Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  11/17/2022      Featured Track/Race:   Churchill Downs – Race 6      Race overview:  A decent 32k claimer sprinting on the main, with a few class risers in off good runs, and a few dropping off suspect ones.       Pace:  There’s not a ton here, which means #1 ASH FLAT (5-1) should be able to control from inside early, especially since he’s facing much easier this time.      Trends:  The main track played on the fair side last week, as winners came from everywhere, though being down inside seemed preferred.       Best Play:  #1…

    Date:  11/16/2022      Featured Track/Race:   Churchill Downs – Race 3      Race overview:  A decent group of local 25k claimers, but one that is vulnerable to a sharp newcomer, and GP invader #6 AIN’T WASTING TIME (4-1) fits the bill perfectly.       Pace:  There’s not a ton here, so having some tactical speed is key.      Trends:  The main track played on the fair side last week, as winners came from everywhere, though being down inside seemed preferred.       Best Play:  #6 AIN’T WASTING TIME (4-1): GP runners enters in strong form and looked good winning last time, drew perfectly, and…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  11/13/2022      Featured Track/Race:   Churchill Downs – Race 2      Race overview:  A very strong group of 20k claimers sprinting, with several who enter in very sharp recent form.       Pace:  It looks very honest, which suggests winning this on the front might be a bit too tough.      Trends:  N/A – Note that this week we will finally have a full week of racing to measure the main track by, as it’s been too hit-or-miss so far, with the BC at Keeneland in the middle.       Best Play:  #8 AGGRESSIVITY (4-1):…

Happy Breeders’ Cup Day! It’s Super Saturday at Keeneland with nine Breeders’ Cup races headlined by the Turf and Classic. Flightline looks to stamp himself as one of the best in this era in the Classic. In addition, Jackie’s Warrior tries to round out his career resume with a Breeders’ Cup win and the Distaff is packed with top shelf fillies and mares. Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Turf– Grade I One Mile and One Half on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward The Bill Mott trained mare War Like Goddess headlines the American contingent against a group of European runners led by Charlie Appleby’s Nations…

Happy Future Stars Friday! Welcome to Future Stars Friday – we have five Breeders’ Cup race today featuring two year old fillies and colts. I’ll tackle the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.   Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds Remember that this race finishes at the first finish line which tends to benefit horses on or near the lead while making it more difficult for closers since most of the late runners are trained to move in the stretch rather than on the turn. The Runners 1. Hurricane J: Stretches out to a route…