Episode Details

Today, Larry goes one-on-one with Gulfstream Park handicapper Brian Nadeau, who returns to Ponies 24-7 to break down one of the premier Kentucky Derby prep races of the season, the Grade one Curlin Florida Derby. With a purse of one million dollars and valuable Derby points on the line, the Florida Derby has long been one of the most important stepping stones on the road to Churchill Downs. Brian analyzes this year’s field, discusses what makes the Florida Derby such a key race in identifying top contenders, and shares his thoughts on which horses could emerge as serious threats on the first Saturday in May. He also previews several other stakes races on Gulfstream’s massive card, including the Gulfstream Park Oaks and the Army Mule Stakes, while reflecting on the recently completed Championship Meet and highlighting standout performances, emerging jockeys, and track trends from the winter season.

Also today, one of Woodbine’s most successful trainers, Marty Drexler, joins the show to discuss his decision to step away from training following a long and accomplished career. With more than nine hundred career wins and over twenty-five million dollars in purse earnings, Drexler has been a consistent presence among the top Thoroughbred trainers in Canada and was the country’s second leading trainer last year. Marty reflects on how he arrived at the decision to retire, the emotions tied to saddling his final runner, and the people and horses that played a major role in his success. He also looks back on how he got started in the sport, the demanding lifestyle that comes with training racehorses, and what he is looking forward to in the next chapter of his life.

Then, two-time Queen’s Plate winning jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva joins Ponies 24-7 to discuss his powerful transition from champion rider to mental health advocate through his Equine Experiential Connection program. Since retiring from riding in two thousand nineteen, Eurico has focused on helping individuals navigate emotional and psychological challenges by building meaningful connections with retired racehorses. He explains how his own mental health journey led him to discover the therapeutic benefits of working with horses, outlines how the ECC program operates in partnership with LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, and shares stories of individuals who have benefited from the program. Eurico also discusses his work being featured in the latest season of Woodbine’s Free Rein docuseries and the broader impact he hopes to make through expanding the program to reach more communities in need.

In our feature “In Case You Missed It,” Larry recaps the biggest racing headlines from the past week across North America. Later, he delivers his Ponies Picks of the Day, sponsored by Rocket Ship Racing, highlighting potential wagering opportunities at Woodbine Mohawk Park and several other tracks racing today. And in this week’s Road Trip, Larry heads to Gulfstream Park for the Grade one one million dollar Curlin Florida Derby, a mile-and-an-eighth test for three-year-olds and one of the most important races on the road to the Kentucky Derby.