Episode Details

Today, Larry goes one-on-one with Brian Nadeau, who makes his annual January visit to the program as Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet continues to gain momentum. Brian previews today’s Gulfstream card, breaks down the early stakes schedule, and highlights major dates on the calendar including Pegasus World Cup Day on January twenty-fourth and the Florida Derby on March twenty-eighth. He explains what makes Pegasus Day so special, the evolution of the Pegasus as a premier Grade One event, and how entries come together for one of the richest Thoroughbred races in North America. Brian also gives listeners insight into how he prepares for a race day, his handicapping approach, and the challenges of analyzing three different surfaces at Gulfstream Park. Finally, he offers his early thoughts on today’s Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and who he believes the race may run through.

Also today, leading North American owner Bruno Schickedanz joins the show for the first time. Bruno capped off his third straight season as North America’s winningest owner, with one hundred fifty-one victories, one hundred fifty runner-up finishes, one hundred forty-five third-place finishes, and more than three point eight million dollars in purse earnings from more than one thousand one hundred starts. He also earned his eleventh Woodbine owner title with seventy-nine wins and more than two million dollars in purse earnings. Bruno discusses when he realized he was on pace to lead North America again, how his claiming-based business model developed, and what he looks for when dropping a claim slip. He talks about his broodmare band, his most memorable horses, and whether recent graded stakes wins signal a shift toward competing more frequently at higher levels. He also shares the reasoning behind sending a winter string to Aqueduct in partnership with trainer Devon Gittens, his goals for two thousand twenty-six, and the major races he still hopes to win.

Then, jockey Erik Asmussen returns to the program following another standout season. After winning the Eclipse Award last year as North America’s top apprentice jockey, Erik avoided any sophomore slump in two thousand twenty-five, posting one hundred twenty-four wins and more than six million dollars in purse earnings. Erik reflects on his season, reviews the goals he set for himself entering the year, and discusses his continued partnership with standout runner Booth, who has won seven of thirteen races and earned nearly nine hundred thousand dollars. He talks about growing up in the Asmussen racing family, the influence of his father Steve, the pressure of the family name, and the early point in his life when he committed to becoming a jockey. Erik also discusses riding strategy, what type of horse he’s most comfortable aboard, and how he studies other jockeys to improve his own style. He closes by offering insight into his brother Keith’s return from injury and what it’s like when the two of them compete in the same race.

In our feature “In Case You Missed It,” Larry covers the biggest racing headlines from the past week across North America. Later, he presents his Ponies Picks of the Day, sponsored by Rocket Ship Racing, offering potential wagering plays at Woodbine Mohawk Park and several other tracks racing today. And in this week’s Road Trip, Larry heads to Gulfstream Park for a look at the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, run at a mile on the Gulfstream turf.