MattG: Bumped to the front because, hey, it's a handicapping contest!

via www.dailypress.com

The races for this week's mythical contest are Colonial Downs 8-12, and Monmouth 8-10. Why those races?  Because those are the races for which I have done my math!  (I love that Colonial puts up its programs two, and sometimes even three, days before the day of the races.)  Format is the same as the National Handicapping Championship - $2 to win and place on a single horse.  Rather than post all my picks ahead of time, I plan to play this one like a real online contest.  The wife and kids are out of town and I am batching it like it's 1996, so why not sit around for a few hours, drink some beers and play the ponies, right?  So, contest picks must be in prior to post time.  This way, we can note the scratches, get a look at the post parades and see the live odds. You may play two entries.

Post for the first race, the Chenery Stakes, is 3:21 Eastern.  I will be posting my picks for that race sometime around then.

By the way, that is Paddy O'Prado pictured above, romping home in the Colonial Turf Cup.  The bride and I were there to watch that, and you wouldn't believe how washed out he looked in the paddock.  No matter.  He was too classy, and may be for this field as well.  But an even-money favorite won't help you much in a handicapping contest...now will it?