Handicapping Articles

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…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/25/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  An absolutely loaded, deep and competitive 75k for 3yos going 7Fs on the main.       Pace:  For a full field sprinting on the dirt, there’s not a ton of true speed here, so having a tactical gear, at the very least, seems a must.      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 JOKING WAY (6-1): Rice claim has been freshened…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/24/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A competitive 20k claimer for 3upfm’s going 6 Fs on the main track.       Pace:  It looks hot and contested, as there are several here who want to motor early and often.      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:  #7 Meraviglioso (6-1): Stalker rises a tad in class off the claim for Ryerson, a good horseman who doesn’t reach for many…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/23/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 6      Race overview:  A modest NYB MSW for 2yos sprinting 7Fs on the main.       Pace:  It should be honest enough, as there are a few firsters, while the majority of the experienced runners are stretching out.      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:  #8 B D SAINTS (7-2): Turf router had the worst trip of the year in his last, when he…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/20/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 6      Race overview:  A solid MSW for 2yo fillies routing 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.       Pace:  There are several firsters and horses stretching out, while also facing a first turn for the first time, so things should be honest, if not on a bit hot, early on.      Trends:  We all know the nightmares of the turf over the course of the meet, so there’s not a ton to gleam over either turf courses.       Best Play:  #8 LAMORNA (7-2) (turf…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/19/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 9      Race overview:  A competitive, albeit below average, renewal of the historic G1 Alabama for 3yo fillies going 1 ¼ miles.       Pace:  There’s not much here, as #6 Chocolate Gelato (15-1) figures to go on the stretchout, which means #8 RANDOMIZED (9-2) should sit a dream 2-P stalking trip just to her outside.      Trends:  The main continues to play fair, though speed should always be preferred, especially sprinting.       Best Play:  #8 RANDOMIZED (9-2): Local winner aired over 1m and now…

Happy Alabama Day!  The Grade 1 Alabama Stakes has is a deep field that includes the top three finishers from the Coaching Club American Oaks. The Lake Placid has four Chad Brown entries, per usual.  Trivia Question:  Why is there a major historic stakes race at Saratoga called “The Alabama”?  Race 7 – Lake Placid Stakes – Grade II  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf for Fillies Three Years Old  Heavenly Sunday: Won the Edgewood Stakes two back at Churchill via a front running trip (86 Beyer) and then came back in the Tepin at Ellis six weeks ago where she set the pace but…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/18/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 5      Race overview:  An extremely deep and competitive N1X for 3up going 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon turf.       Pace:  There’s not much here, so expect a compact group and a sprint late, especially since this is a long trip and more than a few might be suspect over it.      Trends:  We all know the nightmares of the turf over the course of the meet, so there’s not a ton to gleam over either turf courses.       Best Play:  #6 CATCH THAT…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/17/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 4      Race overview:  A very modest 40k N2L for 3up going 6 ½ Fs on the main.        Pace:  There’s not much here, as 3 Camm’ Duke (10-1) should be controlling early, which puts #5 WESTERN GHENT (6-1) in a good spot, as he seems like the only one with the tactical speed to keep him close early and get first run.      Trends:  The main continues to play fair, though speed should always be preferred, especially sprinting.       Best Play:  #5 WESTERN GHENT…