Featured in Illustration: Affirmed and jockey Steve Cauthen Winning the 1978 Kentucky Derby (Illustration Courtesy of Esmé Bleecker-Adams)
To pull back the curtain on the Paddy’s Picks process, I usually write the introductions to these articles at the end. The problem is that I’m currently in a car in the middle of Pennsylvania on the way to my sister’s graduation. So you’ll all have to forgive me if I’m a little succinct in setting the stage for this year’s Kentucky Derby.
This year’s Derby at Churchill Downs is yet another opportunity for me to bother my friends for horse racing analysis. Many of these guests are extremely familiar with the drill by now. You can expect opinions of varying length using vastly different logic, once again enforcing the original thesis of The Casual Bet: there are countless ways to form an opinion at the races, and someone is always proven right at the end. Let’s get crazy.
For official Paddy’s Picks analysis of this race, click here.
Churchill Downs, Race 12
Kentucky Derby (G1) for Three-Year-Olds, 1 ¼ Miles on the Dirt
Emma Moquin
There are very few people in the world that I would risk missing the Kentucky Derby for, but there’s a non-zero chance that I’ll be sitting in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University watching Emma graduate when the starting bell sounds in Louisville. On an unrelated note, I once hit two home runs in a single baseball game when I was 12 and Emma didn’t see either one of them.
Emma’s Pick: 17- Fierceness
“For the Kentucky Derby, I will be picking Fierceness. I like Velazquez and Pletcher working together and this horse has a 110 speed figure in his last race. I am concerned with whether or not he can get the sort of comfortable lead he wants and maintain it but I think that he is the horse with the best chance of holding off Sierra Leone.”
George McKnight
I bet all you fools thought you’d get to click on this article and sift through cute little horse puns and witty throwaway jokes all day. Well wake up, idiots. George wrote 700 words of racing analysis for this year’s Kentucky Derby and you’re all going to read them right now. That’s the end of it. Get your houses in order.
George’s Pick: 4- Catching Freedom
“Hey all, it’s George. I’ve missed seeing my own name on Paddy’s Picks for a long time now, so I’ve been bothering the noble Patrick for some writing opportunities. I’ve been able to distract myself by practicing my Tony Soprano impression in the mirror and watching a contending Knicks team (finally), but the absence of prancing ponies in my life has left me feeling down. Thankfully, Triple Crown season is here, and once again, I’ve been called upon to provide the most correct handicapping takes you’ll find here. It’s like the time Edge made a comeback after a nine-year retirement at the 2020 Royal Rumble — electric (Editor’s Note: It was, in fact, electric.). Just don’t ask me to hold onto a winning voucher.
Anyway, I’ll start with a general analysis of the landscape of the 150th Derby. The 5-2 favorite, Fierceness, is coming off a dominant 13.5-length win at the Florida Derby on March 30, showcasing his high ceiling. Interestingly, the Florida Derby champion has historically gone on to win the Kentucky Derby 25 times in the past 70 years. However, wearing No. 17 on Saturday may pose a challenge, as no horse at the 17th post position has ever won the Kentucky Derby.
An early speedster, Fierceness will have to dominate the outside and establish a lead early. Despite this disadvantage, Fierceness has proven his ability by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and achieving the highest Beyer speed figure (110) of the season at Gulfstream. The great Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner with Super Saver and Always Dreaming, and jockey John Velazquez, a three-time winner, help add some credibility to his case.
It’s worth noting that Fierceness has not won back-to-back starts and did not fare well as the favorite in the Champagne Stakes (seventh) and Holy Bull Stakes (third). Fierceness is probably the most gifted horse in the Derby, but when was the last time a horse had a perfect, adversity-less trip in the Derby? Fierceness hasn’t had a good time overcoming adversity in his short career. Overall, I’m seeing too many red flags to pick him here.
Next is Sierra Leone at 3-1. There’s a lot to like about him. He’s coming off a strong finish at the Blue Grass Stakes in Keeneland, posting a 98 speed figure. He’s also fresh and still heating up, having won 3 of his 4 career races and losing by a nose in the other. His 2.3 million price tag is the highest of any horse nominated to the Triple Crown races. However, the 2nd post position is going to hurt him in the Derby. A late closer, Sierra Leone will likely get squeezed by the rail in an attempt to stay with the pack before jockey Tyler Gaffalione tries to push him to the front. He simply doesn’t have the breakneck speed that sets Fierceness apart. Despite being named for one of my favorite Kanye songs, I’m inclined to shy away from Sierra Leone as well (and not just because I’m not fond of trainer Chad Brown).
I’m highest on Catching Freedom to offer the best value. He’s already shown he can leg out a 1 3/16 race at the Louisiana Derby. He’s hot, coming off a Grade 2 win there, as well as a solid third-place showing behind Sierra Leone and Just Steel at the Smarty Jones in Oaklawn. He’s experienced with fast dirt tracks and is relatively lightly-raced. Catching Freedom’s speed figures are strong enough to compete with any horse besides Fierceness on a good day. I’m getting Angel of Empire vibes from him. Also, keep Stronghold in mind as a potential exacta play. His showing in the SA Derby was a much better showing than his 88 BSF indicates, and he’ll be one of the best stalkers in the field on Saturday. For some other sleeper picks, I’d go with Domestic Product and West Saratoga to hit the board. They both appear slow on paper, but they continue to show up every race.
In short, I’m staying away from Fierceness and Sierra Leone this time and going with Catching Freedom at 8-1 odds. The haters and losers are saying that Brad Cox can’t win the Derby, but I think he’s due. Thanks for reading, and God bless Jalen Brunson.”
Alex Voorhis
Alex is making her Paddy’s Picks debut after several years of not knowing it existed. The two of us became fast friends as co-founders of the “Get George Out of the Corn Maze” and “Stop George From Digging That Big Hole at the Beach” letter-writing campaigns. Regarding her prior knowledge of horse racing, you can all take comfort in the fact that she used the word “horse” twice in her explanation.
Alex’s Pick: 21- Epic Ride
“I like a double entendre — this horse seems to know what’s he’s about, I like that in a horse.”
Kristina Stevanovic
Why does Kristina root for the Philadelphia 76ers? This wasn’t my plan for this introduction; I originally wanted to talk about one of her savage touch football performances or her all-women’s trivia team, “Da Birdz.” But as I began to consider my options, it dawned on me that I’ve blindly accepted the fact that one of my closest friends roots for a team nearly 100 miles away and I’ve never even asked why. Is she sad about the team’s loss to the Knicks? What does she think of all the Joel Embiid slander in New York recently? Does she come from a long line of Serbian 76ers fans? What gives?
Kristina’s Pick: 17- Fierceness
“Gonna go with Fierceness and bet a $2 11-17 exacta box for funsies. Feels safe but he’s definitely the pick.”
Niko Konstantellis
Niko and I seem to be falling a little too hard for the rumors of a Japanese horse racing takeover. We both supported Derma Sotogake in the Derby last year without success, and as you’re about to see, we’ve both been charmed again by a similar sort of runner this year. To be completely candid with readers, I can’t remember a single instance when he and I have agreed on something and been proven correct. I’m still recovering from my losses on all those Bear Stearns trades.
Niko’s Pick: 11- Forever Young
“Forever Young just wins. But he wins in a way that’s cut out for how I see the derby unfolding. He doesn’t have the early opening speed like fierceness, but I expect the pace to be pushed to a point that the derby favorite can’t hold for the distance. Forever Young is capable of hanging towards the front, regardless of the opening speed which will be beneficial in such a crowded field.
His win at the UAE Derby was the exact formula of what it’ll take to win today: stay close enough to opening speed, and kick into that extra gear around the final turn down the stretch. Forever Young has shown again and again he knows how to win, and he knows how to win that way specifically.
And I’ll box it with Just Steel, who has proven to be able to race in a number of different ways. Regardless of how his path shakes out, he has a nose for the front and he’ll make his way there.”
Chris Murray
Chris and I will graduate from our respective institutions three days apart later this month. With the combined power of my masters degree and his bachelors degree, we will morph into one giant mech capable of defeating this city’s greatest heroes.
Chris’ Pick: 4- Catching Freedom
“I’ll admit, I’ve taken a bit of a departure from horse racing and I may not be as sharp as usual. I firmly believe, however, that I would struggle to pick a winner in this field no matter how informed I was. Let’s dive in.
Fierceness appears mortal to me. To be a heavy favorite in a field this large, you need to really be exceptional and in my opinion, Fierceness is not that. Sure he’s quick, but it’s impossible to overlook his inconsistency. I’ll be looking elsewhere.
I’ve bounced around from Forever Young to Domestic Product to Mystik Dan, and they all have compelling narratives. Ultimately, I had to pick one.
Catching Freedom is going to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby. This horse continues to improve and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran his best race in the Derby. He ran phenomenally in the Louisiana Derby, marching past 11 other horses to win by a length at the longest distance of his career. He looks good with Prat and has been training well recently. I am also partial to relatives of Tapit. This race can break many different ways, but I believe Catching Freedom has as good a chance as any to win it all.”
Madeline Sandholm
Maddie ordered four hot dogs for her country at Citi Field on Tuesday, convinced me to order the same amount of hot dogs, and has correctly predicted 13 straight NBA/NHL playoff series results. At this rate, I love her chances at a bid when she rushes at Oregon State next fall.
Maddie’s Pick: 17- Fierceness
“Luck of the draw gave me Fierceness to create a winning case for Wednesday and it only feels right for him to be my pick as well (doesn’t hurt that he’s really fast too).
But don’t worry, I’ve got definite actual real reasoning too: My classic color commentary corroborates Fierceness being my pick. While the royal blue and orange combo wouldn’t typically be a frontrunner for me, I just attended my first Mets game (on $1 hot dog night, no less) and this horse repping the team whose fans ate over 44,000 hot dogs in one night just feels right.”
Kreena Vora
In a rare opportunity to have some continuity in this article, Kreena was also at the Mets game Tuesday. The highlight of my time watching Kreena watch baseball was her existential shock and indignation that she was watching a baseball game. Up to this point, my impact on Kreena’s life has been primarily confined to social media, where the algorithms at be have decided that she now loves fantasy football content and Paige Bueckers appreciation posts. To get her into a Mets hat and a seat at Citi Field is an escalation in this ongoing war.
Kreena’s Pick: 3- Mystik Dan
“I feel strongly about Mystik after all the research earlier this week. Statistically, he’s the only one that can win.”
Mia Agostinelli
In an article earlier this week, I made a joke that Mia went on a night raid over Berlin. I realize now that I provided no context for this comment. While we fools on the ground say our prayers and devour our hot dogs, Mia is training to be a pilot. In the time between her completion of the NYC Marathon and entrance into flight school, I successfully earned my second straight fantasy football championship. I don’t have any firm updates on the flight school process or how it works, but it’s my understanding that she has begun operating machines that fly thousands of feet above the ground and I think that’s something worth mentioning. Oh, she’s also from Pittsburgh.
Mia’s Pick: 6- Just Steel
“I’m channeling my (hometown) roots to pick Just Steel, and hopefully he can somehow channel his, too.”
Corbin Gregg
Corbin somehow found time in a hellacious law school finals schedule to contribute to two separate Paddy’s Picks articles this week. Worse than the multiple life-deciding exams, however: he contributed multiple correct answers at trivia on Monday but was either ignored or overruled by his teammates. Combine all this with his beloved Cowboys re-signing elderly man Ezekiel Elliott and I think it can be agreed that Corbin is in desperate need of a win in the Derby.
Corbin’s Pick: 21- Epic Ride
“He’s the only horse that has gotten faster over the past 5 months.”
Emily Ellis
Emily and Ryan Harvey were bad at fantasy football last year and still have not served their punishment: to watch three combined hours of Ben Shapiro reviewing the hit film, “Barbie”. Their hesitance to fulfill this punishment is frankly inexplicable, but every day that goes by is an opportunity for me to bring it up.
Emily’s Pick: 14- Endlessly
“I’m gonna pick Endlessly. It’s vaguely romantic so it has my vote, but also, how long can he run? Endlessly. Adverb as a name is so fun, justice for adverbs.”
Ryan Harvey
Ryan’s got car jokes. Also crime jokes.
Ryan’s Pick: 5- Catalytic
“Catalytic, cause I got mine stolen.”
Jill Rice
Jill is still studying in Germany, which makes her comments at the end of her analysis somewhat bittersweet. I’ve always known her to be a massive supporter of American commerce, but I didn’t know being away from unfettered capitalism for so long would begin to warp her handicapping instincts. Hidden amid her late-2000s pop culture references is a yearning for freedom from not paying for medical care.
Jill’s Pick: 2- Sierra Leone
“In about 2008, my family went to Kentucky Horse Park. That’s about my only story about Churchill Downs. Also in about 2008, the only music I listened to was Red Hot Chilli Peppers and educational songs. One of those educational songs CDs was geography. Thus I have to pick Sierra Leone for this race, because things named after countries are cool. Sierra Leone as a country probably isn’t top of any list, at least of good things (it might be top of the list of child labor in chocolate manufacturing), but in a horse race anything is possible. I guess if I were to pick a second horse, for funsies, I’ll go with Domestic Product. The opposite of something coming to the U.S. from Sierra Leone (yes I know the horse is not from Sierra Leone), and I recognize the jockey’s name, he might be good.”
Gil Russo
Gil is one of many Paddy’s Picks guests who were contributors from the very beginning, which means that she is coming up on her four-year anniversary with this modest publication. The last time something like this occurred, she abandoned me (graduated) and became a professional theater reporter.
Gil’s Pick: 5- Catalytic
“Wow, Resilience, Stronghold, and Fierceness. There’s a theme here.
Not going with any of them though — I’m back to my usual strategy of “go by name alone,” so I’m going with Catalytic. Because you know what catalysts do? They make things happen. Like a win.”
Owen Roche
Owen submitted his pick a few minutes after publication, so I didn’t have much time to prepare this introduction for him. Readers can take comfort, however, in the fact that he has been properly chastised for his tardiness.
Owen’s Pick: 19- Resilience
“Humility, for a change, might be what it takes to win the day. A horse that bides its time. One that, in a strictly metaphorical sense, trusts the process. Resilience has what it takes to snag the lead around the final turn after a long, agonizing stretch in the middle of the pack. I miss Sam Hinkie, man.”
Courtney Brogle
Courtney’s submission is even later than Owen’s. What, she thinks she can just get away with anything on this site? She can, I don’t care, but who told her?
Courtney’s Pick: 17- Fierceness
“I think Fierceness is going to take the Kentucky Derby this year. Under two-time winner Todd Pletcher, he won the Florida Derby at the end of March by more than 13 lengths as well as the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile in November. His speed is undeniably impressive and I’m optimistic he’ll maintain a strong lead among the pack (and given past races, he can handle tougher conditions, though at last check the track was deemed at a “good” quality). I do think the biggest competition will be Sierra Leone, especially as Fierceness’ number 17 spot is not statistically in his favor — no horse has won from that spot in the race’s history. Sierra Leone also runs this race following a victory at the Blue Grass Stakes, but if we’re also mentioning statistical woes, no horse who won the Blue Grass Stakes has won the Kentucky Derby since the early ‘90s. Both are impressive adversaries, but my hunch is if Sierra Leone were to win, it would be a down-to-the-wire push, and given Fierceness’ speed, that may be too big a challenge.”
Grace Getman
Grace is the first of two people in this article who came up with the same pun that would not have occurred to me in a thousand years.
Grace’s Pick: 15- Domestic Product
“Kinda gross but who knows?”
Esmé Bleecker-Adams
In addition to making a Kentucky Derby pick, Esmé also produced a beautiful illustration to accompany this article. In addition to putting it in the headline, I’ll also attach it below her contribution. Not going straight to Secretariat and instead honoring 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed is the kind of deep cut that this editor adores.
Esme’s Pick: 11- Forever Young
“I’m intrigued by Forever Young since I love that song and he’s won every race he’s been in if I’m reading that correctly, which is promising. Also added bonus that his color is maroon (for the Taylor swift song of course, not any universities).”
Matt Clarkin
In my freshman year of high school, Matt borrowed a wooden baseball bat from me during a game and broke it. To this day, he still owes me $45, but I continue to provide a platform for him to share his horse racing picks with the masses. Just the kind of guy I am.
Matt’s Pick: 2- Sierra Leone
“Gimme Sierra Leone. Fierceness is not winning out of the 17. If my favorite horse Resilience can’t win, I believe Sierra Leone wins. Cool name too. Rolls off the tongue.”
Eddy Jarvis
Eddy always keeps things fair and balanced on Paddy’s Picks, telling the folks what they need to hear about their favorite horses. I don’t care what they’re saying on social media; he’s a valuable voice in these articles and he’s here to stay.
Eddy’s Pick: 15- Domestic Product
“Give me Domestic Product — we need to start putting America first.”
Tyler Zorn
Tyler and I had our first disagreement in a long time a few weeks ago when he claimed that an illegal screen call at the end of the Women’s Final Four game between UConn and Iowa was “gutsy.” Usually I defer to Tyler on refereeing, as he’s pursuing it as a profession and I barely watch basketball. That being said, when he eventually becomes an NBA referee and negates a Game 7 buzzer beater on a toss-up offensive foul, I’m taking to the airwaves to rip him a new one.
Tyler’s Pick: 2- Sierra Leone
“At 3-1 odds, it will not be hard to make a case for the Sierra Leone’s victory. Trained by the legendary Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione (amazing name by the way), this horse most recently won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland by 1.5 lengths. The race featured fellow Derby horses Just a Touch and Epic Ride.
Gaffalione also led the horse to victory in February, running against Derby horses Track Phantom and Catching Freedom. Sierra Leone has consistently demonstrated success against other derby horses, and has posted impressive Beyer scores of 91, 95, and 98 in his last three races. Additionally, the horse has proven his ability to run well in both dry and wet conditions.
Each race for Sierra Leone saw a slow start for the horse, but a strong finish in the back half…with 3 first place finishes and 1 second place finish. I would expect a similar strategy for Gaffalione in the Kentucky Derby, pacing the horse for a strong run in the final third of the race. With that said, Sierra Leone will be facing strong competition in Fierceness, who likes to get out to quick starts. It will be crucial for Gaffalione to recognize this and not let Sierra Leone fall too far behind. Fierceness has posted the highest beyer scores of any horse in the derby, and is a 5-2 favorite.
All things considered, my pick for the 2024 Kentucky Derby is going to be a box exacta with Sierra Leone and Fierceness. I know it’s boring to pick the favorites, but in a big race like the Kentucky derby the top performers often rise to the top!”
Lucas Ludgate
Lucas requested that he could make three picks for the Kentucky Derby based on three separate grounds. I granted his request, as you’ll all soon see that the picks are coming from very different places. The fact that Houston is currently going through historic floods but Lucas and I have exclusively discussed horses in the past four days is telling.
Lucas’ Pick: 2- Sierra Leone, 4- Catching Freedom, and 22- Mugatu
“Brain: Sierra Leone. Heart: Mugatu. Sack: Catching Freedom. Honestly hate this field tho.”
Eddie Harrison
Eddie has many reputations on these mean city streets, but one you may not know as much about is that of art patron. Each month since January, he has sent me a list of live music performances around Manhattan, primarily focusing on classical music while branching into many different periods. I’ve taken him up on one of these offers when we went to watch a German swing band at the Fotografiska. My only reciprocation is offers like these to partake in horse mischief.
Eddie’s Pick: 11- Forever Young
“Hello readers, what an exciting time of year it is. Clean slate, no expectations, and a planter full of mint that hasn’t grown in time to make any drink worth having. I have returned home from my trip to Manila where I (legally) learned the ropes of another, much scarier, animal sport. To repay my gratitude to the continent of Asia, I will be picking the Japanese horse Forever Young. Those numbers look good and how can I say no to the beautiful color of maroon.”
Matt Ludington
The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is coming out very soon, meaning that I will probably see Matt very soon. Fordham’s resident chimpanzee man reintroduced me to the new Apes trilogy in our senior year of college and displayed it in a whole new light. Watching the new one with him and watching him mutely attack innocent theater employees will be a profound privilege.
Matt’s Pick: 15- Domestic Product
“Domestic Product. God bless the USA. Just a Touch is a crazy name but low key think he can win too. Society Man also speaks to me even though his odds are 50-1.”
Audrey O’Brien
Audrey is currently in Spain but still found time to make a pick for the Kentucky Derby. When asked if she want to contribute, she replied, ‘Si,” which translates to “if.”
Audrey’s Pick: 3- Mystik Dan
Editor’s Note: Audrey did not offer an explanation for this pick. She was so, so mean about it.
Juliana Burke
Unlike many guests in this article, who were more or less coerced into participating, Jul requested to share her opinion, showing a wildly unexpected dedication to Paddy’s Picks and the Kentucky Derby. She has one more Derby victory than I do in my life, having picked Authentic to win the event in 2020.
Jul’s Pick: 4- Catching Freedom
“Catching Freedom will be the winner of tonight’s K-derb. The name embodies what it means to be American, which is the epitome of the Kentucky Derby. The horse will be soaring straight to the finish line and grab victory by the reins.”
Isa Piazza
Isa’s terse prose keeps articles like this one from going over 10,000 words.
Isa’s Pick: 21- Epic Ride
“It’s the name lmao.”
Clara Gerlach
Remember when Grace made that ‘gross’ pun and confused me? Here’s Clara turn. Let me know in the comments which guest made the most gut-busting economics-based joke.
Clara’s Pick: 15- Domestic Product
“Domestic Product, hoping he’s not ‘gross’ but his parents have amazing names and so does he.”
Emma Regovich
Emma and I only speak regularly during the fantasy football season because we’re both insane, but I’m vaguely aware that she and Christian Madlansacay are in the midst of apartment hunting around the tristate area. That, along with the occasional movie chat, is still the extent of our discussion that does not involve sports. It’s a wonderful friendship.
Emma’s Pick: 12- Track Phantom
“I’ll go with Track Phantom cause I just watched The Phantom Menace.”
Christian Madlansacay
While watching the Mets at a bar with me several weeks ago, Christian was unnaturally kind in asking questions about baseball despite not caring at all about the answers. He and I also recently squared off in an informal tennis match recently, where we both discovered that we’re not very good at tennis.
Christian’s Pick: 6- Just Steel
“Just Steel because they can be in the Real Steel sequel.”
Allie Stofer
A key attribute of Allie’s Paddy’s Picks analysis is her unwavering confidence in defiance of every logical technique to predict a horse race. Her quest is different from mine. The answers she’s looking for transcend beyond my pea-sized understanding of things and get at the truth of the world around us..
Allie’s Pick: 3- Mystik Dan
“Mystik Dan — I have never met a Dan that I would describe as Mystik. What makes him Mystik? Why did his owners go with Dan instead of Daniel? Normally, I would say the name Dan disqualifies him but I’m intrigued by his Mystik qualities and I think everyone else will be asking themselves these same questions and then fall behind Mystik Dan.
(After learning his name is spelled “Mystik” instead of the traditional “Mystic” I am also left with the question why the K? Are his owners just trying to be like influencers and have a weird spelling or does it have a deeper meaning?)”
Brianna Doucette
If you were to take the “Brianna & Pat Greatest Hits” album off your shelf and turn it over, you would see 28 conversations about Boston sports. In the dying days of the Patriots dynasty, some of those conversations have been explosive, but she has shown great restraint in not beating the crap out of me.
Brianna’s Pick: 5- Catalytic
“I’m gonna go with the 5, Catalytic, just cause I think the name is cool.”
Megan DiDominica
Megan has made a handful of picks on this website now, and it’s always a good feeling when I can simply text “Paddy’s Picks?” to one of my friends and get right down to business. It’s the closest thing to brand recognition that this website will ever receive.
Megan’s Pick: 20- Society Man
“Name caught my attention. I picture a snooty horse. Smiles for pictures.”
Nicole Kraemer
If I make a joke about Nicole being an international spy and then she turns out to be an international spy, do I get in trouble? Does she get in trouble? If her (seemingly spectacular) career at Disney is just an elaborate ruse and I blow the cover off it in my pony blog, do the Russians win?
Nicole’s Pick: 14- Endlessly
“I’ll take Endlessly. Tbh none were calling to me and I was thinking of that song. Anywho.”
Marissa Gootee
Marissa and her sister, Amanda, are in Louisville today for something besides the Kentucky Derby, which is simply ridiculous. If she doesn’t go about her business in a gigantic hat regardless of context, I’ll consider the trip completely wasted.
Marissa’s Pick: 3- Mystik Dan and 16- Grand Mo the First
“My sister and I choose Mystik Dan and Grand Mo the First.”