The Pickett Factor running in top form

NEW ORLEANS – The Pickett Factor won four of his first five starts, including the $100,000 Prelude Stakes, yet his best racing still might be in front of him. After finishing fourth in the Super Derby, The Pickett Factor has run perhaps the two best races of his life, easy wins in the Gold Cup at Delta Downs last month and in the Champions Day Classic on Saturday. He backed up his 99 Beyer Speed Figure at Delta with a 96 on Saturday and handed Mobile Bay, the Super Derby winner, a 5 1/4-length defeat.

Ralph Irwin, who trains The Pickett Factor for Melissa Cantacuzene, said the colt had come out of the race well and would be pointed to the $200,000 Premier Night Championship on Feb. 4 at Delta Downs. After that, Irwin said The Pickett Factor will be considered for an open stakes at Oaklawn, where he won his career debut last winter.

The Pickett Factor left stamina concerns with his fading fourth in the Super Derby, his first try at nine furlongs, but he ran the last of nine furlongs into a headwind Saturday in 12.84 seconds, a strong finish.

“It was a real delight to see him perform the way he did,” said Irwin. “He just dominated the race, I thought. He’s got a turn of foot that’s unbelievable, and the jock can use it whenever he needs.”