Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/5/2022      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6      Race overview  A deep and competitive AOC for 3up going 1-mile on the turf.       Pace  There’s not a lot here, which should flatter the chances of #8 WINFROMWITHIN (7-2), who has the ability to be on, or just off things early, in a field littered with stalker/closers.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #8 WINFROMWITHIN (7-2) (turf only): Versatile sort can make the running or sit just off if someone feels like motoring early, ran well off a seven-month…

Happy Breeders’ Cup Day!  Christmas comes a touch early today for horse players as we have nine Breeders’ Cup races headlined by a very competitive Classic.     Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I  One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward  Shahryar: Has only raced twice this year with a fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan and a no show eleventh in Japan in the Sapporo Kinen. In the Sheema Classic he dwelled toward the rear and made sustained run for fifth – but was no threat. Passing. Onesto: Was a strong third in the Arc de Triomphe…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/4/2022      Featured track  Santa Anita      Race number  4      Race overview  An absolutely sterling renewal of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at 1 ¼ miles.       Pace  It’s #1 IN ITALIAN (4-1) to catch, as there’s no one other than #8 Fev Rover (8-1) to keep her honest early, and even that one doesn’t have near the early foot to apply any serious pressure.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #1 IN ITALIAN (4-1): Expected Lone F ran the race of her life in defeat in…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  Welcome to Future Stars Friday – we have five Breeders’ Cup races today featuring two year old fillies and colts.   Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  The Wine Steward: Just missed in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland where he was bested by Locked (92 Beyer). That narrow loss was preceded by three straight wins to start his career which included wins in the Bashford Manor and New York bred Funny Cide Stakes. Steadily improving speed figs puts this one right there and his ability to rate helps as well.…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/3/2022      Featured track  Santa Anita      Race number  7      Race overview  A solid, if unspectacular renewal of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at 1-mile.       Pace  The speed is, for the most part, poorly drawn to the outside, which suggests they will be motoring early to get position for what is a very quick run to the first turn.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #3 Buchu (6-1): Kee G2 winner didn’t break, lost several, lagged, tipped about 9-W on the far turn, levelled off midstretch, then…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/2/2022      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  4      Race overview  A relatively weak restricted MSW for 2yo fillies going 6 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  Things look honest, though not overly heated up front.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #10 Mixer (3-1): Stalker broke slow on debut, settled midpack, then made a strong move before predictably tiring a bit late, so with an alert beginning off that experience builder, she should be primed.      Bet Types    Aggressive WP bet and single in…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/1/2022      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  8      Race overview  A competitive AOC for 3up f/ms going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s really no speed signed on, and it’s a relatively short field too, so expect a bunched pack and a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #6 Mo Bills (4-1) (turf only): Lightly-raced miss really improved at KD, when she settled just off the pace and powered home, meets no one to fear on the rise, and has…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/29/2022      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6      Race overview  A relatively meek AOC for 3up f/ms going 6 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  It should be honest, as more than a few want to be involved early.      Trends  N/A       Best Play  #11 Barbratina (4-1): Awesome debut winner was private purchase after and transferred to Cox, who is 29% with barn newcomers, and it looks like she’s caught the right kind of field to make back some of what they paid for…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/28/2022      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4      Race overview  A seemingly modest MSW for 3up f/ms going 6Fs on the main, with a field that looks littered with horses with little to no upside.       Pace  Things should be honest up front, as it’s a full field with several who have shown some initiative in the past.      Trends  The main track tilted a bit towards off-the-pace runners over the weekend, but has, for the most part, played fair during the meet.       Best Play  #4 FOXFIRE (7-2):…