WP Welcomes Back DRF Marty McGee and Blood-Horse Byron King
March 3, 2022
Hosted by John Engelhardt
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Daily Racing Form’s Eclipse Award-winning Marty McGee will be our first guest. He’s been “boots on the ground” these past weeks on the backstretch of Gulfstream Park (when he’s not feet in the sand, drink in hand, outside of his bachelor bungalow in Hollywood. He’s seen most of the runners and spoken to the trainers and now he’s ready to tackle Saturday’s amazing card that offers eight graded stakes races including two important points races (50-20-10-5). The Gr. 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth has drawn an overflow field of 3-year-old colts and geldings. There are angles galore that await handicappers. Gr. 1 winner Rattle N Roll will make his long-awaited seasonal debut for trainer Ken McPeek. Three local challengers that should get backing at the windows are Simplification and Mo Donegal, the 2-3 finishers in the Gr. 3 Holy Bull and Dean Delivers who earned a hard-fought second in the Gr. 3 Swale. There does seem to be a clear favorite in the Gr. 2, $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes for the 3-year-old fillies. Girl With a Dream seems to check all the right boxes – has won over four different surfaces, including her last start in the Gr. 3 Forward Gal here; she has a top trainer with Brad Cox; excellent rider in Luis Saez; seems to relish the longer distances with a front-running style. The 1 Mile distance seems like a most logical and progressive step in her career. Byron King, Associate Editor at the Blood-Horse, is fresh off a “Road Trip to Hot Springs” to continue his quest for the very finest horses to include in his weekly “Derby Dozen” column for the Blood-Horse. From his clandestine view behind the grassy knoll at Oaklawn Park, King’s binoculars gave him a view of the opposite ends of racing’s predictability. In the Honeybee, a steppingstone to the Ky. Oaks, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Secret Oath smashed the field by 7 ½ lengths covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.74 (a full second faster than the boys would run the Rebel) to return $2.60 to her many backers. King may have to add her to his “Dozen” in the future as Lukas has left the door open for a potential Derby run…shades of Winning Colors. The $1million Rebel left plenty of questions unanswered and a little less cash in most pockets as one-eyed longshot Un Ojo popped to the wire in the final yards to record a $152.80 upset. Only ½ length behind was Ethereal Road, another D.Wayne Lukas-trained steed that could make a heavenly trip to Louisville. We’ll ask Byron to weigh in on two weekend Derby preps that could shuffle the “Dozen”– the San Felipe (G2), 1 1/16 miles, 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby points which is part of the sensational graded stakes Saturday at Santa Anita as well as the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct going a mile.
Winning Ponies
Thursday at 5 PM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
On the show we will talk about the Sport of Kings. We will delve into the different features of the WinningPonies.com website. John Engelhardt will talk about the issues of the day that affect horse racing, such as synthetic surfaces, medication rule changes, the fate of the industry as a whole, VLTs and Casinos, and human interest stories of triumph and defeat. You will also hear our spot play of the week, where John will handicap the feature races for the upcoming weekend, and will give out his best plays. We will keep you abreast racing’s big events. Featured on the show will be guests (trainers, jockeys, owners, celebrity handicappers and industry insiders). Promotional giveaways will be featured, such as brand merchandise and free WinningCredits.
"Winning Ponies" is broadcast live every Thursday at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
John Engelhardt
You may recognize him as "Racing's Regular Guy." For ten years, John Engelhardt hosted the informative and sometimes irreverent handicapping show from his base at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. He developed a passion for thoroughbred racing as a youngster at Saratoga, and has been able to make his love of the sport his life's calling.
Engelhardt, a native of Syracuse, New York is a graduate of the University of Dayton. His professional career in racing began as the track photographer at Beulah Park in 1983 and he has worked in racing ever since. John produced "The Stretch Run" for eight years, which aired on the CBS affiliate WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. For four years Engelhardt co-hosted "The Regular Guy Handicapping Show on HOMER 1530-AM in Cincinnati with former "Winning Ponies" host Ed Meyer.
John served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America in 2009 and 2010, after serving several years as the Midwest Vice-President of that organization. He is currently a consultant for Pinnacle Entertainment handling publicity, public relations, marketing, advertising and special events for River Downs. Under the "nom-de-course" of Heart of an Angel Stable, he has bred and owned thoroughbreds for 18 years.
"Racing's Regular Guy" has been exposed to racing on many levels and greets the sport with enthusiasm and well-rounded knowledge. Tune in Thursdays at 5PM PT, as he welcomes nationally recognized guests, who will help you find those "Winning Ponies.”
