Handicapping

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/7/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  4      Race overview  A competitive 16k claimer for f/ms at 5 ½ Fs on Tapeta.       Pace  There should be some competition up front, as more than a few want to be involved early.      Trends  Tactical speed at the very least is needed sprinting on Tapeta, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play  #6 Sassy Melissa (7-2): Stalker drops in class after a middling runs against tons better and should get an honest pace to settle…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/4/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  4      Race overview  A competitive OC/SAL for 3yofs going 1m70 on Tapeta.       Pace  Things look honest up front, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early, or at least spy things up front.      Trends  Tactical speed plays routing on Tapeta, as speed tends to fade a bit.       Best Play  #7 Goats On a Tree (2-1): Tactical miss beat MSW runners last time OTC for Saffie, which is a big deal here as most…

Happy Holy Bull Day!  Gulfstream Park has four graded stakes, led by the Holy Bull, where the top five finishers will receive Kentucky Derby qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2).   Trivia question: Name the only horse to win the Hutcheson, the Florida Derby, the Blue Grass, the Met Mile, the Dwyer, the Haskell, the Travers, and the Woodward – all in the same year.  Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Kitten’s Joy – Grade III  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Three Year Olds  Hammerstein: Broke his maiden last out (66 Beyer) in his first effort on the turf with a professional stalk and pounce move. By Oscar…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/3/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5      Race overview  A strong AOC for 4up going 7 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  It looks hot and contested, especially on the this inside, as more than a few want to rattle early on.      Trends  Speeds plays on the turf, especially when it’s firm and fast, as races rarely fall apart in the lane, so at the very least, you want to have some tactical ability.       Best Play  #7 SMOKY MANDATE (3-1) (turf only): Newly minted…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/2/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5      Race overview  A competitive 25k MCL for 3yofs routing 1 1/16 miles on turf.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are a slew down towards the inside that want to be part of the early proceedings, as well as several who are stretching out to two turns too.      Trends  Speeds plays on the turf, especially when it’s firm and fast, as races rarely fall apart in the lane, and the course can carry front runners.      …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/1/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  3      Race overview  a very meek 16k claimer for 3yos going 1m70 on Tapeta.       Pace  There’s not much on paper, which means stretchout sprinter #4 ICE THE KICKER (2-1) could shake loose early.      Trends  Speed usually has trouble lasting routing on Tapeta, and therefore a rating gear is usually preferred, though if you’re loose and controlling (and the best horse), it’s never a bad thing either.       Best Play  #4 ICE THE KICKER (2-1): Sprinter is bred to…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/31/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  6      Race overview  A solid 10k claimer for 4up going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.       Pace  It looks on the tepid side, so expect a bunched field entering the far turn, and a sprint to the finish.      Trends  Speed usually has trouble lasting routing on Tapeta, and therefore a rating gear is usually preferred.        Best Play  #8 GRAND SOIREE (5-2): Tactical sort goes off the claim for Saffie (25%), comes out of a very strong race for the…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  1/28/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8      Race overview  A solid AOC for Florida breds going 7Fs on the main.       Pace  It looks honest, though there are no burners here, so being close early should be beneficial.      Trends  Speeds plays on the main, as races rarely fall apart late.       Best Play  #4 SIR OLLIE (5-2): Class dropper has been facing open, so this group will be more to his liking, and this post is perfect as well, as he’ll be on or just off…

Happy Pegasus Day! Gulfstream Park has seven graded stakes races headlined by the Pegasus Turf and Pegasus World Cup. While these contests lack a superstar, we have excellent betting races with full fields. Trivia Question: What was the former name of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes? Race 12 – The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes – Grade I One Mile and a Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward 1. Atone: Defending champion of this race in what was his only win of 2023. Never quite found that form again in 2023, that included a third place finish in December in an allowance…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 1/27/2024 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 5 Race overview A deep AOC for 4up going 1m on the turf.   Pace There should be plenty here, as more than a few want to motor early and be part of the proceedings up front. Trends Speed is a big asset on the turf, so you should be close early, as not too many routes are going to fall apart in the lane.   Best Play #11 ICE CHOCOLAT (2-1) (turf only): Stalker stretches back out for the first time since a good 3rd in the G1 Fourstardave, has enough tactical…