Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  2/5/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 4      Race overview:  A modest 12.5k MCL routing on the Tapeta with a favorite (#8 Black Ice 6-5) that you have to try and beat.       Pace:  It doesn’t look overly heated, so expect a bunched field.      Trends:  The Tapeta routes play to stalker/closers as speed just has not held well, no matter how slow they go early.       Best Play:  #8 REBATE (6-1): Returnee was on the turf at Tampa but the Tapeta route here three-back was solid and fast (for…

Happy Holy Bull Day!  With the Big A closed today due to extreme cold our eyes turn to South Florida.  The top five finishers in the Holy Bull will receive Kentucky Derby qualifying points (20-8-6-4-2) – which is double the value that this race had last year.  Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Sweetest Chant Stakes – Grade III  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Three Year Old Fillies   Sweetlou’sgotaces: Broke her maiden going two turns by wiring the field in the Tepin Stakes the Big A going the two turn mile (84 Beyer).  That was her fourth career start, and she was still a…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  2/4/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 12      Race overview:  A relatively modest renewal of the G3 Holy Bull, in a race that is certainly there for the taking if someone pops up with a lifetime best—which is the hope with #1 LORD MILES (4-1).       Pace:  It doesn’t look overly heated, so expect a bunched field, with #6 Legacy Isle (7-2) leading the way.      Trends:  This is a short stretch/first finish line race, so once they hit the far turn, they don’t have far to go, which means you…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  2/3/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 5      Race overview:  A very competitive AOC for Florida breds routing on the turf.       Pace:  There’s not much here to keep #4 JUDGE JUDITH (12-1) from making the lead and slowing things down, which can be potent over this course.      Trends:  You want to be close on the turf, as speed has been carrying, but in this instance, it still looks like too much heat up front.       Best Play:  #4 JUDGE JUDITH (12-1) (turf only): Potential Lone F had a…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  2/2/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 9      Race overview:  A deep and competitive 20k claimer sprinting on the Tapeta.       Pace:  It should be honest, though it doesn’t look overly heated, so you want a runner with tactical speed, at the very least.      Trends:  You need to be close sprinting on the Tapeta, as races rarely come back—no matter how fast they go up front.       Best Play:  #8 THE PREDICAMENT (5-2): Pace presser drew perfectly for his style and enters off a rough trip late, so with…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  2/1/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 5      Race overview:  A very competitive OC/SOL routing on the turf that could go any number of different ways.       Pace:  It looks potentially heated on paper, as several come in off either wire-to-wire wins or pace pressing wins, so showing an ability to pass horses late is a big bonus.      Trends:  You want to be close on the turf, as speed has been carrying, but in this instance, it still looks like too much heat up front.       Best Play:  #7…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/29/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 11      Race overview:  A wildly competitive MSW routing on the turf—that just so happens to end the mandatory payoff Rainbow 6 as well.       Pace:  It looks on the tepid side, as there’s not much confirmed speed on paper, so laying close seems imperative.      Trends:  You want to be close on the turf, as horses just won’t close from too far back if they aren’t in contention entering the far turn.       Best Play:  #9 MRS. ASTOR (5-1): Exits a nightmare trip…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/28/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 13      Race overview:  A strong, competitive renewal of the Pegasus, a race where you could make a case for 6-8 different winners.       Pace:  It looks very sharp, as #5 Defunded is going, and with #6 Art Collector, #10 Cyberknife, and #11 Stilleto Boy all to his outside, things figure to be hot early.      Trends:  You need tactical speed routing on the main track, as it’s difficult to make up too much ground off the far turn if you’re not in contention entering…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  1/27/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 3      Race overview:  A relatively modest low-level claimer sprinting on the main.       Pace:  It looks honest enough, as more than a few want to be involved early, several of which have been backing up of late.      Trends:  You want to be close sprinting on the main track, as speed plays, and races rarely fall into the laps of closers.       Best Play:  #3 EARTH (5-2): Stalker had some trouble behind a class-dropping winner for 8k last time, so this drop should…