Handicapping

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  6/22/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Ellis Park – Race 1      Race overview:  A relatively modest 10k MCL sprinting 6Fs on the main.       Pace:  It looks honest, especially with the ML favorite (#1 King of Kentucky 9-5) down on the inside with plenty of speed.      Trends:  The main track was speedy and played to the inside a bit last week, so taking runners who are forwardly placed might be the best idea.       Best Play:  #8 SWAGGISH (3-1): Asmussen charge has been freshened, drops, and runs as a first-time gelding for…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  6/18/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Ellis Park – Race 2      Race overview:  A very deep and competitive 25k claimer going a mile on the main, in a race where everyone can win, but it’s #1 ON A SPREE (3-1) who enters off a powerhouse win and now goes OTC for Sharp.       Pace:  Expect a compact group early, as there doesn’t appear to be any true speed, and a few of these might struggle to go this far as well, which might temper the enthusiasm early.       Trends:  They’ve only switched to The…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  6/17/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Ellis Park – Race 3      Race overview:  A compact and competitive 20k claimer sprinting 6 1/2Fs on the main, with several contenders, though #4 COURTHOUSE COVE (2-1) seemingly holding all the aces.       Pace:  It looks honest, though there’s also no real true sprint speed either.      Trends:  They’ve only switched to The Pea Patch for two days of racing, and Sunday was run over a very sloppy track, so let’s take a wait-and-see approach before determining how things might be playing.       Best Play:  #4 COURTHOUSE…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  6/15/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Ellis Park – Race 3      Race overview:  A mixed bag of 3yo claimers going 6Fs on the main track, with several coming in off poor performances, which is not the case at all for #5 ATKINS (7-2).       Pace:  There’s no true speedster here, though several want to be close early, so the pace appears to be honest enough.      Trends:  They’ve only switched to The Pea Patch for two days of racing, and Sunday was run over a very sloppy track, so let’s take a wait-and-see approach…