Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/23/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2       Race overview  A relatively modest, though deep and competitive MSW for 3yofs at 1 1/16 miles on turf.       Pace  It looks honest, as it’s a full field with several first-time starters, as well as more than a few who have shown some early foot.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, so at the very least, you need to be close early on.      Best Play  #7 UNLIMITED SPENDING…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/22/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2       Race overview  A deep and competitive 35k MCL for 3yos at 1M on the turf.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as more than a few have shown a penchant for running on or just off the early pace.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, so at the very least, you need to be close early on.      Best Play  #5 DREAMBUILDER (5-2) (turf only): Class dropper was a…

Happy Louisiana Derby Day!  Today is the big day at the Fair Grounds where they have eight stake races headlined by The Louisiana Derby and Sierra Leone returns as a four year old in the New Orleans Classic.  Trivia Question: Who was the last winner of the Louisiana Derby to win the Kentucky Derby?  Race 11 – The Fair Grounds Oaks – Grade II  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies   Girl Math: Improved performance with the addition of blinkers and the move to the poly track where she broke her maiden but failed to impress in her first stakes. Should come…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/21/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  9       Race overview  A deep and competitive 50k starter-allowance for 4upfm at 1-mile on the turf.       Pace  It looks like #3 SWOONATRA (7-2) is the speed of the speed, and should be able to shake loose early.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, which again means you need to be close.      Best Play  #3 SWOONATRA (7-2) (turf only): Speedster has been facing better and now drops to the…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/20/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  1       Race overview  A deep and competitive 12.5k claimer for 4up at 1M on the main.       Pace  On paper there’s not much here, so expect a tight group that will turn into a sprint off the far turn, which means being able to lay close seems imperative.      Trends  These one-turn mile races tend to play towards those that lay close early, as it’s difficult to make up significant ground once you get to the far turn.      Best…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/19/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2       Race overview  A relatively modest 17.5k MCL for 3yofs at 7 ½ Fs on turf.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, which again means you need to be close.      Best Play  #9 APOCALYPTIC (2-1) (turf only): Stuff class dropper goes for a Sweezey barn that has done little wrong…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/16/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8       Race overview  A deep and competitive 20k claimer for 4upfm at 1-mile on the turf.       Pace  On paper there’s not much here, so at the very least you need to look to someone who should be close early.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, which again means you need to be close.      Best Play  #1 CENTER STAGE (4-1) (turf only): Stalker has really upped her game in…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/15/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  3       Race overview  A competitive MSW for 3yos at 5Fs on turf.       Pace  On paper there’s not much here, so at  the very least you need to look to someone who should be close early.      Trends  Speed has been lethal on turf, seemingly no matter how fast they go early, which again means you need to be close.      Best Play  #6 ABSOLUTELY HOT (2-1) (turf only): Pace player chased hot splits and was a wakeup 2nd trying…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/13/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  3       Race overview  A modest 8k claimer for 3upfm sprinting 5 ½ Fs on Tapeta.       Pace  There’s not much here, which flatters the chances of #4 ONE SMOKIN’ RITA (9-5), who could shake loose early.      Trends  Speed is tough sprinting on Tapeta, as they tend to carry their speed, often no matter how quick they go early.      Best Play  #4 ONE SMOKIN’ RITA (9-5): Pace player was just 2nd at the level last time after pressing the early…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/12/25      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5       Race overview  A competitive 17.5k claimer for 3yofs at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough on paper, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early.      Trends  Speed tends to have the best of it sprinting on the main track, as races rarely fall apart in the lane, so at the very least, you need to have some tactical zip.      Best Play  #4 KISS CAM (8-5): Sweezey charge…