Handicapping

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  9/1/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  An deep and competitive N1X for 3up at 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon turf.       Pace  It’s a turf sprint, so things should be hot and contested up front, as several entered want to be involved early.      Trends  There’s really nothing too conclusive to go on, but a firm, fast turf course, tactical speed is never a bad thing.      Best Play  #6 DETERMINED EFFORT (7-2) (turf only): Been waiting for this one to come back…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/31/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  A potentially loaded MSW for 2yos at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It figures to be hot and contested, as there are a slew of well-bred first-time starters coming from top barns, who have all worked well—and several who have worked fast—in the morning.      Trends  A fast main track on Saturday and Sunday played fair, though it’s definitely something to monitor early in Closing Week.      Best Play  #3 TAP INTO THIS (3-1): CD invader…

Happy Flower Bowl Day!  The Flower Bowl features 2021 winner War Like Goddess along with 2023 winner Parnac. In a time where too many horses exit the game quickly, War Like Goddess and her connections should be celebrated. She’s won ten graded stakes during the past four years and has banked over $2.7 million. She’s also taken big shots against the boys including beating the colts in both the 2022 and 2023 renditions of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. A classy and talented mare who isn’t done yet.  Trivia Question: The Queens MG is attempting to sweep the three graded stakes for two year fillies at Saratoga: the…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/30/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  A meek 35k N3L for 3up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest, as more than a few want to be close early, which is usually imperative at this tricky trip.      Trends  A fat main track on Saturday and Sunday played fair, though it’s definitely something to monitor early in Closing Week.      Best Play  #1 CHILENO (6-5): Obviously you’re not getting rich here, but this veteran lays over the field and seems…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/29/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive renewal of the G3 With Anticipation for 2yos at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.       Pace  It could be hot and contested, as now only are there more than a few who have shown speed, but there are also a few stretching out as well, and with a quick run to the first turn, things could be quite energetic up front.      Trends  There’s really nothing too conclusive to go on, but…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/28/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A seemingly very modest NYB MSW for 2yofs at 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon turf course.       Pace  There’s definitely some here, but there’s also a chance that #6 THE SUGARS (6-1) is faster than all of them.      Trends  There’s really nothing too conclusive to go on, but a firm, fast turf course, especially at this distance, is going to cater to speed more often than not.      Best Play  #6 THE SUGARS (6-1) (turf only): Speedster…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/25/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A compact AOC for NYBs 3up at 7Fs on the main track.        Pace  There’s basically none here, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn.      Trends  There’s not much to go on, as the track has been in and out, condition-wise, on a daily basis, so continue to monitor the weather and how things are playing early on the card/in the week.      Best Play  #3 BOURBON CHASE (2-1): Maker returnee has…

Happy Travers Day!  This is an excellent renewal of the Mid-Summer Derby. We have four Grade I winners in the field – Dornach, Fierceness, Sierra Leone along with the filly Thorpedo Anna. She will attempt to become the first filly since 1915 to win the Travers – Lady Rotha won it via DQ that year.  The Sword Dancer comes up a bit short, but that’s a comment on the state of the older male turf division as much as anything. It does include two excellent Godolphin runners – Measured Time and Silver Knott. If they were coupled they would be 2/5 against this group.   Trivia Question:  Who was…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/24/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  12       Race overview  An absolutely sterling renewal of the G1 H. Allen Jerkens for 3yos going 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks like #1 World Record (8-1) should be leading, but there are a trio of others who want to chase, and this is a race that traditionally throws down wild splits.      Trends  There’s not much to go on, as the track has been in and out, condition-wise, on a daily basis, so continue to monitor the weather…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/23/24      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A deep and competitive N1X for 3up going 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf course.       Pace  It’s a turf marathon, so expect things to be very tepid early, and turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #2 HUNT BALL (5-2): Cody’s Wish’s little brother has found a home on turf and now adds blinkers, which should give him a bit more early focus, and from this ground-saving inside draw,…