Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/19/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 5      Race overview:  A seemingly wide-open 10k claimer routing on the Tapeta, though there might be more than meets the eye under the surface.       Pace:  It looks on the moderate side, so tactical speed is a plus.      Trends:  Stalker/closers usually rule the day routing on the Tapeta, as early speed—no matter how slow they go—usually comes back.       Best Play:  #9 OFFICER COUNTRY (8-1): Class dropper was facing 20ks in his two Tapeta routes and ran big figures (for these), but…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/15/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 6      Race overview:  A solid MSW sprinting 6Fs on the main for newly turned 3yo fillies, though it doesn’t look like the saltiest group either.       Pace:  It figures solid, as the firster #5 LADY IRVINE (8-1) has huge works, and possibly a few other firsters will want to be involved early as well.      Trends:  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you want to be close early, though with three surfaces in use on a daily basis, it’s tough to get too…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/14/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 3      Race overview:  A solid MSW routing on the turf.       Pace:  There’s some who want to be close early but none have the gate speed of #2 EXPAND THE MAP (5-2), who brings some heavy speed down from NY and looks to be a Lone F.      Trends:  Speed has done very well on the turf, short or long, as horses have struggled to make up significant ground and front runners have been carried home, in some circumstances.       Best Play:  #2…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/13/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 6      Race overview:  A seemingly modest MSW sprinting 7Fs on the main for 3yo state breds, as several have been treading water at the level of late.       Pace:  It should be legitimate, as both #2 Fortheloveofart (6-1) and #3 DIAMOND COOL (5-1) want to be involved early.      Trends:  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you want to be close early, though with three surfaces in use on a daily basis, it’s tough to get too good of a gauge.      …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   1/12/2023 Gulfstream Park – Race 9   A solid MOC sprinting on the Tapeta, though the class-dropping #7 LAWFUL (3-1) figures tough against this crew.   there’s very little on paper, so expect a tight group throughout. Speed plays sprinting on the Tapeta, as the majority of the races are won by runners within 4 lengths at the pace call.   #7 LAWFUL (3-1): Class dropper was facing better on debut against open MSW runners for DeVaux, who is 26% with second-out maidens, and expect this one to be a lot closer early as well, as they won’t be going…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/11/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 3      Race overview:  A decent low-level claimer sprinting on the main, though there seems to a lot of questions with several entered.       Pace:  There’s not a lot here, at least on paper, so being able to be close early should be a big help.      Trends:  Speed plays sprinting on the main, so you want to be close early, though with three surfaces in use on a daily basis, it’s tough to get too good of a gauge.       Best Play:  #2…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/7/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 10      Race overview:  An extremely strong and competitive AOC for older going a one-turn mile on the main track.       Pace:  It should be sharp early, with #1 Great King (8-1) going from the inside, but from there there’s not much, which means #7 PICKING UP PENNIES (6-1) can get a dream trip pressing from the outside.      Trends:  Speed is never a bad thing on the main track, so being close early is usually a big help late.       Best Play:  #7…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/6/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 8      Race overview:  A solid race for the Florida-bred AOC level, as there is some talent here, none more so than #4 FROSTED OATS (3-1), who may be poised for a strong 2023.       Pace:  There’s very little here, which suggests the fresh speed of #4 FROSTED OATS (3-1) will be on display, and figures to have her setting up shop on a loose lead.      Trends:  You want to be close on the turf, as horses just aren’t coming from too far out…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/5/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 8      Race overview:  A deep and competitive 35k claimer going 7Fs on dirt that has a potentially false favorite (#1 Collaborate 8-5), who is plunging in class and seems to be going the wrong way fast.       Pace:  Surprisingly, there’s not much here at all, which means early speed should be a big asset.      Trends:  As a general rule, you want to be close sprinting on the dirt, though the 7F races have a bit more potential to be won from off the…