Handicapping

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/12/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 10      Race overview:  A wildly deep and competitive 50k starter-allowance for 3up going 1-mile on the main.       Pace:  It looks hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early and often, which means a stalking gear will come in handy.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, though as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best…

Happy Fourstardave Day!  The Fourstardave Handicap is named for “The Sultan of Saratoga” who won a race at the Spa for a record eight consecutive years from 1987 to 1994.  He was a New York bred, a blue collar horse, and was beloved by all Saratoga race fans. Dave is forever with us at Saratoga as he is buried on the backside at Clare Court.  Trivia Question: Who won the first running of the Fourstardave Handicap in 1996?   Race 8 – Saratoga Special – Grade II  Six and One Half Furlongs on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  This Grade II is a prep for the Hopeful Stakes…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/11/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 10      Race overview:  A full field of 35k N2L f/ms going 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon turf.       Pace:  It’s a turf sprint, so there should be plenty of pace here, especially towards the inside.      Trends:  There’s nothing to lean on with the turf, as it’s had plenty of give to it throughout the meet, and they were OFF Weds/Thurs, though it has been noticeable that the inside paths seem to be preferred.        Best Play:  #5 MICHELLE M. (7-2) (turf only):…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/10/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A predictably deep and competitive AOC for f/ms going 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon Turf.       Pace:  It looks a bit muddled, especially since a lot of these may not want to run this far, so expect a tight group and a sprint off the far turn.      Trends:  There’s really nothing to lean on with the turf, as it’s had plenty of give to it throughout the meet, though it has been pretty noticeable that the inside paths seem to…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/9/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 9      Race overview:  A really good Johnstone Mile for NYB f/ms going 1-mile on the main.       Pace:  It should be honest, as there are more than a few here who want to be involved early, especially with a stretch to a (kind of) two turns.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, though as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play:  #5 BETSY…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/6/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A relatively iffy renewal of the G3 Adirondack for 2yo fillies, who now stretch out to 6 ½ furlongs, where the precociousness wears off a bit, and you really have to earn it.       Pace:  It should be honest, as there are more than a few here who want to be involved early, especially because they stretch out too.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, tough as a general rule, you want to have tactical…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/5/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 11      Race overview:  One of those loaded Saratoga N1X’s for 3up sprinting 7Fs on the dirt, with a field loaded with potential stakes runners.       Pace:  It should be honest, as there are more than a few here who want to be involved early.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, tough as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play:  #5 FRAT PACK (9-2):…

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a fantastic card with four graded stakes races including three Grade 1s.  While the Whitney and Test headline the day, don’t overlook the Troy Stakes where the awesome mare Caravel takes on the boys again as she aims to continue her domination of the turf sprint division.    Trivia Question: Only two horses have won the Whitney Stakes three times – who was the most recent horse to achieve this feat?  Race 8 – The Test – Grade I  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt, For Three Year Old Fillies  Pretty Mischievous: Divisional leader of three year old fillies after narrow wins in the Kentucky…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/4/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 3      Race overview:  A solid field of 10k claimers sprinting 6Fs on the main.       Pace:  It looks hot and contested, as more than a few want to go early, with just as many wanting to keep them honest.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, tough as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play:  #7 TURNSANDCONDITIONS (6-1): Stiff class dropper has been facing…