Aces Up the Sleeve

Merry Christmas, happy holdiays, and a peaceful season no matter what you do (or do not) celebrate! Jared and Pati talk about their family traditions, briefly touch on the year that was in advance of the Year in Review episode, and wonder where the time has gone. 

Jared and Pati were joined by trainer Jade Cunningham to talk about her early years, her time with the late great D. Wayne Lukas, and how she got to where she is today. Jade also takes a moment to reflect on her career thus far and what she envisions for the future. 

It's time to sit down with friends, family, and your favorite podcast hosts to talk about all you're thankful for in this special episode of Aces Up the Sleeve! Pati and Jared share some of their poignant moments on the year, some of the tough points that make us thankful for the good, and read what you all have submitted towards the end.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Celebrate safely and responsibly! 

Pati and Dave sit down to talk about Pocket Aces PALs, the new initiative started by Dave and Cut The Deck that aims to give young fans (and their families) the owner's experience at the race track. If you want to reach out to Dave to participate in the program, the social media names are below, so check them out! Dave: -Cut The Deck (@cut_the_deck on instagram) -Dave Brown (@dave_m_brown on instagram) Pocket Aces Racing can be found under that name on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and on YouTube.

The title isn't the most creative one we've ever come up with, but it's a good description for this episode, which is a massive modge-podge of topics and discussions. Jared and Pati sat down to talk about the Belmont Stakes, the Prekaness drama, and the news that the Breeders' Cup is returning to Keeneland in 2026 and the newly built Belmont Park in 2027.

Well, if you're going to win one Spring Classic on the first weekend in May, why not just win them all? Godolphin accomplished something we arguably will never see again when they took home the Kentucky Derby and Oaks AND the 1000 and 2000 Guineas in England.  Jared and Pati return to the airwaves to discuss the feat because it cannot be stated enough how rare it is, and how hard it is to even win one of them, forget four back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

Pati and Jared sit down with Kirsten Green, the executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, the organization that puts together the massive Thoroughbred Makerover every single year. Kirsten details how the competition has changed and how the group is trying to slowly change the public's mentality regarding Thoroughbreds as riding horses. 

Here ye, here ye! The trio assembles to recap the season that was 2024 for Pocket Aces Racing. A record one for many reasons, this episode is always a marathon anyway, but this time there was a lot to discuss. So grab a snack, stay hydrated, and enjoy as Team PAR looks back on the year that was....Happy 2025 everybody! 

Surprise! Have a Merry Christmas and very happy holidays all you loyal listeners! Team Pocket Aces Racing sits down to briefly talk about new stallion Blazing Sevens, who joined the ranks at Darby Dan this year, and why he was chosen for Homeroom Angel and Spellbook's next covering. 

Pati and Jared (when his computer wasn't leaving him high and dry) sit down with Margaux Farm's assistant trainer Chasity Hedges to speak about what got get started on the Thoroughbred path, what took her to Kentucky, and what she's been doing since arriving in Horse Country. 

The sales season is (maybe?) over for Team Pocket Aces Racing, and the trio sat down to discuss all of the new acquisitions including our first ever European purchase (and boy is he an exciting one!). 

Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Buff Bradley has moved into the sales scene since retiring from the track and sits down with the duo to speak about how his process works, how a huge sale like Keeneland September comes together, and just how many steps he'll get in as they view over 3,000 yearlings. 

Jared, Marc, and Pati sit down for a quick preview of Keeneland September. Known as a marathon sale for a reason, pacing, mindfulness, and how to wisely spend time are all discussed in this special episode. 

Taylor Made Farm's Frank Taylor stops into the recording room to talk about the Stable Recovery program, which was founded to help men (and soon women as well) beat their addicitions and find a stable job in the Thoroughbred industry.  If anyone is interested in donating after listening to the episode, you may do so here: Stable Recovery.

The duo sits down with Keith O'Brien from the Jockeys' Guild to discuss the important work they do for all riders as well as the importance of representation among the participants of one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.  Note: we're releasing a little late because we had a slew of new programs to work out this week, but we've squashed the bugs and hopefully are back on track again. Thanks for your patience, everyone!

Just a quick update on what the horses with availability have been doing since the last time we talked about them. Remember, always feel free to reach out to us with questions or to find out more about ownership. 

The executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., Najja Thompson, sits down with Jared and Pati to talk about what the group does, how a Breeders' Cup could impact the breeding environment in New York, and how he got into the sport! 

Jockey Romero Maragh joins the podcast this week to bask in his current YouTube popularity, talk about what got him to the races (hint: it's a big family tree), and what he'd change if he were king for the day.

Surprise! They had to move some stuff around in their schedules, but Jared and Pati quickly sat down to recap the last six months of 2024. While it admittedly hasn't gone entirely as we'd all hoped, it's also provided a good mounting block for the rest of the year in many ways. 

Dave comes back on to talk about a successful and exciting weekend of racing at Saratoga, and to cover a bit of ground as to who he talked to and what went into making the flagship series for the Pocket Aces Racing YouTube channel!

Dave Brown and the duo sit down to talk about the new mini series as well as preview the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

Marc joins the duo to talk about the two surprise new yearlings as well as give his thoughts on the state of racing in Kentucky. The group muses on how claiming has changed over the years, and whether a handicap system is plausible. 

Introducing the newest racing prospect offering for Pocket Aces Racing - Maleah, a beautiful daughter of Mitole. She's a half-sister to a Pocket Aces Racing alumnus Windy Lu Who, and the duo sit down with trainer (and co-owner) Susan Anderson to talk about her. 

Just some housekeeping and a chat about the recently concluded Preakness Stakes, which included another upset on a very rainy, muddy day. 

It's the second jewel of the Triple Crown this weekend, so the duo take some time out of their busy days to sit down and discuss the two races on the card at Pimlico card. 

The big day is Saturday, so Team PAR sit down to talk about the GI Kentucky Derby, and preview the race as well as read off a couple race submissions from fans and listeners. 

In part one of this week's special two-part release, the duo are joined by Marc Wampler and deep dive into the field for the Kentucky Oaks (and the also-eligibles) in preparation for the first Friday in May!

In an impromptu change to the line up, Jared decides he wants to talk a bit about the Kentucky Oaks and the grande dames who made it what it is today. So, as the title suggests, here's a very brief history on the Kentucky Oaks!

Jared and Pati fleece out the finer details for the Spring Open House, set to be the largest *EVER!*, and then launch into some long-winded updates on the Kentucky Derby trail as we march closer to the first Saturday (and Friday) in May. 

It's here! It's here! Pocket Aces Racing Spring Open House 2024 is nearly upon us and the duo sit down to spill the tea, along with all the details, on how to participate. We're excited to see everyone Saturday, April 13 at Silver Springs Training. 

Jared and Pati give an update on the Triple Crown/Kentucky Derby festivities as well as launch into an unexpected conversation about how online auctions harness humanity's love of online shopping. The latter segment discusses the different forms of "the horse's best interests" and why it looks different between individuals. 

Jared and Pati do a quick preview of the Saturday Graded action for Irish Aces and the two Kentucky Derby point races: The Louisiana Derby and the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. 

Jared and Pati sit down to talk about HISA, contamination in testing, and the importance of more coooepration to make things better in the long run. The duo also provides a Triple Crown trail/Kentucky Derby update on the contendors after Tampa Bay Derby weekend. 

We did it - the podcast dipped its toe into the controversy shadowing this year's Triple Crown series including the exclusion of Bob Baffert from the Derby and the "Test of Champions" moving to Saratoga as well as getting a trim in distance. 

Jared and Pati sit down with paddock reporter and analyst, Kaitlin Free, to talk about her start in the industry as well as some of her favorite moments. She also gives her thoughts on what she would change as queen of racing for the day.

Jared and Pati do a quick sweep of the recent news in the syndicate, including talking about the new babies, how Irish Aces is doing, and what the current plans are for some of the others in the stable as the season start shifting to spring racing. 

Jared sits down with Paul Calia, longtime partner at Pocket Aces Racing and a NHC champion, to talk about what his process looks like, his winning weekend at Las Vegas and his process for navigating the contests. 

Jared and Pati are joined on the podcast by jockey Adam Beschizza, who talks about his start as a rider in England in a racing family before moving his tack to America full-time. The trio also discuss a bit of European racing, and the major differences between the jurisdictions.

It's part 2 of the extended preview into Saturday's graded stakes action with points on the line for the Kentucky Derby trail in four contests. Jared and pati continue with the last two and also do a preview of the GIII Tampa Bay S. which will include Irish Aces's first foray into graded company. 

The time of year is upon us: Triple Crown prep! Jared and Pati handicap/discuss/debate two of the four Derby point races scheduled for Saturday in part one of a two-part special. A bonus episode for part 2 (along with a dive in Irish Aces's race on Saturday) will be released Saturday morning! 

We're not the biggest fans of an episode dedicated to self promotion, but these now 2-year-olds are too good to not talk about. The trio take a deep dive into the newly turned juvenile class of 2024 and talk about not just their physicals but a bit of pedigree as well. If you're curious about what the news guys and gals have to offer, this is the episode for you. 

It's the segment you've all been waiting for: Marc's story time! He sits down with Jared in this week's episode to talk about how Pocket Aces Racing came about purchasing Irish Aces as well as some stories from his earlier years in the industry (including a little tidbit about a certain trainer). 

Jared and Marc sit down to talk about what they'd love to see out of 2024 from the stable and discuss some retirements looming on the horizon. 

It's the 2023 Year In Review! Enjoy this bonus episode before Season two officially begins next week!

It's the final episode of Aces Up the Sleeve - Season 1- and the duo talk a bit about how their holidays look like including the fun task of taste-testing all the seasonal food. No carols for Jared but Pati will bust out ye ole' Christmas tune. Have a great final days of 2023!

On the penultimate episode of the year, the duo sits down to talk about the Fair Grounds, the Claiming Crown, and the environment that is New Orleans during Triple Crown season. 

Jared, Pati, and trainer Steve Margolis sit down to chat a bit (among many things) about the conditioner's (perhaps unusual) way into the sport, the career-high that comes from winning a Breeders' Cup race, what he would change were he King for a Day, and talk about some of the wildest Pocket Aces wins which came under his watch; including monster longshot winner Moon Launch with the late Miguel Mena aboard. In memory of a life gone too soon.  Miguel Mena 1986-2021

Jared and Pati sit down with guest Kevin Noltemeyer, the farm manager and head trainer of Silver Springs Training in Lexington. They get into early training, thoughts on HISA, and Kevin stirs the pot with his answer for "You're King of Racing for a day, what do you change?". 

Pati and fellow photographer Casey Laughter sit down to chat a bit about what it takes to capture some of your favorite pictures. Come rain or shine, oppressive heat or 15 feet of snow, the photographers are out there to get those moments on camera. Jared also has a few questions towards the end about some of the differences between full-frame and constricted cameras. 

Jared and Pati sit down to chat amongst themselves about Turfway Park, its history, the changes happening, and what it means for the syndicate. It's also as good a time as any to take a moment and reminisce about their first experiences (or favorite ones!) at the track before and after its remodel.