Handicapping Articles

” PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 10/18/2022 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7   Race overview An extremely weak N1X routing 1 1/16 miles on the turf for f/ms.   Pace There’s not much here at all, and several deep closers are entered, so tactical speed should be at a premium. Trends N/A   Best Play #5 Hola Gata (2-1) (turf only): Brown filly had a tough beginning and trip at KD but still was up in time to break her maiden, catches a very meek crew on the rise, and should be closer early with a cleaner break, for a barn that has been…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/15/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  8      Race overview  A seemingly very meek N1X for 3up going 6 ½ Fs on the main.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, so a stalking gear should play well.      Trends  Through three days of racing, the main track played very fair, with winners coming from everywhere.       Best Play  #1 You Ain’t Poppn (3-1): Walsh runner looked good winning on debut, which is not something that’s typical…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/14/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  1      Race overview  A modest 30k N2L for 3up going about 7Fs.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, though none are burners either.      Trends  Through three days of racing, the main track played very fair, with winners coming from everywhere.       Best Play  #5 Creative Way (5-2): Rousing CD MCL winner now goes off-the-claim for Saffie (21%) and Ramsey, an owner who loves to win races at Kee,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                       Date  10/13/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6      Race overview  A solid 16k claimer for 3up going 1 1/16 miles on the main.       Pace  It’s a full field with plenty of speed to the outside, and therefore a quick run to the first turn, so things should be very honest early.      Trends  Through three days of racing, the main track played very fair, with winners coming from everywhere.       Best Play  #2 Huge Bigly (4-1): Falcone claim (30%) goes for a potent new barn after facing much better…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 10/12/2022 Featured track Keeneland Race number 3   Race overview A very modest 30k N2L for f/ms going about 7Fs on the main.   Pace There’s not much entered, which suggests this will be a bunched group throughout, and turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends Through three days of racing, the main track played very fair, with winners coming from everywhere.   Best Play #6 Miss Happy Tone (6-1): Class dropper has been freshened since running against tons better in April for Hartman, who is 33% off this elongated layoff, and this is as weak a group…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/11/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  3      Race overview  A strong 10k starter-allowance for 3up going 7Fs.       Pace  It looks hot and contested, as several in here want to be part of things early, which means this could land in the lap of a stalker/closer in the lane.      Trends  Through three days of racing, the main track played very fair, with winners coming from everywhere.       Best Play  #4 Caramel Chip (3-1): Frequent flyer has been basically everywhere this year and all he does is win,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/8/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  8      Race overview  A very modest renewal of the 200k Indian Summer for 2yos going 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  It’s a full field of 2yo turf sprinters, so expect them to be moving up front, and things to be hot and contested.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #2 Amidst Waves (3-1) (turf only): Two-time turf sprint stakes winner showed some versatility last time at Saratoga, when he came from off the pace, an asset that will work…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/7/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4      Race overview  A solid N2X for f/ms going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s a bit of zip to the outside, so things should be honest, if not overly fast, up front.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #5 Saffron Moon (5-2) (turf only): Brown miss was pace compromised a bit when 4th in her comeback at Saratoga, against a group better than this, so she should be primed over a course she’s 1-for-1 on, with a world…

Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Day – Take 2!  The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was planned for last weekend but the record rainfall downstate meant the turf course at the Big A was not available, so the race has been redrawn for today.  As a result, we now have a “Super Saturday” card with six graded stakes including three Grade 1s.   These are the last Grade 1 races in New York for the year. The next Grade 1 in New York will be the Carter Handicap run on Wood Memorial Day six months from now. But wait, what about the Cigar Mile that’s run in December?  That great race…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/6/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  5      Race overview  A predictably deep and competitive conditioned allowance for 3yof going 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  It looks supersonic and contested, as several in here want to motor early and often, which says a stalker/closer can rule the day.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #8 DARING DO (9-2): Local course and distance winner fits the race profile, in that she should be able to settle off the speed early and get first run, and the freshening…