Handicapping

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a great card with five stakes headlined by the Whitney Stakes. The Whitney appears to run through National Treasure who we last saw romping the Met Mile.  The Saratoga Derby is an evenly matched race where just about any of them could pull it off.    In the Troy Stakes, Cogburn comes back after setting a North American record at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf in the Jaipur Stakes tripping the timer in 59.80. In the Test Stakes we have a potential budding star in the form of Ways and Means who looked the part last out when she posted a 104 Beyer…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/3/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A competitive OC/SAL for 4upfm at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  It sure looks like #1 DECK OF CARDS (2-1) can control things from the inside, especially after setting fast fractions and running off sprinting 7Fs here last month.      Trends  A dry main track on Thursday led the way to a golden rail, as anyone inside enjoyed all the best of it, whether it was on the lead, or off the pace, so make sure to…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/2/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  An extremely weak NYB N1X for 3upfm going 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early on.      Trends  The main track sped up considerably last Wednesday-Friday, as it was extremely difficult to pass, but things tempered dramatically on Saturday and Sunday, so pay close attention early in the week.      Best Play  #6 MAGGIE T (7-2): Versatile filly is one of…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/1/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  A deep and competitive 25k starter-allowance for 4up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.       Pace  There’s not much here, so expect things to be slow early and turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  The main track sped up considerably on Wednesday-Friday, as it was extremely difficult to pass, but things tempered dramatically on Saturday and Sunday, so pay close attention early in the week.      Best Play  #3 ON A SPREE (2-1):…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/31/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  4       Race overview  A solid NYB N1X for 4up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.       Pace  Very few of these figure to appreciate the trip, so things should be on the slow side early, at a distance that routinely caters to speed.      Trends  The main track sped up considerably on Wednesday-Friday, as it was extremely difficult to pass, but things tempered dramatically on Saturday and Sunday, so pay close attention early in the week.      Best Play  #5…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/28/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  A well above average 14k N3L for 3up at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  It’s a full field in a dirt sprint, so things should be honest, and potentially contested up front, as more than a few would like that position early on.      Trends  The main track sped up considerably on Wednesday-Friday, as it was extremely difficult to pass, and favoring inside runners (on Friday) as well.      Best Play  #4 FOR SOME REASON (4-1):…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/27/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive 25k claimer for 4up going 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It doesn’t look overly hot early, as there are no true burners, so having tactical speed, at the vey least (see below), is preferred.      Trends  The main track sped up considerably on Wednesday and Thursday, as it was extremely difficult to pass.      Best Play  #1a AMUNDSON (3-1): Streaking runner has won three straight and took his game to another…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/26/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  2       Race overview  A very modest NYB 40k MCL for 3upfm at 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon Turf.       Pace  For a turf sprint, it looks pretty average, which should allow #1 GENEROUS LUVA (7-2) to make the front, and hopefully hold on.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #1 GENEROUS LUVA (7-2) (turf only): Lightly-raced miss adds Lasix and blinkers to an already speedy package, doesn’t meet much, adds Irad, and takes the biggest drop in all of racing.   …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/25/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  A relatively modest NYB N1X for 3upfm at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s a ton here, as more than a few want to motor early, which suggests this come fall apart in the lane.      Trends  The main track has been fair, though speed (as always) is preferred, and it did seem a bit more inside, especially over the weekend.      Best Play  #8 DOLOMITE (8-5): Brown returnee hasn’t been out since a solid 3rd in…