Author Archives: Brian Nadeau

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  4/15/26      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  7       Race overview  A compact N1X for 4up over the short stretch finish line at 1 1/16 miles on the main tack.       Pace  It it should be honest, as both #2 Rothko (7-5) and #3 Roger Roger (9-2) look like they want to be on or just off the early lead.      Trends  A fast main track seemed to play fair over the weekend, with winners coming from everywhere.      Best Play  #5 FACT (9-5): Tactical sort caught a good one in his comeback 2nd but still ran big, should only move forward off…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 4/12/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 8   Race overview A relatively modest MSW for 3ys at 7 furlongs.   Pace It looks honest on paper, as more than a few want to be close and involved early on. Trends A fast main track was a bit forward early in the week but very fair on Friday, with winners coming from everywhere. Best Play #8 CIVIL LIBERTY (5-2): O’Neill runner came back off a five-month layoff and just-missed by a neck to a potential Baffert star (who returned to win by the length of the stretch and is…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  4/10/26      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A relatively modest field of 40k N2Ls for 3up at the short stretch finish line of 1 1/16 miles.       Pace  There’s no true speedsters signed on, so expect a tight group early and a race that will turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  A fast main track seemed to play forward on Wednesday, though one day is not enough to make an assumption, so continue to monitor things as the week progresses.      Best Play  #2 PROFOUND (3-1): Turf runner is bred…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 4/9/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7   Race overview A compact field-of-6 in an AOC for 3yo fillies over the short stretch finish at 1 1/16 miles.   Pace There’s no true speed signed on, so expect a tight group early. Trends The main track was sloppy Friday, and fast and drying out Saturday, so let’s watch early in the week before we make any assumptions. Best Play #3 MAJESTICAL (9-5): Eurton runner added Lasix and freaked in a FG MSW win two-back but couldn’t use it when last in their G2 Rachel Alexandra, so getting it back on…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  4/8/26      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive MSW for 3yo fillies over the short stretch finish line at 1 1/16 miles.       Pace  It should be honest enough, as there are several who are stretching out for the first time.      Trends  The main track was sloppy Friday, and fast and drying out Saturday, so let’s watch early in the week before we make any assumptions.      Best Play  #3 SHESTALLTHATSALL (9-2): Wilkes filly broke slow in her debut before quickly chasing early and then tiring…

PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 4/4/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 10   Race overview A deep and competitive renewal of the G2 Shakertown for 3up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with several who want to be on or the pace or pressing it, so expect them to fly early. Trends Obviously it’s only Opening Weekend, but this is a course that can have some give to it and won’t be as speedy as a GP or SA, so stalkers/closers that had little to no chance there, can be used here. Best Play #8 LITIGATION (4-1) (turf only):…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 4/3/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 6   Race overview An extremely weak N1X for 4up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.   Pace There’s literally none on paper, so expect a crawl early, which will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends Obviously it’s Opening Day, but this is a course that can have some give to it and won’t be as speedy as a GP or SA, so stalkers/closers that had little to no chance there, can be used here. Best Play #1 WITHOUT (9-5) (turf only): Admittedly been disappointed by this Euro in…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/29/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 8   Race overview A full field of 4up 10k claimers at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.   Pace It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, though expect a tight pack as well. Trends Tapeta routes are kinder to stalker/closers than sprints, as winners routinely loop on the turn and come down the crown of the track. Best Play #12 NINJA STAR (2-1): Class dropper is back at the claim level for a white-hot Fawkes after running 4th against tons better last…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/28/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 10   Race overview A solid renewal of the 175k Sanibel Island for 3yo fillies at 7 ½ furlongs on turf (rails at 0’).   Pace It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be on or just off the early pace. Trends The turf has played a lot more fair in the last month, as it’s not the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, though being close is always going to be preferred. Best Play #9 SECRET HIDEAWAY (2-1): Euro import makes her…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/27/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3   Race overview A relatively modest OC35k/SAL35k for 3yo fillies at 5Fs on turf.   Pace It’s a turf sprint, so they’ll be moving early, though on paper there’s not a lot of true speed, outside of #3 Gigi Cake’s. Trends The turf has played a lot more fair in the last month, as it’s not the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, though being close is always going to be preferred. Best Play #7 CHUCKY’S RIDE (9-5) (turf only): Pace presser drew perfectly after running 2nd at the level…