Author Archives: Brian Nadeau

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/5/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  A strong 50k MCL for 3up NYBs at 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon Turf.       Pace  It looks on the tepid side, with just longshot #9 Followill (15-1) wanting to show speed, so being able to lay close seems imperative.      Trends  A firm, drying out turf course played very fair over the weekend, with horses winning on the lead and from well off of it too.      Best Play  #1 BEAU CHEVAL (9-2) (turf only): Tactical sort was a solid…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/2/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  2       Race overview  A solid NYB 45k/N2X for fm3up at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as several want to be close early, including #4 BELLACOSE (9-2), who wired open foes last time.      Trends  The main track has played fair during the meet, and was forward as it was drying out Friday, though tab how it played fast Saturday.      Best Play  #4 BELLACOSE (9-2): Cox/Dubb claim aired in her comeback off an 11-month layoff against open 25k NL2s, won the last time…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/1/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  An extremely strong 100k claimer for 4up at 1-mile.       Pace  It looks potentially hot and contested, as more than a few want to motor early, which suggests the speed could com back in the lane.      Trends  The main track has played fair during the meet, though check the results Friday, as it was finally fast after the all of the torrential rains earlier in the week.      Best Play  #6 REASONED ANALYSIS (2-1): Brown dropper was a chasing and tiring 3rd against better, in what was his first start in…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/31/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview A deep and competitive OC20k/SAL16k for 4up at 1 1/8 miles.   Pace It looks honest and potentially competitive on paper, as there are more than a few who want to be close and involved early. Trends The main track has played fair, though with all the rain leading to the cancellation Wednesday, all bets are off to start the week. Best Play #6 CALIBRATE (2-1): Diodoro invader won on the turf and dirt at Lone Star, and while this is a big step up, this is not…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/30/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6   Race overview A strong 30k conditioned claimer for 4up at 6 furlongs.   Pace There’s not a lot here, for a main track sprint, so being able to be close early seems to be an advantage. Trends The main track has played fair, though with all the rain leading to the cancellation Wednesday, all bets are off to start the week. Best Play #7 SLIM SLOW SLIDER (10-1): Veteran ran well at CD off-the-claim and now moves to the Padillo-Preciado barn, which is 29% with newcomers (from a 155-horse sample)…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/29/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview A solid OC 80k/N2X for fm3up at 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon Turf.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there are a few want o be close throughout, at what can be a demanding distance. Trends Oddly enough, the turf had a very off-the-pace feel this weekend, with stalker/closers prevailing more often than not. Best Play #3 TIME TO DREAM (3-1) (turf only): Pletcher closer gets some much-needed class relief after not being up to par in the 3yof G1/G2 ranks, also gets Lasix—which is huge—and…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/26/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 9   Race overview A stakes-caliber OC 110k/C for 4up at 6 ½ furlongs.   Pace It looks extremely hot and contested, as more than a few want to fly early, so at a tricky distance, this could fall apart in the lane. Trends The main track has been consistent throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere. Best Play #2 BRINGS THE SMOKE (8-1): Stalker is a G3 winner who wants to beat you, has a stalking gear to sit off the expected hot pace, and will once again offer plenty…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/25/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  A solid renewal of the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 miles.       Pace  There’s not much on paper, with the exception of #7 DIRECTIVE   (6-1), who looks loose, over a trip that can carry her kind.      Trends  The main track has been consistent throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere.      Best Play  #7 DIRECTIVE (6-1): The “other” Brown filly looks like the controlling speed, already owns a win over the track/distance, has a world of…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/24/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive MSW for 3up at 1 ½ miles on the inner turf.       Pace  This is a true turf marathon, and there are no confirmed front runners on paper, so expect things to crawl early, and turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  Weekend rain saturated the turf courses on Saturday and into Sunday and had it playing more towards stalkers and closers, so it’s worth monitoring things early in the week.      Best Play  #5 INSTANTLY (7-2) (turf only): Walden charge was a middling…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/23/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview A stakes-worthy OC 110k/C for 4up at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.   Pace It looks on the slow side, as there are no true confirmed front runners, and at this longer distance, expect them to go slow early and sprint off the far turn. Trends Weekend rain saturated the turf courses on Saturday and into Sunday and had it playing more towards stalkers and closers, so it’s worth monitoring things early in the week. Best Play #5 SALAMIS (5-2) (turf only): Brown charge returned off…