Month: January 2022

Road to the Derby: Southwest Stakes Analysis

Before we continue my study of the Kentucky Derby prep season, we have two orders of business to go through. The first is a short review of an unfortunate beat, and the second concerns today’s Pegasus World Cup.

Last week’s Lecomte Stakes was a solid start to this series on Paddy’s Picks, despite an unfortunate nose bob at the finish. Interestingly, I watched the race on my phone in Duet 35, a karaoke bar in Midtown that I have now inexplicably been to twice in the last six months. As I struggled to come to terms with this new lifestyle of mine, I watched as my top pick, Epicenter, powered into the stretch while putting away Pappacap and all other challengers. It seemed like a certain win until it didn’t. read more

Road to the Derby: Lecomte Stakes Analysis

It’s often said that learning the art of handicapping demands a high tuition, and while I’m certain that I’m still reconciling losses made during my elementary school years, I consider my early days in the pastime to be fortuitous at the very least. My scores on some of racing’s biggest events over the years have yielded countless memories and made for a supremely enjoyable pastime. 

In 2016, I was confident in Exaggerator’s chances in the slop against Nyquist and was rewarded accordingly. In 2019, my confidence in Sir Winston and Tacitus in the Belmont led to a tidy profit that kept me afloat for the rest of that year. Most Breeders’ Cups are successful ventures in some sense, as well as the Travers and Pegasus World Cup. In fact, there’s only one annual race remaining that continues to elude me. read more