Let’s try something new. Instead of doing separate analysis and guest contributions for this year’s Breeders’ Cup, I’ve decided to combine the two in a massive three-part podcast series. To navigate what is admittedly a massive first episode for Friday’s card, I’ve provided a sort of guide below.
Intro (00:00-01:39)
For those of you wondering, the song is called “St. Louis Tickle,” and for those of you still here, welcome to the inaugural Paddy’s Picks podcast, as well as Day 1 of Breeders’ Cup coverage. For those of who you don’t know, my name is Patrick Moquin, and I’ve run Paddy’s Picks since 2020 as a way to combine my passions for writing and horse racing. Today, we’re trying something a little different.
Since the very beginning of Paddy’s Picks, I’ve always used big race days as an opportunity to bury myself in heavy racing analysis while giving my family and friends an opportunity to get in on the action. Since it became a part-time project of mine after the end of quarantine, guest articles and my personal analysis have come to define the site in tandem, but the Breeders’ Cup has always been a challenge.
Providing my own analysis for 14 Breeders’ Cup races while also collecting guest contributions for every event always led to too much writing, and in two attempts, I still haven’t nailed coverage on racing’s end-of-year championship. I believe this podcast could be a better solution.
For this year’s Breeders’ Cup, I’ve invited one or two guests to join me in analyzing each field in a recorded session. Many of these guests should be familiar to longtime readers, as many of them have provided contributions for years. In addition to their thoughts, I also provide my own throughout each segment, effectively providing guest picks of varying knowledge and experience to listeners along with my own in-depth analysis. It’s my best idea after two years of massive burnout and missed deadlines.
Part 1 of this three-part series will cover all five races on Future Stars Friday, featuring juvenile horses from around the world battling for division championships. Settle in and enjoy!
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint w/ Shaily Jani and Emily Ellis (01:49-28:26)
Paddy’s Pick: 2- Love Reigns (Ire)
Shaily’s Pick: 8- American Apple
Emily’s Pick: 2- Love Reigns (Ire)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies w/ Jill Rice (28:33-53:59)
Paddy’s Pick: 10- Chocolate Gelato
Jill’s Pick: 10- Chocolate Gelato
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf w/ Clara Gerlach and Gabby Bermudez (54:06-1:22:54)
Paddy’s Pick: 2- Cairo Consort
Clara’s Pick: 6- Be Your Best (Ire)
Gabby’s Pick: 10- Meditate (Ire)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile w/ Tyler Zorn (1:23:00-1:50:53)
Paddy’s Pick: 4- Forte
Tyler’s Pick: 3- Cave Rock
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf w/ Chris Murray and Allie Stofer (1:51:00-2:29:37)
Paddy’s Pick: 4- Silver Knott (GB)
Chris’ Pick: 13- Major Dude
Allie’s Pick: 14- Gaslight Dancer