Pick Pony Weekly Trainer & Jockey Spotlight — Week of April 27, 2026
Trainer Spotlight
The undisputed headline of the past two weeks belongs to Kathleen O'Connell, who has been absolutely on fire with a 38.7% win rate across 31 starts — 12 wins and 16 in-the-money finishes. That kind of strike rate from a double-digit start sample is the sort of number that demands attention, and bettors who have been keying her horses at the windows have been rewarded handsomely. Right behind her in the efficiency department is Larry Rivelli, whose 40.0% win rate leads the entire leaderboard — 6 wins from just 15 starts, with 7 ITM total. The catch with Rivelli is the smaller book of business, but when he does send a horse postward, the numbers say you'd better have it in your tickets. Rounding out the spotlight is Juan Munoz Cano, who has quietly posted a 36.8% win rate (7 wins, 10 ITM from 19 starts) — a remarkably clean record that suggests a barn running near peak form. Meanwhile, Brad Cox leads all trainers in raw wins with 10 from 48 starts, a reliable 20.8% clip that reflects the volume and consistent quality his operation brings week in and week out.
Jockey Spotlight
If there is one rider you circle on your program this week, it is Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has been nearly unbeatable — posting an eye-popping 64.7% win rate with 11 wins from just 17 starts and 17 ITM finishes in the same span. That is not a hot streak; that is a man locked in at a historic level. Close behind him is Floyd Wethey Jr., who has gone 8 for 13 with a 61.5% win rate and 13 ITM finishes — converting at a clip that rivals anyone in the country right now. Juan Pulido adds to the efficiency story with 8 wins from 14 starts (57.1%), giving the data a clear theme: the riders posting the best numbers this fortnight are doing it with high conversion rates, not just volume. On the volume side, S. Marin leads all jockeys outright with 19 wins and 35 ITM finishes from 40 starts — a 47.5% win rate that is both prolific and precise. Flavien Prat (13 wins, 41.9% win rate, 19 ITM from 31 starts) continues his consistent excellence and remains a must-watch booking in any field he enters.
This Week’s Watch List
Three combinations worth targeting this week based purely on what the data is telling us: First, any Kathleen O'Connell starter ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. — two of the hottest names in their respective categories right now, and when barn form meets a locked-in rider, the mutual board often doesn't fully reflect the edge. Second, keep a close eye on Larry Rivelli entries regardless of jockey — his 40.0% win rate from a selective schedule suggests he is pointing horses to spots where they belong, which is exactly the kind of trainer angle that produces overlays. Finally, watch S. Marin in any race where he has a competitive mount — 19 wins and a 47.5% clip over the past 14 days is the kind of sustained dominance that tends to carry forward into the following week. These numbers are your edge. Play them accordingly.
