Tag: Aqueduct

Hit Show Wins Withers Stakes, Wood Memorial Likely Next Race

The following article was submitted for my Sports Journalism class at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. I’ve received permission from my professors to post it on my pony blog. Enjoy! And if there’s a typo, don’t tell me.

Three-year-old colt Hit Show took his first step down the rose-laden path Saturday, winning the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack to earn 20 points toward Kentucky Derby qualification. Owned by Gary and Mary West, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Manny Franco, the Kentucky-based runner successfully invaded New York and will likely return for the Wood Memorial Stakes in April. read more

Paddy’s Picks February Invitational: Week 2 Recap

I’ll be honest — the February Invitational has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. In Week 2, the G3 Withers, which featured a diverse field from around the country, ultimately came down to two favorites, with 6-5 Brad Cox trainee Hit Show breezing past 8-5 second choice Arctic Arrogance in the stretch to win by a wide margin. Last week, even-money favorite Newgate outlasted long shot Hard to Figure to win at a similarly short price.

In some ways, these obvious results have harmed the competition, as guests have not had to be very creative and have actually been punished for value plays. In another sense, however, it has kept things entertaining in a long-term sense. Regardless of whether competitors have won both or neither events, they are still in contention to win their division with two weeks remaining. read more

Paddy’s Picks February Invitational: Week 2 Preview

After a tricky, vaguely silly first week of the Paddy’s Picks February Invitational, it’s time to get down to business. This week, guest competitors in the experienced and casual divisions will be analyzing the G3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Originally, my plan was to give my competitors a turf race in the second week, which would provide variety and test their handicapping skills in a different way. But because of a fortunate turn of events in real life, I decided to change that plan. read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2022 Cigar Mile

Who wants an introduction? This article is nearly 9,000 words long and it’s taken me two weeks to put together, but if an introduction is what you all want, then I’m more than happy to provide. I wish I could hear all of you clamoring.

As is always the case in these guest articles, I asked too many people to pick the winner of a high-profile horse race. I introduce them, they make a pick and explain, and then I either dole out quaint praise or hard-hitting criticism. This time, it was the G1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, an excellent dirt race that lived up to the hype despite a short field. read more

Race of the Day: 2022 G1 Cigar Mile Analysis

This year’s Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack will likely be the last big race on the New York racing calendar in 2022, as the track eventually makes way for claiming races and subpar allowances for a time. 

A slate of Derby preps early next year should bring back some exciting competition as they always do, but until then, bettors with a preference for class may find themselves starved for a while in the Northeast. Let’s take advantage of the time we have.

This year’s Cigar Mile didn’t draw many runners, as the scratch of O Besos brings the field down to six. But it’s a solid sextet with a few key storylines between them, as some runners look to finish their three-year-old seasons strong against some salty older horses. read more

Road to the Derby: Wood Memorial Stakes Analysis

If an introductory paragraph is the only thing standing in the way of this article getting published, you all wouldn’t mind if I fudged it a little, right? Like, if I were to ask a bunch of silly rhetorical questions to fill two or three paragraphs at the beginning here, would it really be the worst thing?

Or do you want me to go all out after all? Do you want me introduce the Wood Memorial as it deserves to be introduced? Do you expect me to wax poetic about the 1973 running of the race, when Secretariat finished third behind Angle Light and Sham? Or maybe you’d prefer if I mentioned the 2005 running, when Bellamy Road scared the living hell out of every racing fan with a 120 BSF that he never came close to replicating? Maybe there are some fans of the 2000 running, when Fusaichi Pegasus won and became the last Kentucky Derby runner to win the Aqueduct prep race before — would that be entertaining? read more

Road to the Derby: Gotham Stakes Analysis

The New York division of three-year-olds is finally picking up a little in this year’s running of the Gotham Stakes. With a handful of runners shipping north from Florida and a few more coming out of allowance and statebred competition, the field has a hastily put together feel that I can actually appreciate.

One of my last trips to Aqueduct was for the 2017 running of the Gotham, when J Boys Echo upset El Areeb before getting crushed on the Triple Crown trail. It may not be the most valuable Derby prep in March, but it has a place in my upbringing, and that has to count for something. Let’s get into it. read more

Road to the Derby: Withers Stakes Analysis

Aqueduct doesn’t produce Kentucky Derby winners. It hasn’t for some time. In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Wood Memorial before taking down a weak Derby field, becoming the first to pull off the feat since Pleasant Colony in 1981. In 2003, Funny Cide lost in the Wood but went on to win at Churchill, much like Secretariat did 30 years prior. But in general, New York is no longer the place for Derby hopefuls to spend their winter months. This race seems to confirm that.

The 2022 running of the Withers Stakes is an improvement on the Jerome Stakes, the race before this one on the Aqueduct trail to the Derby. But the new faces in this field aren’t as fresh as they are around the country. New York’s best representative, Mo Donegal, has shipped to Florida to run in the G3 Holy Bull instead. There are at least four runners in that field at Gulfstream that could win this race by five lengths. read more