Handicapping

    “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…

Happy Dunkin’ Diana Day!  Chad Brown has dominated the Diana like no other Grade I – winning nine of the past ten editions with only Charlie Appleby’s Athiqa in 2021 breaking up his run. Chad has four in the Diana today and they all look live.  Trivia Question: While Flavian Prat has piloted the last four winners of the Diana – which jockey has the most wins in this Grade I?  Race 5 – The Dunkin’ Diana Stakes – Grade I  One Mile and One Furlong on the Inner Turf for Fillies & Mares Four Years Old and Up  Dynamic Pricing:Chad (1/4) Started 2026 in the Jenny Wiley where she got up for fourth (93 Beyer). Then in the Beaugay she was a decent second. In both races she did not show a strong turn of foot although she did level off late. She moves up if there is cut in the ground. Has been freshened since the Beaugay. Zayas takes over for Irad who is at the Haskell. Exotics. …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/18/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A solid OC 45k/N2X for NYBs at 1-mile on the main track.   Pace It looks honest enough, and potentially swift, as a trio of the first four want to be on or near the early lead. Trends The main track was very fair last weekend, and even seemed to tilt towards those with an ability to come from off-the-pace. Best Play #5 WHITTINGHAM PARK (3-1): Versatile sort was a stretch runner before showing a lot more speed in his last, and he’s got foundation for this off…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/17/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A relatively meek 20k N2L for fm3up at 6 ½ furlongs.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want t o be close early, at what can be a very tricky distance for speedsters. Trends The main track was very fair last weekend, and even seemed to tilt towards those with an ability to come from off-the-pace. Best Play #2 DONNA ROMANO (2-1): Cox/Dubb filly goes off the 11/9 layoff for an owner that is always willing to drop a horse…

PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 7/16/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 8   Race overview A deep and competitive OC/SAL for 3yos at 1-mile.   Pace There’s plenty here, as more than a few on the inside want to be close and involved early on. Trends The main track was very fair last weekend, and even seemed to tilt towards those with an ability to come from off-the-pace. Best Play #7 PALACIOS (5-2): Stretch runner has been his own worst enemy at the start in his last two, as he’s broken slow but still ran on late, and in a race with plenty of speed,…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/12/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 3   Race overview A week 20k N3L for fm3up at 7Fs on the main track.   Pace There’s not much here to keep #4 BELLACOSE (5-2) from clearing early and running this modest group off their feet. Trends The main track seemed on the fair side during the first three days of the meet, much more so than the Belmont Meet in early June. Best Play #4 BELLACOSE (5-2): NYB now moves to Englehart off an August layoff, and this barn is 3-for-9 off this kind of break, always points for…

Happy Bowling Green Day! Given that the United Nations Stakes is run at Monmouth next week the seven horse field for the Bowling Green is very solid.  The Caress Stakes has strong field where five of the six starters look like contenders. Weather looks great and these stakes should stay on a Firm turf course. Trivia Question: Three horses have won the Bowling Green Stakes twice – who was the most recent to accomplish this feat? Race 5  The Caress Stakes – Grade II Five and One Half Furlongs On The Mellon Turf for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward Zeitlios: Was second in this race…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 7/11/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A relatively modest renewal of the G2 Bowling Green for 4up at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf course.   Pace There’s little to none on paper, in terms of a confirmed front-runner, so expect a crawl early, that will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends The turf played a lot fairer Opening Week than it did Belmont Week, with winners coming from everywhere, but a firm and fast course is always going to aid the speedsters. Best Play #6 MINARET STATION (2-1) (turf…