Tag: Race of the Day

Race of the Day: 2024 Travers Stakes Analysis

After dedicating so much time in my full-card analysis discussing the fanfare and history surrounding the Travers Stakes, it should be clear to anyone who wasn’t already painfully aware that I tend to be sentimental about sports. This isn’t really a matter of debate.

If you can believe it, this occasionally gets me into trouble with other sports fans. I get a lot of ‘rose-colored glasses’ accusations, or sometimes even an outright dismissal on the grounds that I’m being unrealistic or contrarian. I don’t even disagree with people who make those claims. I like radical decisions and big risks and I’m accepting of failure when they don’t work. I want to see something incredible every time I watch a sporting event, and I don’t see the harm in rooting for such things. read more

Paddy’s Picks 2024 Kentucky Derby Analysis

A Kentucky Derby without Bob Baffert is like an oil tanker without a fireworks display. Plenty of things can still go wrong, but you’re feeling a lot safer onboard, aren’t you?

Instead of transferring his Derby hopefuls to his colleague, Tim Yakteen, this year, Baffert tried to get around his Churchill Downs ban through the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The court’s decision to enforce the racetrack’s restrictions is a clear win for those who consider Baffert’s doping history to be a stain on the sport. From a purely competitive point of view, however, it is unfortunate that superstar colt Muth, along with a few others in Baffert’s stable, are therefore ineligible to run. read more

Race of the Day: 2024 Pegasus World Cup Analysis

To be completely candid with all of you, I’m not a huge fan of the Pegasus World Cup. I enjoyed it in the very early days, when it boasted a $12 million purse and innovative invitation system. The very first running in 2017 was a Breeders’ Cup Classic rematch between Arrogate and California Chrome, and I genuinely thought I was witnessing the beginning of a storied horse racing tradition.

But it’s 2024 now, and it’s still very cold in January. And instead of Arrogate and California Chrome, I have to watch the 12 best dirt horses in the country that didn’t retire at the end of 2023. Only one of them has a G1 stakes win. As for the international flavor of this World Cup race, O’Connor was bred in Chile and came to the United States in late 2022. That’s it. read more

Race of the Day: 2023 Ohio Derby Analysis

On a typical racing calendar, the G3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown would probably fly past my radar. The race usually consists of a few washed out Triple Crown contenders and an obvious favorite who wins going away. But this year is special, mostly because there’s a horse I’ve been keeping a very keen eye on for several months.

In my Belmont Stakes analysis, I said that I believed the G3 Peter Man to be a stronger race than the Preakness this year. It seems like Arcangelo confirmed that when he won the third leg of the Triple Crown handily, several weeks after beating Bishops Bay in a tight photo finish.  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

Race of the Day: Galway Stakes, August 11, 2022

Today’s Race of the Day is the Galway Stakes at Saratoga, surprising no one even slightly familiar with this website. Not only is it a turf sprint stakes race, but it’s also a race I’ll have the opportunity to see in person, as my family and I are taking our annual trip upstate this week.

Not only is today the second day of the Moquin family’s Saratoga trip, but it also happens to be my father’s birthday! Instead of giving him a tangible gift (a hit-and-miss proposition for a guy who usually just wants new shirts or socks or a pair of slippers), we’ve decided to spend his day at one of his favorite venues. The fact that I happen to benefit from this arrangement is purely coincidental and none of your business. Happy Birthday Dad! read more

Race of the Day: Incredible Revenge Stakes, August 7, 2022

With three stakes races on Sunday’s card at Saratoga, it may seem odd that I’m turning my attention to the Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth Park. There are a few reasons for this, some cautionary and some fun.

First off, with rain in the forecast upstate, I don’t feel like handicapping any turf races if they wind up moving to the dirt. Visualizing rain at Saratoga, the card becomes much less interesting, so I decided to begin considering other options. I didn’t have to look long.

This Incredible Revenge field is actually a lot of fun in its own right, featuring some top-notch runners and a handful of interesting angles. So even though we’re shipping the Race of the Day to Jersey for the day to escape some showers, there’s still plenty to enjoy here. Are you with me? read more

Race of the Day: Hall of Fame Stakes, August 5, 2022

The Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga is always a fun event overshadowed by bigger races on the schedule. Well, I have a series for that, basically a spotlight that forces you all to read, and damn it if I’m not going to use it. 

As a one-mile turf race for three-year-olds, the Hall of Fame is the sort of race that lands firmly in my wheelhouse. The problem: every horse in the race has a chance. This isn’t an exaggeration; of the nine horses in the race, there are nine separate cases one could make for a victory. Unlike the Alydar yesterday, which was more or less straightforward, Paddy’s Picks is unable to provide definitive analysis here. Consider it more of a second opinion. read more

Race of the Day: Alydar Stakes, August 4, 2022

The Alydar Stakes may not offer a large field this year, but the restricted stakes at Saratoga features plenty of recognizable faces looking to kickstart their 2022 seasons. It also feels a little like deja vu, if I can explain.

Last week, I noticed that the Curlin Stakes seemed to accommodate three-year-olds that weren’t quite good enough to compete in the G2 Jim Dandy. It seems that the Alydar serves the same purpose for older horses who aren’t quite good enough to win the G1 Whitney on Saturday.  read more

Race of the Day: Governor’s Stakes, August 3, 2022

Today’s Race of the Day is the Governor’s Stakes, an Indiana statebred stakes race for three-year-olds. Allow me to explain.

Following a two-day break on Monday and Tuesday, I expected to return to Paddy’s Picks on Wednesday and analyze a stakes race at Saratoga. That plan had to change, however, when the Shine Again didn’t draw enough runners to be carded. With a few unappetizing allowance races remaining on the card, I had no choice but to look elsewhere.

As it turns out, there’s only one track in the United States that is offering any form of stakes racing today. Colonial Downs and Delaware Park let me down with underwhelming cards. Outside of Pennsylvania Derby Day, I wouldn’t publicly bet on Parx if every other track in the country burned to the ground. I was running out of tracks. read more