his career, had a brother named

2:49:53Noble Mission, who was 2014 Older Horse Champion in Europe. He had nine wins and 21 starts six seconds. And if you go farther back, the horse named Rydand, who was well known, were finishing second in the Traverse, the Jiper in 1962. They went around the track just virtually as a team. He had a sister named Mockison, who was the champion two-year-old Philly in 65, I want to say. I think she was the first two-year-old to ever become a horse in the year. And they, you know, they would write in and they would pull brother and sister. And if you go way way back, Omaha, the triple crown winner in 35, had a brother named Flare's, who went over to Europe and was a pretty dominant horse over there in 1938. So that's what I got for you. That's brilliant research. I was way too deep. I'm going off top of my head. I went to

2:50:57Freyr and Daherr, APND Summer Squall. What's the Philly's name? Todd won the Belmont with. Her, her, her, her, her, rags to riches. Rags to riches and her brother won both one to Belmont. And I had the Japanese horse that tried to do it. Who was rags to riches brother? I don't think there was that brother sister. Why didn't it, why didn't it hurt? It was a two-belmont one. It might not have been her. I thought it was her, but I don't have a three or four really good foals. I don't know if there's any ever classic winners that were related. I'm not, I don't think, when all the work I was doing on that, I didn't see any. I'm going to do. Yeah, another interesting question. Yeah, for even in Rochester. Guys, we got about three minutes left in the show. We've got to move on. Tim, real quick. Last week, you said you had a good story about William's town, Massachusetts, when I talked about visiting Pound over Mont. You have time to tell it real quick?

2:52:00Yeah, I mean, it was the early 90s. I was playing softball with my brother's team from the Connectivity Gazette newspapers. I wouldn't play with the Albany time juniors because I didn't like any of them, but we went out there to play the Williams town theater group and playing first base for the Williams town team was none other than Superman, Christopher Reeve, and they had a huge crowd there. They brought an organ out, all the actors and they were there and we only had about eight guys, but we played them pretty tough. After the game, Christopher Reeve came over and talked to us about where the rest of our team was. He sat down, had a beer with us. He was really nice. One of these idiots on our team says, well, we would have had more guys, but the other guys were out looking for the crypt tonight. So Christopher Reeve said, okay, that's great. See you later, goodbye. That was pretty funny. I got a laugh out of this. How did you play a baseball game with eight players? You were pretty good. That's a fantastic story. Christopher Reeve, a native of Williams town, if I'm not mistaken, so that makes perfect sense. Perfect sense. That's a great

2:53:03story to me. All right, guys, by the way, before we get to our final point of the week, Lee just sent me a quick message here. The white trillium is the official flower and floral emblem of Ontario Canada adopted in 1937. So there's that. And then the siblings that both won the Belmont Stakes are jazzle in 06 and ratch riches in 07. They are half siblings by different sires, not full siblings. Yeah, okay. Yeah, there's been half. I listed half siblings almost. Yeah, that's Tim Mokin. What's your final point of the week, my friend? We feel at risk is going to hate my gut for this, but today is national cereal day. And I think the national cereals for everyone should be weedies because it's the breakfast of champions stay away from the fruit loops and the frost flakes and the fruity pebbles because they're not be good for you. Weedies. Now how am I supposed to follow up with on that? This is one of your best shows you ever did. I'll just link everybody should come in Tim for their number of words each financial 30-minute program. We'll see you next week.

2:54:07We'll do it all over again next Saturday. By the way, I'm a I'm a honey nut Cheerios guy when it comes to cereal. I'm with you. You can take that. That's all right. Yeah, I'm with you there. All right, guys, appreciate it. Enjoy the weekend. Good luck at the races. We'll do it all over again next Saturday morning. All right. See you next week. Remember, if you have a topic you want to hear down to Tim discuss, you can email it to us. Mike Horseracingradio.net. It's not always that hostile here on the show. So feel free to do it. We'll get it worked into the program going forward. I asked the answers presented every week by the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program and the College of Business. I'm back with more, including the answer to this week's Mojo Racing and possible trivia question next on the Equine Forum on the Horseracingradio network where racing comes to talk. I always tell people I was the luckiest guy in the world. I wanted to be an army man or a fireman and I got to do both. As a firefighter, my job was about saving lives. I never thought one day I would be fighting for mine. After spending his career

2:55:10answering the call to save others, Ken was diagnosed with ALS. Now he's facing his biggest battle. For more time, for 70 years, muscular dystrophy association has been answering the call to help people live longer and more independent lives. MDA means to me help. MDA is leading the way for people living with ALS, muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases by accelerating research, advancing care and advocating to empower families like Ken's. I wouldn't be living as good of a life with ALS if it wasn't for MDA. MDA is helping people live stronger and love longer. Learn more at mda.org today. On the battlefield, there's a saying America's military men and women live by. Never leave a fallen warrior behind. Ever. Off the battlefield, wounded warrior project operates with the same goal. We leave no warrior behind. Wounded warrior project is a

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2:57:15Don't miss a thing. Subscribe to our podcasts today. You're listening to the Equine Forum on H-R-R-N, presented by Twin Spires. While breeding season is here and your planning isn't complete, without the free global stallion zap from Blood Horse and Weatherbees, browse stallions worldwide and view the standard stallion register page, stud analysis by full crop and racing year, up-to-date stakes winners and results, upcoming entries, auction results, and much, much more. Search from global stallions app wherever in the app and play store. Make sure you check that out. What a show. Talked about all the major racing coming up this weekend, and I'm sure there are others that we didn't quite get to, but we did talk about these areas. We talked about the Tampa Bay Derby. We talked about the big day out in California, big cap day coming up later this afternoon. I hope you're ready for it. Time now for the answer to this week's Mojo Racing and

2:58:20Possible Trivia question. Lee DeLapino, what do you got? Thank you, Mike, who is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winning horse and how old is he? That, of course, is the great silver charm. At age 32, he's still enjoying his retirement at old friend's farm. Thanks to Mojo Racing Partners for this week's Impossible Trivia question. Get your Mojo work in at mojoracingpartners.com. Yeah, silver charm. Just celebrated a birthday, too, so a happy belated birthday to silver charm. On behalf of all of us here at HRN. Fun show with Dale and Tim, as always, my thanks to them for helping to make this show and every show that we do for you here on Saturday mornings possible. Kurt Becker for his stroll through racing history and to Ashley Anderson for this week's Twin Spires triple play. My thanks, too, to all of our guests who join me to talk about the big racing coast to coast coming up this weekend. I hope all of you have good luck in betting the races. Just make sure you're doing it with our friends at Twin Spires. My thanks to Lee DeLapino

2:59:24and our Lexington studio Chauncey for handling all of our social media. Don't forget if you missed any portion of the show. You can get the podcast on our website horse racingradio.net or your favorite podcast platform wherever you access your podcast. Continue to follow us on social media at HRN.x horse racing radio network on Facebook. I'm Mike Penna. Thanks for listening to the Equan Forum presented by Twin Spires. We'll talk to you next week. Go Steelers.