Handicapping

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/11/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  2       Race overview  A solid 40k claimer for 4up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  There’s no one here who can run with #4 El Rey Dorado (7-2), which means he should be able to clear on the front, especially since several who are entered are two-turn routers with no speed at all.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed a tad off-the-pace early in the week then turned a lot speedier and a bit…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/8/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive AOC for NYBs at 6 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s a ton of it here on paper, so there’s a chance something will give early, or someone will need to show a it of a new dimension.       Trends  It’s almost pointless t predict anything, as the weather has (unfortunately) wreaked havoc on the proceedings, though tracking things in the slop Saturday to see how the main plays can’t hurt. …

Happy Belmont Day!  Great match-up today in the Belmont with Derby winner Sovereignty meeting Preakness winner Journalism for a rematch. If either one wins today, they become the undisputed divisional leader.   Trivia question: If either Journalism or Sovereignty win today, they will be the first horse in seven years to win more than one leg of the Triple Crown, who was the last horse to do so?  Race 12 – The Manhattan – Grade I  One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward  1. Endlessly: Came off a nine month layoff in the American Stakes and finished a decent third (89…

Happy New York Stakes Day!  Today we have a huge card with six graded stakes and four Grade Is. NYRA has truly made this a racing festival by having such strong cards leading into Belmont Day. It would have been nice to have had Thorpedo Anna in the Phipps today – but she was poor in the La Troienne and now appears to be on an extended break. What we do have is an excellent renewal of the Ogden Phipps where you can make a case for almost all the entries.   Trivia Question: Four mares have won the Ogden Phipps Stakes twice – who was the most recent…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/6/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  A solid AOC for fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course/       Pace  It should be honest, as there are a few who want to lead, and several others who want to lay close early.      Trends  There’s nothing to garner, as this is just a one-off five-day race week, but if the weather cooperates (another mystery), take note of how speed is playing on both turf courses.      Best Play  #3 MYSTIFYING (2-1)…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/5/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  5       Race overview  A seemingly weak MSW for NYBs fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.       Pace  It should be honest, as there are several stretching out, along with some dirt sprinters, so you have to figure more than a few will be involved early and often.      Trends  There’s nothing to garner, as this is just a one-off five-day race week, but if the weather cooperates (another mystery), take note of how speed is playing on…

Happy Intercontinental Day!  Four stakes races today at the Spa headlined by the Grade II Intercontinental and Grade III Poker along with the Tremont and Astoria for 2 year old colts and fillies, respectively.    Trivia Question: Who is the Intercontinental Stakes named for?  Race 7 – The Intercontinental – Grade II  Five and One Half Furlongs on the Mellon Turf  For Filles and Mares Four Year Olds and Upward  Pandora’s Gift: Hasn’t won in three North American starts but was a head bob second to Future Is Now (97 Beyer) last out in the Giant’s Causeway. She likes to attend the pace and will need to prevent getting…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/4/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A seemingly very weak MSW for NYBs fm3up at 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.       Pace  For a turf sprint, there’s really not much here (on paper), except for #4 MISS IM PULSIVE (7-2), so tactical speed seems imperative.      Trends  There’s nothing to garner, as this is just a one-off five-day race week, but if the weather cooperates (another mystery), take note of how speed is playing on both turf courses.      Best…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/1/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  9       Race overview  A relatively underwhelming renewal of the G3 Mint Jule for fm4up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s plenty here on paper, as more than a few want to motor early, which suggests this will be won from off the pace.      Trends  They just aren’t running enough on the turf to have any real feel, but on a whole, it plays much fairer than the speedier courses you see at GP or SA. …