Barry Spears Joins Bettor Things with Joe Bianca

Barry “The Sniper” Spears, a successful handicapping tournament player, public handicapper, podcast host and influential voice in the world of horse racing Twitter, joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week for a wide-ranging conversation on topics inside the sport and out. Spears has been an outspoken advocate for better minority representation in racing, and talked to Bianca about the importance of pointing out the subtle racism that the industry has been slow to address over the years. Spears and Bianca also discussed the good, bad and ugly of racing Twitter, strategies for conquering the Saratoga meet, differences in contest and daily wagering and much more.

Later in the show, following up a profitable first week of his handicapping segment sponsored by the Breeders' Cup in which he gave out $17.60 Haskell winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner), Bianca lays out his plays for Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, a star-studded Win and You're In qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Click here to watch the show; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Former NHC Champion Michael Beychok Joins Bettor Things with Joe Bianca

Michael Beychok, the 2012 National Handicapping Championship winner, has made plenty of headlines this year. A well-known, outspoken horseplayer, Beychok joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week to talk about his class-action suit against Bob Baffert surrounding the since-vacated 2021 Kentucky Derby victory of Medina Spirit, his vow to move his handle to sports betting in response to drug issues in racing, the approach to tournament play that helped him win the NHC, his day job as a political consultant and more.

Also this week, Bettor Things welcomed its first sponsor in the Breeders' Cup. To kick off a handicapping series that will precede each of the six nationally-televised Breeders' Cup Win and You're In programs leading up the World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland, Bianca broke down all angles of this week's GI TVG.com Haskell invitational S. at Monmouth Park, a qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Though the bulk of the wagering money will be on big names Jack Christopher (Munnings) and Taiba (Gun Runner), Bianca is taking a shot against the favorites and also threw in an all-stakes Pick 4 play for Saturday at the Jersey Shore oval. Click here to watch the show; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Pletcher and Brown Stars Highlight Saratoga Worktab

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were both quite busy Saturday morning at Saratoga, working some of their respective stables' top stars. GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) turned in her final breeze Saturday morning before her rematch with Secret Oath (Arrogate) July 23 in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the filly “worked really well” after she covered five furlongs in company with champion Corniche (Quality Road) in 1:01.44 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the main track.

Secret Oath and Nest ran one-two in the GI Kentucky Oaks. They then jumped into the Triple Crown series with Secret Oath finishing fourth in the GI Preakness S. and Nest running second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the Belmont. Secret Oath and Nest could also meet in the GI Alabama Aug. 20.

Nest is a member of Pletcher's battalion of runners headed to graded stakes at Saratoga. Life is Good (Into Mischief) breezed a half-mile in :49.49 on July 15 for the GI Whitney S. Aug. 6. Americanrevolution (Constitution), runner-up in the GII Stephen Foster, and Dynamic One (Union Rags), winner of the GII Suburban, are on course for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 3.

Pletcher said that Charge It (Tapit) will train up to the GI Runhappy Travers Aug. 27. In his first start since a 17th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby, the Whisper Hill Farm homebred crushed his competition in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont Park, winning by 23 lengths.

“It's the first time I've ever watched a race at Belmont and actually looked at that Secretariat pole as they were coming to the finish line,” Pletcher said. “It was like, 'wow'. He's a horse that we've thought a lot of from the beginning. He showed he's still a little green in the Florida Derby and displaced his palate in the Kentucky Derby, so I think we're starting now to get it all together. From a talent perspective, he is as good as good as anyone in the crop, if he can just continue to mature.”

Jeff Drown's Zandon (Upstart) worked a half-mile in :49.69 Saturday in preparation for his scheduled start in the GII Jim Dandy July 30.

The Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers, will be Zandon's first race following his third-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7.

Meanwhile, Brown's two other graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colts, GI Preakness S. star Early Voting (Gun Runner) and the unbeaten Jack Christopher (Munnings) worked at Belmont Park. Jack Christopher is headed to the GI Haskell Invitational S. next weekend at Monmouth Park. Brown has not yet made the call on whether Early Voting will go in the Haskell or the Jim Dandy.

“I'll decide in the morning,” Brown said. “I'll see how all the horses come out before I make a decision.”

Brown was pleased with the way Zandon handled the breeze.

“The horse worked super,” he said.

Zandon's work under veteran exercise rider Kriss Bon was his first at Saratoga this summer and satisfied a couple of goals.

“Just to get him to stretch his legs,” Brown said. “He's been working along down at Belmont. I freshened him up after the Derby. I'm really pleased with him. He put some weight on. He really looks better than ever right now. I have just given him a little bit of a breather from the racing end of it anyway. Our plan was just to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it and he couldn't have went any better.”

Despite his strong performance in the Derby, Zandon was never a possibility for the Belmont because Brown said he doesn't consider him a mile and a half horse. But Brown is confident that he will be sharp off a nearly three-month break between races.

“Just knowing the horse, he'll run good, fresh,” Brown said. “I can just see it in his training. The way he's matured, the way he's worked gives me a lot of confidence that he will be ready to go.

Early Voting worked four furlongs in :49.25 and Jack Christopher was timed in :49.80 for the same distance.

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Taiba Haskell Bound

'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) will contest next Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S., trainer Bob Baffert confirmed to Monmouth Park officials Friday. The $1.7-million FTFMAR purchase by Zedan Racing Stables took the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in just his second start, but was last seen finishing 12th in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7. Those last two starts came for trainer Tim Yakteen, who took over training of the colt during Baffert's recent suspension.

“I hadn't seen him in a long time. I'm happy with the way he looks,” said Baffert, who owns a record nine Haskell trophies.

Taiba breezed five panels Friday at Santa Anita in :59.40 (2/55).

“I worked Taiba today and he worked really well,” Baffert said. “He came out of it well. He's happy. I'm happy with him.”

Baffert sent out Taiba to a 7 1/2-length debut drubbing Mar. 5.

“He's a special horse. He was asked to do a tall task in the Derby. The Derby was crazy. It was a stampede,” Baffert said. “He showed what he could do in the Santa Anita Derby off just one race…This is the time of year when the 3-year-olds start to shine. I think he's up for the Haskell and he's coming to the Haskell.”

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