Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/3/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 1      Race overview:  An NYB MSW for 2yos routing 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, with several decent prospects and names to remember down the line.       Pace:  It’s a two-turn turf route, with a quick run to a first turn that most of these have never seen before, so things can get quick in a hurry.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/2/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A strong renewal of the restricted De La Rose for fillies and mares going 1-mile on the inner turf.       Pace:  It’s turf racing in New York in 2023, so who the heck knows, but on paper it’s a pace that looks honest and contested, as you know #2 Evvie Jets (9-2) is going, #5 Technical Analysis (9-5) pressed her last time, and #6 Regal Realm (5-1) is no slouch early either.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm,…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/30/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A stakes-caliber AOC for 3up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.        Pace:  It looks honest, as there are a few who want to be involved early, which should tilt this towards a first-run stalker.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.       Best Play:  #2…

Happy Jim Dandy Day!  For the fifth year in a row a different horse won each leg of the Triple Crown and we arrive at the Jim Dandy with the three year old division totally wide open.  Mage, National Treasure and Arcangelo each one a leg of the Triple Crown trail and then Geaux Rocket Ride upset the field in the Haskell. Given those results Forte probably retains a tentative hold on the division lead from his performances earlier this year – but much will be determined today and in the Travers.  Trivia Question – who was the last horse to win more than one leg of the…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau     Date:  7/29/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 3      Race overview:  A deep and competitive 35k N2L sprinting 5 ½ Fs on the Mellon turf.       Pace:  It’s a turf sprint, so there will be some heat, but it also looks like #3 HATCH (8-1) could be the speed of the speed.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.      …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/26/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A graded stakes caliber AOC for 3up sprinting 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace:  For a full field of turf sprinters, especially this kind, there’s not an abundance of early speed, which means you should be close early.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.   …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/23/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A deep and competitive full field of 32k claimers routing 1-mile on the inner turf.       Pace:  It looks honest enough, especially since there are more than a few inside who want to be involved early and often.      Trends:  Tactical speed will always play on the turf, as it’s often tough to make up significant ground.       Best Play:  $4 TASS (9-2) turf only): Stalker was the only one to make up any significant ground last time at Belmont, should…