Handicapping Articles

Happy Jockey Club Gold Cup Day!  While the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup is the feature race today, the real feature is the former Lucky Coin Stakes, which has been renamed for the late, great Harvey Pack.  For decades Harvey held many important roles promoting and covering New York racing, but if you are of my vintage then you fondly remember Harvey hosting the DRF Siro’s handicapping seminars.  They were by far the best handicapping events I ever witnessed and eventually they generated so much interest that Capital OTB televised them. Harvey was the master of ceremonies each morning on the stage outside at Siro’s in his…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  9/2/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 12      Race overview:  A wide-open 40k MCL for NYB f/m’s routing 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course.       Pace:  It looks on the tepid side, as there don’t seem to be too many entered who want to mix it up early, which means tactical speed will be at a premium.       Trends:  They just haven’t run enough on the turf, or it’s been on the soft side when they have, to really get any indications on how it may play during a…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  9/1/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A deep and competitive field-of-10 25k N2L’s goes 7Fs on the main.       Pace:  It looks honest enough, as there are ore than a few who want to be involved early, which means a rating gear will come in handy at this demanding distance.      Trends:  The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair when it’s fast, though early speed, at the very least, is preferred, as closers are having trouble getting there.   …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/31/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  A wildly deep and competitive full field of 14 in a 20k MCL for 3up going 7Fs on the main track.       Pace:  For a 14-horse field, there’s not a ton here, which means #1 BARGAINING POWER (6-1) could get loose with an alert beginning, especially since any potential pace rivals are drawn extremely wide.      Trends:  The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair when it’s fast, though early speed, at the very least,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/30/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 4      Race overview:  A strong N1X for f/m’s sprinting 7Fs on the main.       Pace:  It should be honest, though it doesn’t look overly heated either.      Trends:  The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair when it’s fast, though early speed, at the very least, is preferred, as closers are having trouble getting there.       Best Play:  #4 Little Prankster (7-2): Class riser finally broke through last time, and she did it with aplomb too, blasting…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/27/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A solid renewal of the Seeking the Ante, for NYB 2yofs going 6 furlongs on the main.       Pace:  It should be honest enough, as more than a few have shown some early foot in their brief careers.      Trends:  The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair, though early speed is always be preferred.       Best Play:  #6 Stellamaris (5-2): Steam horse was actually favored in her debut—in an OPEN MSW—and she ran…

Happy Travers Day!  Today is the big day with five Grade I stakes. The Travers field contains the three winners of the Triple Crown races as well as Forte, who took control of the division with his narrow (and controversial) win in the Jim Dandy. This race could very well settle divisional honors.  Trivia Question:  Which jockey has won the most Travers Stakes?  Race 11 – Sword Dancer Stakes – Grade I  One Mile And A Half On The Inner Turf For Four Year Olds And Upward  Soldier Rising: In the Bowling Green as he was significantly impacted by Rebels Romance clipping heels and he had to check…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/26/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 4      Race overview:  A deep field-of-10 3up AOC going 6Fs on the main track.       Pace:  It doesn’t look overly heated, so bringing tactical speed to the table—at the very least—is preferred.       Trends:  The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair, though early speed is always be preferred.       Best Play:  #6 Lord Captain (7-2): Cutback sprinter oddly tried 1 ¼ miles last time and couldn’t see it out but not cuts way back, and…