John Racener and Gus Kalathakis, separated by three years and $7 million, love to tell their Las Vegas poker chip set buddies where they learned the game.

"It's hilarious,'' said Kalathakis. "Nobody out there has any idea where New Port Richey is.''

Kalathakis, 28, graduated from Ridgewood High in 2001, three years before Racener received his diploma from the same public school.

Now, they cross paths on the streets of Tampa or on the boulevards of Las Vegas, where both former Rams are making a lucrative living as professional poker players.

"Two kids from Ridgewood, how about that?'' said former Rams baseball coach Larry Beets. "New Port Richey isn't Clearwater and we're not Tampa. When these boys got free time, they would play cards and they were serious about it. … They had their own tournaments on the weekend.''

Racener, 25, played baseball at Ridgewood and Kalathakis was an outstanding soccer player for the Rams before attending Saint Leo University.

"I've known Racener since my younger brother, Dimos, and he were in middle school together at Bayonet Point,'' Gus said. "I've watched him a lot at the poker table and he's very consistent. He's got a very good gut instinct and a sixth sense in terms of reading other players.''

Racener broke through last November, winning $5.5 million for finishing second in a no-limit Texas hold 'em tournament in Las Vegas that made national headlines. Later that month, he was introduced to the crowd at a Buccaneers game.

He ranks 27th on the Poker chip holder money list with career winnings of $7.24 million.

Kalathakis raked in $161,675 five weeks ago for placing second in a World Series of Poker tournament that drew 925 entrants. In March, he beat out 122 competitors and won $20,432.

"His Omaha Hi-Lo game is one of the most consistent I have ever seen,'' Racener said, "and I have played with all the best in the world on a day-to-day basis. I have consistently seen this kid go deep in Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments and also win them often, too. There is just something that Gus must know about Omaha Hi-Lo that others don't, bottom line.''

Because of Racener's distinct personality, former Ridgewood math teacher Mike Sentner had an inkling the kid in the back of his algebra class was going to make a name for himself.

"John was a great kid, a lot of fun to be around,'' Sentner said. "He had an outgoing personality and he was sharp. When I found out about his success last fall, I was happy for him. That's not easy for anyone to do.''

Kalathakis said he was inspired by Racener's mammoth haul in November.

"When John pulled that off, it was amazing,'' he said. "It was very motivating to see that kind of success. It's hard to believe a couple of boys from Ridgewood are doing that well — and I know a couple of other Ridgewood kids trying to make a living from playing poker chip case.''

Beets still shakes his head at the thought.

"John was a tough nut on the baseball field,'' he said. "John wanted to win and he wanted to excel. He's very savvy and Gus Kalathakis is a pistol. Poker can be a way out, if you've got the intelligence and the bravado. I guess I saw John about a year ago, playing tennis at the Ridgewood courts. Racener's a good-looking kid and I guess he's even better looking now with a million dollars in his pocket.''