Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/26/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  10       Race overview  A deep and competitive 150k MCL for 2yos at 6Fs.       Pace  You have to figure things will be heated up front, as it’s a full field, with several MSW droppers as well, which all suggests it will be a crowded car early on.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best Play  #2 TOM CAT…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/25/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  5       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive N1X for 3up at 1 3/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  Things looks on the slow side, as there aren’t too many who want to go early, and this is at an elongated distance as well, which means things figure to crawl along early.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #3 VESTURE (9-2) (turf only): Mott runner has the speed to lead this but isn’t a run-off type, exits a strong 2nd…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/24/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  2       Race overview  A very weak 20k MCL for fm3up at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as more than a few want to be close early, though there doesn’t appear to be any burners signed on either.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best Play  #3 FOXY ZORRA (9-2): Class…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/23/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A deep and competitive 32k claimer for 3up at the short stretch finish line of 1 1/16 miles       Pace  It looks honest and potentially competitive, as there are more than a few here who want to be involved early, which suggests lasting late could be a problem.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/19/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  7       Race overview  A sterling renewal of the G3 Perryville for 3yos at 7 furlongs.       Pace  There’s a full filed, with several who would like to be close, but vey few who actually want to motor early (#6 Goodlookinjustice 20-1), which suggests this could be won up close.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best Play  #3…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/18/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  3       Race overview  A deep and competitive 30k N2L for 3up at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It doesn’t look too oversubscribed up front, which suggests being able to lay close early will be ideal.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best Play  #1 ALILNALOT (9-2): Stalker has been running in some better-than-average races for the…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/17/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A predictably deep and competitive N3X for 3upfm at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  Things look on the tepid side, as there’s not much speed, which means #2 Lucky Speech (12-1) should be leading early, with #3 JUSTIFIABLE BELLE (5-2) sitting a dream stalking trip just off her.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #3 JUSTIFIABLE BELLE (5-2) (turf only): Local winner got the tightener out of the way last time over a testing and…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/16/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  3       Race overview  A meek 20k N2L for 3upfm at 6 furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are a few who want to go early, though there are also a slew of stalker/closers, which suggests you want to be close early.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, with winners coming from everywhere, and last week it even seemed to tilt towards off-the-pace runners a little bit.      Best Play  #10 SOMBRA…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/13/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive N2X for 3up fms at 1 ½ miles on the turf.       Pace  It’s a marathon, so expect things to crawl early and turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #9 QUEEN REGENT (9-2): European filly came to the U.S. and was bet hard at Kentucky Downs and was up in time, in a race she very easily could have needed off a barn change to Walsh…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/12/24      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  7       Race overview  A seemingly modest but full field of 2yofs in an MSW at 6 furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It’s a full field, with several firsters as well, so things should be honest, and potentially contested, on the front end.      Trends  The main track played to speed and was FAST, as the fractions were ridiculously quick, yet horses kept going, so make sure to monitor things early in the week and proceed accordingly.      Best Play …