Author Archives: Brian Nadeau

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/30/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A stakes-caliber AOC for 3up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.        Pace:  It looks honest, as there are a few who want to be involved early, which should tilt this towards a first-run stalker.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.       Best Play:  #2…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau     Date:  7/29/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 3      Race overview:  A deep and competitive 35k N2L sprinting 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon turf.       Pace:  It’s a turf sprint, so there will be some heat, but it also looks like #3 HATCH (8-1) could be the speed of the speed.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.      …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/26/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A graded stakes caliber AOC for 3up sprinting 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace:  For a full field of turf sprinters, especially this kind, there’s not an abundance of early speed, which means you should be close early.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.   …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/22/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  A modest N1X sprinting 7Fs on the main for f/ms.       Pace:  On paper there’s not a ton here, though the inside few want to be involved, which means they could hook up early and often.      Trends:  Tactical speed always plays on the main, though at this 7F trip, speed is more apt to come back a bit.       Best Play:  #6 HUNTRESS FOR HIRE (3-1): Rousing MSW winner comes in with a world of confidence after finally breaking…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/21/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 10      Race overview:  A deep and competitive field of NYB MSWs going 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf.       Pace:  It’s a bit muddles, as there are some firsters, along with stretch out sprinters, which suggests it could be honest.      Trends:  Tactical speed will always play on the turf, as it’s often tough to make up significant ground.       Best Play:  #3 MISSION HILL (12-1) (turf only): Mott runner was an even 6th turn sprinting on debut at Belmont, for a barn…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/16/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 4      Race overview:  A competitive field of 14k N3L’s sprinting 6Fs on the main.       Pace:  It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early, though none of them a pure burners either, so it doesn’t have the feel of a race that will fall apart late.      Trends:  It’s early in the meet, so there’s nothing current to gleam, though as a general rule of thumb, being close early on the main track is always a positive. …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/15/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  A solid field of NYB N1X runners going 6Fs on the main track.       Pace:  It looks honest, as there are more than a few here that want to be close early, though there’s also no true burners either.      Trends:  It’s early in the meet, so there’s nothing current to gleam, though as a general rule of thumb, being close early on the main track is always a positive.       Best Play:  #8 MARIACHI (5-2): Lightly raced colt ran huge…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/13/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  A full, albeit a relatively watered down, field of veteran 20k claimers going 1 1/8 miles on the main.        Pace:  It actually appears relatively honest, though it’s 2023 in NY, so expect things to be painfully slow early, with little initiative taken.      Trends:  It’s obviously Opening Day, so there’s nothing current to gleam, though as a general rule of thumb, you want to be close early going two turns on the main, as races rarely fall apart late.      …