Handicapping

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/21/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 12   Race overview A deep and competitive MSW for 3yo fillies at 7 ½ Fs on turf.   Pace It seems honest on paper, as there are a slew stretching out, several of which showed some semblance of speed sprinting. Trends The turf isn’t the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, but it still plays to speed, so you need to be able to lay close early. Best Play #5 LET’S GO BARBIE (4-1) (turf only): Second-time starter had plenty of trouble for Riley Mott in her debut…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/20/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 2   Race overview A solid 35k MCL for 3yos at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.   Pace There’s little to none here, so expect a tight group early that will sprint off the far turn. Trends The turf isn’t the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, but it still plays to speed, so you need to be able to lay close early. Best Play #1 VACATIONER (9-5) (turf only): Stiff class dropper was a close 3rd in his debut in a MOC 50k, so this group will…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/19/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 4 Race overview A very modest 12.5k N2L for 4up at 1m70yards on Tapeta. Pace It looks honest enough, as there are a few who want to be involved early, and a few others who want to be close early. Trends Tapeta routes aren’t as speedy as sprints, but it’s never a bad thing to be able to lay close early on. Best Play #1 ETON (7-5): Sizable favorite meets a group he should handle easily, especially since he’ll make his first start on the surface since the potent combo of…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/14/26      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2       Race overview  A relatively modest 8k N3L for 4up at 1m70 yards at Tapeta.       Pace  There’s little on paper, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn, which means tactical speed, at the least, is at a premium.      Trends  Tapeta routes can tend to land on off-the-pace sorts a bit more, though tactical speed is never a bad thing.      Best Play  #5 RIVER OF TIME (8-5): Stretch out sprinter has won twice routing and was a good 3rd in his…

Happy Risen Star Day! The Fair Grounds card is co-headlined by the Risen Star Stakes for three year old colts and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes for three year old fillies. The winners of these races will qualify for the Derby/Oaks field as both races award 50-25-15-10-5 points. Speaking of Rachel we should always remember her magical three year old campaign in 2009. She demolished fillies in the Kentucky Oaks by twenty lengths and then defeated three year old colts in the Preakness and the Haskell. But all of that was prelude to the Woodward Stakes where Rachel produced an all-time performance versus older males. She went fast early…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/13/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 4   Race overview A deep and competitive 25k MCL for 3yofs at 7 ½ furlongs on turf.   Pace There’s little on paper, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn, which means tactical speed, at the least, is at a premium. Trends The turf isn’t the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, but it still plays to speed, so you need to be able to lay close early. Best Play #1 ENSLEY (3-1) (turf only): MSW dropper lost all chance when push VERY…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/12/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 10   Race overview A very competitive 25k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on turf.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be close and contesting things early. Trends The turf isn’t the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, but it still plays to speed, so you need to be able to lay close early. Best Play #5 BLUFF (4-1) (turf only): Improving sort makes the often pivotal third start off the long layoff, was a solid 2nd…

Play of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 2/8/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 9   Race overview A relatively modest OC20k/SAL12k for fm4up at 6 furlongs.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who want to be close and contesting things early. Trends The main track has had a dead rail for much of the meet, with runners routinely coming down the crown of the track and visually traveling better, though after some work early in the week, it did seem to be a bit better inside Thursday. Best Play #5 SADIE THE GOAT (8-5): CD invader was a private…

Date 2/7/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 12   Race overview A deep and competitive OC75k/N1X for 3yofs at 7 ½Fs on turf.   Pace There’s not a ton here, so expect a tight group early that will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends The turf is always going to tilt towards speed, though it has tempered a bit this week, with more runners coming from off-the-pace than has been the norm at the meet. Best Play #2 WINE ON SUNDAY (9-5) (turf only): Lynch filly was shot out of a cannon in deep stretch to win her debut, with a less than ideal…