WP Welcomes Back Race Caller Pete Aiello & Blood-Horse Byron King
March 31, 2022
Hosted by John Engelhardt
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Pete Aiello is more than just the booming voice who has mastered the art of storytelling as a live event unfolds at Gulfstream Park, he is a keen student of the game. Pete will join us to pass along a few gems he may have unearthed through his binoculars while watching many of Saturday’s entrants in competition. Pete has a long day in store for him with the first of fourteen races starting at 11:30 a.m. There will be six graded stakes on the card headed by two 100-40-20-10 points races for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The post position draw for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby was very fair to the top contenders with the short run to the first turn in the 1 1/8-mile race at Gulfstream Park. None of the four morning-line favorites drew outside post 7, which is where Holy Bull winner White Abarrio will break. He was established as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind 5-2 favorite Simplication, who came back from his second-place finish in the Holy Bull to win the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth with authority, under Jose Ortiz four weeks later. Simplification, who has trained extremely well since the Fountain of Youth, drew post 3 with Ortiz again named to ride. Tyler Gaffalione takes his regular seat astride White Abarrio. Both multiple graded stakes winner Classic Causeway, the likely pacesetter, and last-out maiden breaker Charge It were set at 7-2 in the morning line. In the Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks Todd Pletcher-trained Goddess of Fire has been given morning line odds of 9 to 5 off her game second-place effort in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds. So, who is the second favorite, you may ask? SHE IS! Kathleen O has been instilled as the early favorite at odds of 4 to 5. Trained by Shug McGaughey, she is now undefeated in three starts, and has two stakes wins at Gulfstream Park, her last being an impressive effort in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. Byron King, Associate Editor of The Blood-Horse has been giving us updates on his weekly “Derby Dozen” and he will join us to talk about this week’s shake ups and this weekend's potential bracket busters. We’ll discuss Epicenter’s eye-popping performance while setting a track record in the Louisiana Derby. Saturday’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby features D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly Secret Oath taking on the boys and at Turfway Park a very talented group of synthetic and turf performers will vie to take the Animal Kingdom route to Louisville via the Grade 3, $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks.
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.”
