Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/20/21      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  3       Race overview  A modest 25k MCL for 3upfm going 7 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  There’s not a lot#6 APPLAUSE (2-1) should be able to control things on the stretchout.        Trends  Speed plays on the turf, especially when it’s fast and firm, as horses have trouble making up ground, no matter how fast the splits are.        Best Play  #6 APPLAUSE (2-1) (turf only): Stretch out sprinter is bred for this, goes second-off a brief freshening, and…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/17/21      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8       Race overview  A modest 25k claimer for 4up f/ms going 1 1/16 miles on turf.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are a few who want to be involved early, though don’t expect things to be too heated up front.      Trends  You better have tactical speed at the very least on turf, especially when it’s fast and firm, as races are rarely won from the back.        Best Play  #8 DONTMESSWITHTESS (9-5): Stalker wasn’t given a chance…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/16/21      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  9       Race overview  a deep and competitive full 10k claimer for 4up f/ms sprinting 5 ½ Fs on the Tapeta.       Pace  It’s a Tapeta sprint, so it should be quick, though running with #7 GAYLES EVENING (9-2) could be easier said than done.      Trends  Speed plays sprinting on Tapeta, as horses often last up front, no matter how fast they go early.        Best Play  #7 GAYLES EVENING (9-2): California invader brings some serious speed and Tapeta form…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/15/21      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  7       Race overview  A modest 16k N2L for 3up fm/s going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.       Pace  There’s not a ton here, which makes #2 CALMING SEA (9-5) mighty tough on or just off the early lead.      Trends  Speed routing on Tapeta isn’t as lethal as it is sprinting, though it’s never a bad thing to have a tactical edge on your opponents.        Best Play  #2 CALMING SEA (9-5): Unlucky filly was best two-back when DQ’d then got…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/14/21      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5       Race overview  A strong OC/SAL for 4up going 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s not a ton of pure sprint speed here, so at the very least, you need to be able to lay close early.      Trends  Speed plays on the main, though at this distance things can be a bit more on the fair side, though coming from the back isn’t an ideal recipe for success, regardless.        Best Play  #1 URANIUM (5-1): Streaking sort comes…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/13/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5      Race overview  A field-of-10 f/ms 3up going 5Fs on Tapeta.       Pace  There’s plenty here, as there usually is in a Tapeta sprints, so expect things to be hot and contested early.      Trends  Speed plays sprinting on Tapeta, often no matter how fast they go early, so you better have the ability to lay close, at the very least.       Best Play  #7 DAVID’S ROSE (2-1): Versatile miss almost wired better last tie but can stalk too, and this…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/10/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  8      Race overview  A strong renewal of the 100k Captiva Island for 4up f/ms ging 5Fs on turf.       Pace  There’s plenty of pace in here, so things will be hot and contested early.      Trends  The turf tends to be speedy, but there’s been plenty of rain of late, which means things could even out a bit, but regardless, grass races are rarely won from the back.       Best Play  #6 ACCOMPLISHED GIRL (2-1) (turf or Tapeta): Immensely talented…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/9/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  11      Race overview  A wide-open MSW for 3yos going 1-mile on turf.       Pace  Things should be aggressive early on between #4 Devil’s Playground (6-1) and #5 Test Factor (6-1), which means a tactical gear will come in handy.      Trends  The turf tends to be speed, but there’s been plenty of rain of late, which means things could even out a bit, but regardless, grass races are rarely won from the back.       Best Play  #8 BLACK DIAMOND (5-1)…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/8/2024 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 8   Race overview A solid AOC for 4up state bred at 7 ½ Fs on the turf.   Pace There’s not a ton here, which suggests a compact group, so having a tactical gear will come in handy. Trends The turf tends to be speedy, especially sprinting, but there’s been plenty of rain of late, which means things could even out a bit, but regardless, turf races are rarely won from the back.   Best Play #4 Sociallongdistance (2-1) (turf only): Stalker was in a bit over his head against open foes…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/7/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  7      Race overview  A solid 25k N2L for 3up going 7Fs on the main track.        Pace  There’s not a ton here, which suggests a compact group, especially since 7Fs may be stretching the rubber band of a few of these thin.      Trends  The main track, especially sprinting, usually caters to speed, though at this 7F trip, things can be a mire fairer to the stalker/closers.       Best Play  #3 Good Rapport (7-2): Turf-to-dirt runner goes off-the-claim for Tharrenos (12%),…