Handicapping

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/23/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  11       Race overview  A deep and competitive renewal of the G1 Ballerina for fm3up at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest, but not overly heated up front, so coming from too far off-the-pace may be difficult.      Trends  Rains left the main track sloppy Wednesday, but it was back to fast Thursday, so check the charts for the first two days.      Best Play  #9 HOPE ROAD (3-1): Baffert invader comes in fresh for a…

Happy Travers Day!  Today might look like a coronation for Sovereignty, but there are serious challengers. Sure, Sovereignty has been a monster with two great performances over this track but there are interesting new shooters that make the Travers more intriguing than it appears at first glance.  Trivia Question:  Who was the last horse to win Horse of the Year three times?  Race 12– The Forego Stakes – Grade I  Seven Furlongs On the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward  Most Wanted: Five wins from eight starts for this Candy Ride colt.  Triple digit Beyers in each of his last three races with a win in a…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/21/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  1       Race overview  A seemingly modest NYB N1X for fm3up at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s not much here on paper, at least in terms of true sprint speed, so expect a tight group early.      Trends  Rains left the main track sloppy Wednesday, so check the charts for the first two days of the racing week to see how the track played.      Best Play  #6 ACCELERATED NEWS (5-2): Stalker got to the main track…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/20/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A seemingly modest NYB MSW for 2yos at 5 ½Fs on the Mellon Turf.       Pace  There’s a full field, with several firsters, so you have to think things will be hot and contested up front.      Trends  A fast and firm turf course has played to speed, so if the forecast is dry, don’t expect much to change.      Best Play  #6 TICKET TO RIDE (5-2) (turf or dirt): The horse to beat was a…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/17/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  An extremely watered down 12.5k starter-allowance for fm3up at 7fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest, though not overlay fast, as there are more stalker/closers than speed types.      Trends  A fast main track Friday was all speed, so monitor Saturday, as things are likely turning back to the norm.      Best Play  #6 SPIRITUAL LADY (2-1): Class dropper just won a 20k starter, meets easier here, drew perfectly, and has a pressing…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/16/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  12       Race overview  A deep and competitive, albeit relative modest, N1X for NYBS at 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.       Pace  There’s really none here, except for #1 SPOKEN BLUNTLY (9-2), which gives him a huge tactical edge.      Trends  A fast and firm turf course has played to speed, so check the weather Friday and Saturday, as any moisture could literally dampen the pick’s winning chances.      Best Play  #1 SPOKEN BLUNTLY (9-2) (turf only):…

Happy Alabama Day  We get the re-match between Good Cheer and La Cara as they co-headline the Alabama field. Good Cheer was the leader of this division culminating with a Kentucky Oaks victory. But her seven race win streak was ended in the Acorn by La Cara. They meet again today. But don’t sleep on Nitrogen who is looking for a breakthrough on the dirt.  Trivia Question: What is the oldest stakes race in America for three year old fillies?  Race 9 – The Skidmore Stakes   Five and One Half Furlongs On the Mellon Turf for Two Year Olds  Schwarzenegger: Was cross entered in a MSW on Thursday,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 8/15/25 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview A solid OC50k/SAL50k for 3yo fillies at 6 ½ Fs on the main track.   Pace There’s a ton of it here, as more than a few want to go early, and at this tricky distance, that means things could fall apart in the lane. Trends The main track continued to play more to off-the-pace runners last week, continuing a trend that (you would think) may turn soon. Best Play #7 HEY COOKIE (7-2): Monmouth invader aired at the shore against older from off-the-pace, so her running style fits here,…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/14/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  1       Race overview  A competitive MSW for fm3up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.       Pace  These 1 1/8-miles main track routes usually crawl early, so expect a bunched group that will sprint off the far turn.      Trends  The main track continued to play more to off-the-pace runners last week, continuing a trend that (you would think) may turn soon.      Best Play  #3 DANZIT (9-5): Pletcher charge was a solid 2nd to an easy winner…