Winning Ponies

Joe Kristufek is a self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador, and fan development has always been his passion. In addition to serving as the Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds paddock host and handicapper, the morning line maker for Arlington Park. and the handicapper and racing writer for the Daily Herald newspaper in his native Chicago, Joe has developed and executed several horse racing related, fan education projects. He is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association. Joe was the on-air talent for Hawthorne’s between race presentation in the 1990s. He was the owner, producer and host of popular racing magazine Horsin' Around TV. Joe has co-owned horses in partnership and helped develop the current Brilliant Racing Partnership. Joe will join John to try to etch out a Pick-4 ticket that features four Grade 2 races. The quartet will feature the 100-40-20-10 points races featuring the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Derby contenders and the $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. The fi

Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps have been center stage, and with one exception this week, the spotlight will go on the older horses. Handicapper and author Rich Eng will join us from Las Vegas to give us his impressions of the major preps thus far. Rich has laser focus on the west coast scene, and we have two solid races to look at – the Gr. 1 $300,000 Beholder Mile that features the 2021 debut of champion Swiss Skydiver and the Gr. 3 San Simeon, an evenly matched group of older horses which includes the debut of Cistron, a 7-year-old horse who won this race last year and finished second in 2019. Oaklawn Park has a slew of stakes races on Saturday’s program including the weekends only Derby points race – the Gr. 2 $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes. Joining us will be Oaklawn’s on-air personality and handicapper Nancy Holthus. She will join John to discuss the Oaklawn meet thus far and the Rebel that features and interesting cast of competitors that include recent Smarty Jones 10-length winner Caddo; the lightly-race

Just as it appears that Covid-19 concerns are waning, it appears that Derby Fever is starting to spread from coast to coast. Brad Free, handicapper and columnist for the Daily Racing Form will cover the action taking place on the west coast. Derby dreamers will head to post in the G2 $200,000 San Felipe. That race is complimented on the card by two G1 contests – the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap and $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on the turf. On Sunday, Santa Anita will feature the G3 $100,000 Santa Ysabel that will be a Kentucky Oaks qualifier. Well-known handicapping contest winner Jonathan Kinchen will join John for the second handicapping portion of the show. On the east coast, Aqueduct will play host to two “points” races on Saturday. The G3 $300,00 Gotham Stakes has served as a springboard for such outstanding runners as Native Dancer, Dr. Fager, Easy Goer and the immortal Secretariat. Also on the card there is an Oaks prep in the G3 $250,000 Busher Invitational. Tampa Bay Downs has a solid card with fi

Oaklawn Park has some great races that were postponed. Mary Rampellini who covers racing in the Southwest will update us on all of the news in that region. Saturday, the G3 $750,00 Southwest will serve as the first stepping stone for last season’s top 2-year-olds, Champion Essential Quality vs. his nemesis Jackie’s Warrior. Also on the card the G3 $600,000 Razorback Handicap. On Sunday we get to see another Champion as Monomoy Girl, after being purchased for $9.5 million by Spendthrift Farm, will make her seasonal debut in the G3 $250,000 Bayakoa. From chilly Hot Springs to balmy Gulfstream Park we go where the colorful “man behind the mike,” Pete Aiello will join us to talk about their outstanding card featuring 9 stakes races! Two 50-20-10-5 Derby and Oaks points races will take place with the boys squaring off in the G2 $300,000 Fountain of Youth while the ladies compete in the G2 $200,000 Davona Dale. Pete and John will also handicap the McDarmida and the Gulfstream Park Mile.

If you haven’t noticed, the lead story on every newscast is how the winter storms have been affecting life and livelihood from coast to coast. It has certainly caused upheaval upon the sport of thoroughbred racing. We will discuss how it impacts the day-to-day scheduling of races, postponements and health of the horses themselves with trainer Jeff Greenhill who has been facing the situation daily from his base in Northern Kentucky. Our guest handicapper is the popular Ed Meyer, who serves as a racing official in Kentucky. The unpredictable storms have affected that side of the racing game also. Ed joins John to analyze several rescheduled stakes races in the U.S. and look at the major players going to post in the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup. They will give their selections in the G2 $200,000 Buena Vista at Santa Anita; the G3 $100,000 Royal Delta from Gulfstream; and the rescheduled G3 2 stakes from Laurel - the General George and the Barbara Fritchie Stakes.

Trainer Tim Hamm has been the leading stakes trainer in Ohio for years, his success is now being recognized on the national stage. He was featured in this month’s Blood-Horse in a story written by Meredith Daugherty where she concisely states his formula for success.“ The former owner and operator of a successful construction company, Hamm has spent a lifetime moving from one phase to the next, building a career in the Thoroughbred industry that has helped him, his partners, and their horses reach the highest peaks of the game. Blood-Horse’s Associate Editor and anointed “King of the ‘Cappers” Byron King will join the show to analyze our selected races. It’s Mardi Gras week in New Orleans, so we will head to the Fair Grounds for the first two races in the “Championship Series” for the Ky Derby and Oaks carrying points on a 50-20-10-5 weight. We will look at the G2 $400,000 Risen Star; G3 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra; G3 $200,000 Mineshaft; and at Golden Gate the $100,000 El Camino Stakes.

Matt Bernier's style and presence on “Horseplayers” led to a position with the DRF. Bernier’s meteoric rise through his appearances on DRF.com has landed him a spot as a regular team member on major television broadcasts such as NBC, NBC Sports and ESPN as a handicapper and analyst. In “The Matt Bernier Show” aired from his home in the western Massachusetts suburb of West Springfield, Matt does a sensational job at breaking down the previous weeks best graded stakes. He will be joining us to talk about the evolution of “The Matt Bernier Show” and share his thoughts on this season’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Patricia P.J. Cooksey is a trailblazer for women in the sport of racing. From riding in the pony races as an 11-year-old at the Canfield County Fair to becoming the first woman to ride in a Classic race, the Youngstown, Ohio native started in the leaky-roof circuit of West Virginia and made her way to the Kentucky Derby and became the first woman to ride in the Preakness.

Damon Thayer is a member of the Kentucky State Senate, representing District 17. He assumed office in 2003. His current term ends on December 31, 2024. Thayer (Republican) won re-election to the Ky State Senate to represent District 17. The future of economic success for the horse industry in Kentucky may well rely on the existence of Historic Horse Racing. Machines that resemble slot machines, but rely on results from horse races from the past. They have a billion-dollar impact on Kentucky’s tax base and purses at the tracks. Thayer will give us insight into the Senate’s efforts to see that they continue to benefit the state and all of the additional entities they support. In our handicapping segment, the “Regular Guys” are reunited as Ed Meyer is able to join the show. There are 4 points races for the Ky Derby and Oaks on Saturday and the dynamic duo will analyze the G3 Forward Gal and Holy Bull at Gulfstream; The Martha Washington at Oaklawn and the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.

Our 1st guest is Wendy Davis who is currently the President of the Turf Publicists of America. She also serves on a number of national equine boards and committees including the Racing Officials Accreditation Program as an executive board member, the National Animal Interest Alliance and the American Quarter Horse Association’s Youth Committee. Tom Law will join John for a Pegasus World Cup preview. There will be 7 graded stakes races offered at Gulfstream Park on Saturday headed by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. That race has been a game of musical stalls over the past months with potential entrants being withdrawn to start careers as stallions or to opt for other races around the world. 12 will race 1 1/8 miles, which may provide a challenge to some of the favorites parked on the outside for that short run to the first turn. The duo will also handicap the G1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and G2 $200,000 Inside Information at 7 furlongs.

Writer Natalie Voss garnered the rare achievement of winning TWO Eclipse Awards for her writing ability. Feature/Commentary – “’An Angel On His Shoulder’: This Thoroughbred’s Fate Was Written In Ink,” May 13, 2020. News/Enterprise – Multi-part Series: “A Decade In, How Are We Doing With Thoroughbred Aftercare?” Dec. 2, 2019; “Emptying The Ocean With A Teaspoon: The Challenges Of Aftercare,” Dec. 3, 2019; and “Aftercare Should Not Be An Afterthought: Solutions For The Future,” Dec. 4, 2019. Voss, from Georgetown, Ky, has now won 3 Eclipse Awards. Eric Wing from HorseTourneys will handicap Fair Grounds' 5 stakes on Saturday, 2 of which with Ky Derby or Oaks points. Trainer Brad Cox, who is winning with 24% of his starters has a song hand in both. In the $200,000 Lecomte he has Mandaloun and in $150,000 Silverbulletday he has 2 regally-bred fillies in Sunpath and Divine Comedy. In the $125,000 Louisiana Cox has Wells Bayou. Eric will update us on some exciting handicapping contests.

With not one graded stakes race to handicap, and plenty of news to report on, Frank Angst will be our first guest of 2021. The Eclipse Award winning writer for the Blood-Horse will join John to look back at thoroughbred racing in 2020 and how racing adapted, survived and in some unique cases grew. We asked Frank to bring his Crystal Ball and give us a look at what we might expect for 2021. Author of the 2014 Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for “Waiting, and Waiting, for Crowning Glory: A generation repeatedly denied a Triple Crown winner looks to California Chrome,” an in depth examination of the difficulties of winning Thoroughbred racing’s greatest challenge, which appeared on bloodhorse.com on May 28, 2014. and offered a comprehensive multi-media presentation on the various components of the “near misses” of the Triple Crown.

The Walter Cronkite of racing on the air is Todd Schrupp. He has been riding the waves for over 20 years now on TVG and has refined his craft as he grew with this once fledgling network. We will talk to him about the life that led to racing and the growth of the talent and racing coverage on TVG. You may have heard Andy Furman as a national sports talk host on FOX Radio. He’s been compared to the promotions man Bill Veek or P.T. Barnum bringing the circus to a track near you. We’ll explore the many unique promotions Andy put on at the various tracks – Chris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia; Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway, a coffin giveaway when the National Funeral Directors. John and Andy have been friends since his Latonia years and through his successful radio years. Andy had the most popular sports talk show on the Nation's Station 700-WLW in Cincinnati and brought on a young retired football player as a co-host to teach him the ropes of racing - Chris Collinsworth.

The Claiming Crown has ended Saturday at Gulfstream Park – with a record $14.6 million wagered – it was clear how much it had grown over the past 9 years at Gulfstream. Not only was this a day when a horse claimed six weeks ago for $6,250 could win an $80,000 race, but also a day when a BC Mile (G1) runner-up could prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1). Eric Hamelback, CEO of HBPA, which partners with TOBA on the Claiming Crown, believes the event is looked upon differently now that it is at Gulfstream. Eric and John will discuss the growth of the Claiming Crown. They will also comment on a recent release from Steve Asmussen about the effects having a “dark day” for the schedule and training of thoroughbreds. Saturday Horse Tourneys will offer many contest options on a great Gulfstream card. Eric “The Wing Man” Wing will join us to check out 5 stakes 4 of which graded - the G2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale with 3 G3 $100,000 races the Harlan's Holiday, Rampart and Sugar Swirl.

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland’s Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners. G.D. will join John to talk about his experiences at Keeneland and the many advancements he put in place in the visual art of racing. Hieronymus’ community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The best card on tap this weekend is Saturday’s from Aqueduct. They will offer a quartet of graded stakes – the $250,000 G1 Cigar Mile; the $150,000 G2 Demoiselle; the $150,000 G2 Remsen and the $100,000 G3 Go for Wand. There is no better source to handicap these top races from Aqueduct than a man who literally grew up on their backstretch – “The Big A” himself – Anthony Stabile.

Tyler Picklesimer is currently Racing Secretary for the soon-to-open Turfway Park. As if 2020 hasn’t already been a prolonged episode of The Twilight Zone, those familiar with the Northern Kentucky track (formerly Latonia) wouldn’t recognize the old grandstand – because it isn’t there!!! Tyler will discuss his many experiences and positions he has held at the track over decades. He will also talk about the challenges he faces as the razed track with a new racing surface will be open for live racing the week following Thanksgiving. Ernie Perri became a clocker 15 years ago. He moved on to Head Clocker 8 years ago at Woodbine. He also has been the morning Line odds maker for about 10 years. Currently he is the official Racing Analyst for Woodbine Entertainment. The best racing in North America will take place at Woodbine this Saturday. So Ernie will join John to analyze 3 graded stakes races – the $175,000 G2 Kennedy Road; $175,000 G2 Bessarabian and the $125,000 G3 Ontario Derby.

Well it was a pleasurable two days of World-Class racing we witnessed in the Breeders’ Cup on a picture-perfect day. Wish we could have been there…oh well. Hope you all enjoyed betting and viewing the action, as there was excellent television coverage. We’ll be reviewing the weekend's highlights and then follow some of the super stars to their new homes or trips through the sales ring. John will be joined by his longtime friend Rich Eng, the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick, Facebook and www.racedaylasvegas.com For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Friday and Saturday Keeneland will present the greatest two days of thoroughbred racing in North America – the 2020 Breeders Cup. We have brought together two of the country’s most respected handicappers (both from NY). Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the DRF News Desk. Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are also featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets. Illman authored the book Betting Maidens and Two-Year-Olds, and he released the DVD Trip Handicapping in 2008, both for DRF Press. Anthony “the Big A” Stabile was born at the racetrack. His parents met at Aqueduct where he later worked as a hotwalker, groom and jockey agent at the NYRA tracks throughout high school and college before becoming a writer and handicapper for the NY Post in May 1999. He has contributed to the Ky Derby and Breeders' Cup for the Bloodhorse. Both Dan and Anthony will join John in 'capping the highlight races for both Friday and Saturday cards.

Hall of fame Jockey Pat Day is the President of the Race Track Chaplaincy who rely on volunteers and donations to support its good work providing a variety of needs and support for backstretch workers. In the year of the Covid-19 pandemic it surely produced new challenges in the work they do and Pat will update us on their current status. We will then ask Pat to look back at some of his Breeders’ Cup triumphs. Pat Day was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. This Saturday at Mahoning Valley they will present the $500,000 Best of Ohio final series. It is a day that usually produces the most state champions in every division. Rich Ruda for years has served as the on-air handicapper and does double duty as a member of the racing office in the mornings and works as a racing official during live racing. Rich will join John to break down the “Best of the Buckeyes on a Blue Moon Halloween Day at Mahoning Valley for a Spooktacular card of stakes.

On a day where Belmont Park is presenting a stakes laden card featuring NY-breds we thought we’d reach out to the President of the National Turf Writers Tom Law is who is born and bred upstate New Yorker. Tom Law and Joe Clancy started producing content for the NYTB this summer, so timing is good to talk about the Showcase Day at Belmont. Tom and John will discuss Tom’s latest ventures and handicap the two baby races carrying $150,000 purses – the Maid of the Mist for fillies and the Sleepy Hollow for colts and geldings. The $175,000 Empire Classic for older horses will round out the day. Destin Heath was the cover boy on Blood-Horse last week featuring his hard-working daily duties as the trainer for WinStar farm at their facility in Lexington. Destin has served many roles in racing including working for Tom Drury, who will have Art Collector in the BC Mile. He will share his story of his early days in the industry and ascent to his current position at WinStar.

Trainer Tim Hamm is looking forward to his 1st Breeders’ Cup start with Frizette winner Dayoutoftheoffice. He is having a breakout year after years of rising up on the Ohio/Kentucky circuit. He will discuss his family roots in racing, his breeding operation in Ohio with WinStar Farm and Dayoutoftheoffice's next start all fees paid in the G1 $2-mil BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Keeneland. Handicapper, oddsmaker, writer and track announcer Ed Meyer was a part of racing history last week when he got to call legendary jockey Perry Ouzts eclipse Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron with win 7,142. After the victory. a tribute video was displayed on the infield tote with congratulatory messages from Chris McCarron, Pat Day and W.J. Danner, the trainer who launched his career. Ed will team up with his “Regular Guy John Engelhardt to tackle a 3-day weekend of graded stakes - the G3 Pin Oak View at Keeneland on Fri., the G2 Raven Run on Sat. and the G3 Autumn Miss on Sun. at Santa Anita.