You could look at their odds, their post positions, the strength and slenderness of their ankles. You could analyze their blood lines, their dams and sires. You could travel the circuit, see them run at Aqueduct and Keeneland and Santa Anita.

Or you could dispense with the horse and put your money on the jockeys or trainers. You could check out their records, regimens and philosophies. You could, if you were serious, attend a morning workout, at least at some of the tracks. You could rise early and see the horses and riders flying down the backstretch in relative silence, without the distraction of a crowd.

Then again you could cast all these practicalities aside. You could learn the color of the jockey’s silks and base your pick on that. You could read the list of contenders and choose solely on the name: Carpe Diem, Upstart. You could, if you want (and I know for a fact this has happened) wager solely on the strength of a dream you had the night before.

The point is, if there was a winning formula, someone would have found it long ago. These colts will do what they will. As for me, I’m pulling for the gray horse, Frosted. It’s just that simple.

(Just don’t bet on these horses; they ain’t going anywhere!)