Handicapping

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/21/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8      Race overview  A competitive renewal of the Sunshine Turf for Florida breds, 4up, at 1 1/16 miles on turf.       Pace  The defending champion #5 Roaring Forties (6-1) will be in front, with #4 BOPPY O (7-2) likely stalking from close range.      Trends  Speed can dominate on the turf, especially if it’s firm, as horses can get carried home by a course that routinely plays to front runners.       Best Play  #4 BOPPY O (7-2) (turf only): Newly turned…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/20/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8      Race overview  A deep and competitive Florida-bred AOC for 3&up going 5 ½ Fs on Tapeta.       Pace  It will be extremely fast—and potentially contested—as #7 Cruzin Man (7-5) always flies early, and faces a few who want to press/chase him.      Trends  You want to be close sprinting on Tapeta, as horses rarely come from too far back over a surface that caters to on-the-pace types.       Best Play  #4 BELLA FUTURE (4-1): Tactical sort had plenty of trouble…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/19/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2      Race overview  A relatively meek 12.5k MCL for 3yos going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.       Pace  It should be honest, as there are several who wants to be close early, and who are also coming out of sprints as well.      Trends  Tactical speed usually does well routing on Tapeta, though if the rains come, things can tighten up and from more towards the front, and play inside as well.       Best Play  #7 BATTLE OF DOVER (5-2): Stalker…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/18/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8      Race overview  a deep and competitive 25k starter-allowance for 4up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s no one here to keep #2 Swashbuckle (3-1) from making the lead and slowing it down, and many of his main rivals are one-run closers too.      Trends  Speed can dominate on the turf, especially if it’s firm, as horses can get carried home by a course that routinely plays to front runners.       Best Play  #2 SWASHBUCKLE (3-1):…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/17/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  6      Race overview  A modest 32k claimer for 3yofs going 6Fs on the main.       Pace  There’s some speed to the outside, so things should be honest, and potentially contested, up front.      Trends  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you need to be close early, as horses just don’t make up a lot of ground in the lane.       Best Play  #1 JUST TAKE NOTES (5-2): Class dropper didn’t like the Tapeta, or stakes company on the main, but…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/14/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  4      Race overview  A seemingly solid MSW for newly turned 3yofs at 6Fs on the main.       Pace  There’s a slew of firsters here, and several who have worked fast, so things should be hot and contested early on.      Trends  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you need to be close early, as horses just don’t make up a lot of ground in the lane.       Best Play  #5 OVERLY DRAMATIC (8-5): Pletcher firster has worked huge for this,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/13/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  6      Race overview  A seemingly solid MSW for newly turned 3yos at 6Fs on the main.       Pace  There’s a slew of firsters here, and several who have worked fast, so things should be hot and contested early on.      Trends  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you need to be close early, as horses just don’t make up a lot of ground in the lane.       Best Play  #5 TURN UP THE TREES (2-1): Pletcher firster has worked huge…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/12/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5      Race overview  A competitive 12.5k MCL for 4up going 1m70 on the Tapeta.       Pace  Expect a bunched group, as there’s little speed here on paper, and several who want to stalk.      Trends  Stalker/closers tend to get the better of it routing on Tapeta, though if there’s been rain, it can tighten up and be a lot speedier (and inside as well).       Best Play  #1 AWESOME FIRST (5-1): Returnee hasn’t been out since July and has sprinted twice…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/10/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  7      Race overview  A competitive 20k claimer for f/ms going 1m70 on the Tapeta.       Pace  It should be honest, as more than a few want to be involved early.      Trends  Stalker/closers tend to get the better of it routing on Tapeta, though if there’s been rain, it can tighten up and be a lot more speedy (and inside as well).       Best Play  #7 SANDPIPER MEMORIES (9-5): Class dropper moved up in a big way off the Coy claim,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/11/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2      Race overview  A competitive Fl-bred AOC for 3up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s not much here, which should allow #2 Treasure King (5-2) to make the front on the drop, and prove tough to catch.      Trends  Speed has been dominant on the turf, especially if it’s been firm, as horses struggle to make up significant ground.       Best Play  #2 TREASURE KING (5-2) (turf  only): Class dropper exits a much tougher open AOC, where…