Nadeau: Saratoga Play of the Day Thurs 8.31.23
| “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau | |
| Date: | 8/31/2023 |
| Featured Track/Race: | Saratoga – Race 5 |
| Race overview: | A wildly deep and competitive full field of 14 in a 20k MCL for 3up going 7Fs on the main track. |
| Pace: | For a 14-horse field, there’s not a ton here, which means #1 BARGAINING POWER (6-1) could get loose with an alert beginning, especially since any potential pace rivals are drawn extremely wide. |
| Trends: | The main, which has gotten plenty of use during the meet, continues to play fair when it’s fast, though early speed, at the very least, is preferred, as closers are having trouble getting there. |
| Best Play: | #1 Bargaining Power (6-1): Aforementioned potential Lone F came back off an October layoff with a solid 3rd after dueling early, in what was his first dirt start too, and now, on the drop and with that race behind him, he looks primed over a bunch on the outside who are perilously dropping in class. |
| Bet Types: | Aggressive WPS bet and single to end the Pk5/Pk4, and in the middle Pk4 as well. |
| POD/Meet Stats: | Sar Meet Overall (through 8/27): 344-83-71-56 ($1.71/$5.17)
Sar POD (through 8/27): 28-5-6-4 ($1.78/$4.86) |