Author: Patrick Moquin

Belmont Racing Festival Analysis: Friday, June 9, 2023

For the rest of my life, Belmont Stakes weekend will always make me think of Paddy’s Picks most.

When I first launched this website on June 5, 2020, the reception I received from readers in every corner of my life was overwhelming. I’m grateful to have this platform to return to again and again, and I’m just as grateful that many of you have stuck around.

At first, Paddy’s Picks was simply a preferable alternative to watching the grass grow in the backyard and taking trips to 7/11 in a hazmat suit. The pandemic affected all of us in different ways, and my unhinged response to the chaos was to get a pony blog going. The site has evolved as the world returned to normal and I took on other responsibilities, but every now and again, I like to turn back the clock. It’s time for some classic full-card analysis, as it was in the beginning. I hope you’re all with me. read more

Handicapping Medley: Saturday, May 27, 2023

For those of you who don’t know me too well, you should know that I get distracted very easily. It’s hard for me to directly progress from one thought to another, and even as I write this paragraph, I’m tempted to stray. This cognitive wanderlust applies to horse racing as well, and I might have finally created an article that satisfies my curiosity.

Whenever I peruse entries for a certain day of racing across the country, I invariably find myself drawn to races at different tracks. Weekend cards are especially frustrating for me, as I can’t possibly analyze every event that entices me. But what if I tried? What if I took note of every race I liked and created a sort of handicapping medley? What if that was what I named the article? Woah! read more

Race of the Day: 2023 Preakness Stakes Analysis

It’s not the Preakness we all want, featuring almost no returning Derby runners and few compelling new faces, but the Triple Crown trail continues at Pimlico nonetheless. Two weeks ago, the number of horses eligible to win the Triple Crown dropped to one. That one will be tested today.

While I’m hoping that the Belmont Stakes comes up deeper than this event, there’s still plenty to look at in this field as Mage takes his next step on the most challenging path in racing. Let’s take a look:

Pimlico, Race 13

Preakness Stakes (G1) for Three-Year-Olds, 1 3/16 Miles on the Dirt read more

Fillies, No Fellas: Looking Back At Guests’ 2023 Kentucky Oaks Picks

In a revival of last year’s segment of the same name, I asked nearly every woman who has ever appeared on Paddy’s Picks to provide a pick for the Kentucky Oaks. The primary motivation for originally making this article was the opportunity to use the phrase, “Fillies, No Fellas,” the origin of which I’ve forgotten, but it actually turned out well enough to try again.

Unlike last year’s piece, this article is being published after the Kentucky Oaks, giving me the opportunity to provide grades for every single pick. Yes, letter grades. There are two ways that readers can interpret this editorial choice. Assigning grades could allow me to write less while hopefully still providing a fun environment for contributors. It could also allow me to pass harsh judgment on people who don’t know what they’re doing. I refuse to elaborate further. read more

Race of the Day: 2023 Kentucky Derby Analysis

I woke up this morning and the sky was falling. Several of my guest handicappers had already heard the news and were frantically texting me. It’s taken a few hours, but I believe I’m finally ready to complete my Derby analysis once and for all.

Kentucky Derby favorite Forte’s withdrawal from the race this morning sent shockwaves throughout the racing community as everyone frantically tries to evaluate the race without him in it. It feels more wide open than ever and I’ve had to slowly come to a new understanding. read more

Why They’ll Lose: Drawing a Line Through Every Horse in the 2023 Kentucky Derby

Unlike my previous article, this is is somewhat outside my comfort zone. I definitely prefer looking for upside in horse racing, as well as most other things, so finding fault in each Kentucky Derby runner was a unique challenge. Such an exercise is necessary, however.

Before any bettor can fully throw his support behind a runner, understanding how that horse might lose is imperative. Locks are incredibly rare, as the random nature of the sport makes them technically impossible.

It hurt me to insult some of the horses in this race, as they’ve truly impressed me and will have my support this Saturday. Others were fairly easy to rule out for any number of reasons, some plain and some more nuanced. read more

Why They’ll Win: Making a Case for Every Horse in the 2023 Kentucky Derby

We’ve all had that moment at the track where we look at a horse in the Daily Racing Form and get hooked. All the signs of a winner are there, and the warning bells that ring perpetually in handicappers’ ears become dulled by an attractive price on the tote board.

It’s surprisingly easy to grow enamored by stats on paper, especially when they’re inextricably tied to potentially profitable flesh and blood on the track. But when these feelings set in, some self-doubt may form as well. read more

Derby Prep Saturday: Cross Country Analysis

Three important preps for the Kentucky Derby will occur Saturday across the country in the span of an hour. Winners of the Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes will qualify automatically for the Kentucky Derby. All three races feature wide open fields. Have I built up enough drama?

While I haven’t been able to produce much content for Paddy’s Picks as of late, it doesn’t mean that I’ve been far from the racing scene. I’ve been paying more than enough attention to know that today’s slate of preps provide as much opportunity to horsemen as they will to bettors. Let’s take a look, starting with the Blue Grass. read more

Paddy’s Picks February Invitational: Week 4 Recap

It all came down to this, and then nothing happened. To spoil the result somewhat while also providing an effective lead paragraph, none of the guest competitors in the February Invitational picked the winner of the Saudi Cup. The standings remain unchanged, leaving a tie for me to resolve in the experienced division.

After three weeks of chalk in races stateside, this international event was a profound challenge for my contestants. Some guests got close by picking Country Grammer or Cafe Pharoah, the second- and third-place finishers. But no one, myself included, came close to finding Panthalassa, a Japanese front runner switching from turf to dirt. That’s how it goes. read more

2023 Saudi Cup Analysis: Beating Taiba and Other Follies

When the gates open for the 2023 Saudi Cup, 13 highly talented horses will emerge to begin what should hopefully be an exciting race. For two minutes, these horses will be untethered from their owners and trainers and bound only to their riders, the best from around the world. That’s what I’m choosing to focus on.

In truth, I struggled with the decision to provide analysis for this race on Paddy’s Picks. Political and social issues in Saudi Arabia are gravely serious and the monarchy’s attempts to sanitize its global image through high-profile sporting events are shamelessly transparent. But Taiba doesn’t know about any of that, does he? read more