Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  11/1/24      Featured track  Del Mar      Race number  9       Race overview  A strong renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles       Pace  It seems honest, and potentially hot, with #1 East Avenue forced to go from the inside, and more than a few others to his outside who will want to be forwardly placed early.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #4 FEROCIOUS (6-1): Unlucky sort was a bit of a bad actor prior to the start G1 Breeders’ Futurity when East Avenue got loose…

Happy Future Stars Friday!  We have five Grade I races today at Del Mar as we celebrate the best two year old fillies and colts.     Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  East Avenue: Speedster successfully stretched out in his second start taking the field the whole way in the Breeders Futurity (95 Beyer). He’ll need to break well to establish position. If he does then he is dangerous. Using Getaway Car: Baffert stretched out this Curlin colt in the American Pharaoh and he was left chasing but ran on well for second (86…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/31/24      Featured track  Churchill Downs        Race number  4       Race overview  A n average looking 30k N2L for fm3up at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  it seems honest enough, as both #2 Fancy Fascinator and #4 Trotter want to be involved early.      Trends  It’s just one card and nine races, but Opening Day (Sunday) played a bit off-the-pace, as speed struggled to hold, which is worth monitoring as the meet moves on.      Best Play  #7 GOURMET (5-2): Class dropper was a good 3rd on…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/30/24      Featured track  Churchill Downs        Race number  2       Race overview  A seemingly average field of 50k MCL’ers going 6 furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be close and involved early on.      Trends  It’s just one card and nine races, but Opening Day (Sunday) played a bit off-the-pace, as speed struggled to hold, which is worth monitoring as the meet moves on.      Best Play  #5 ALL THE LUCK (4-1): MSW dropper also…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/27/24      Featured track  Churchill Downs        Race number  2       Race overview  A solid field of 2yo fillies in a 50k starter-allowance at 1-mile.       Pace  It looks hot and contested, as more than a few broke their maiden on or just off the early lead, and now stretching out, that could make things dicey in the lane.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #8 EQUAL SUCCESS (4-1): Sharp runner won on debut for a barn that never has them cranked, which says right away to take notice, and…

Happy Mother Goose Day!  There are three graded stakes that anchor a nice card at the Big A today. After finishing second and third behind Thorpedo Anna respectively Gun Song and Tarifa run in the Mother Goose.  Trivia Question: Next week is the Breeders’ Cup. When is the last time New York hosted this championship event?  Race 8 – The Forty Niner – Grade III  One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Olds and Upward  Repo Rocks: Last out he was impressive in the two turn Parx Dirt Mile where he was up on a hot pace early and still hung on for second as Coastal Mission…

  “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…