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  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 9/7/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 3   Race overview A deep and competitive OC 80k/C or 3up at 6 furlongs.   Pace It looks relatively tepid, for this class and level, so tactical speed seems necessary. Trends A fast main track has played fair this week, as it has for the majority of the meet. Best Play #8 LITTLE THUNDER (5-2): Invader hasn’t been out since February at Tampa but lures JV for this return, in what is a very noteworthy spot to come back in, and his speed should have him on or just off the…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 9/6/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 8   Race overview An extremely weak 20k conditioned claimer for 3up at 1-mile.   Pace There’s really none here, with the exception of #1 TACTICALITY (E), who looks loose as can be on a stiff drop. Trends A fast main track has played fair this week, as it has for the majority of the meet. Best Play #1 TACTICALITY (E): Huge class dropper starts for Brown and Franco, who are both looking for meet titles, so this looks like a potential giveaway to add to their total, not to mention this…

Happy Spinaway Day!  We are entering the last weekend of the meet and the leading rider, trainer and owners races are all up for grabs. Going into Friday’s card Chad Brown has open a five win lead over Linda Rice (38-33). Klaravich leads Linda Rice by four wins (15-11) in the race for top owner. The jockey race is interesting as Jose Ortiz (65) leads Flavian Prat (64) buy one, and Manny Franco (63) by two wins. But Jose Ortiz is riding at Kentucky Downs Saturday-Monday and Prat will be here Sunday and Monday as well. Franco will stay here and has a mount in every race on…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  9/5/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8     A seemingly modest (on paper) MSW for 2yos at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.     It’s a full field with several firsters, as well as a stretchout dirt sprinter on the rail, so things should be honest early.    The turf has played fair all meet, with winners coming from all over, though sprints are typically going to be won by forward runners.    #5 RELATED PARTY (5-2) (turf only): Brown runner was a useful 3rd in his debut…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  9/4/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive 20k N2L for 3up at 1-mile.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there are a trio in middle (#5, #6, and #7) who all want to be forward.      Trends  The main track seemed to favor outside runners over the weekend, but has played remarkably fair for the majority of the meet.      Best Play  #9 PAUL’S RECOVERY (7-2): Stiff class dropper enters fresh for Rice, and as a first-time gelding, while facing tons…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 9/3/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6   Race overview A deep and competitive N1X for fm3up at 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.   Pace Oddly enough, for a turf sprint, there’s not that much heat up front, which hints that you better be able to lay close early. Trends The turf has played fair all meet, with winners coming from all over, though sprints are typically going to be won by forward runners. Best Play #3 SILSBEE (8-5) (turf only): The horse to beat also has a huge recency edge on her two main…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  9/2/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  A deep and competitive NYB OC 45k/N2X for fm3up at 6 ½ furlongs.       Pace  It looks hot and contested on paper, as there are several who want to be involved early and often.      Trends  The main track seemed a bit forward over the weekend, and possibly the inside wasn’t the place to be, but overall, it’s been fair.      Best Play  #5 BRAVERTHANUBELIEVE (2-1): Undefeated stakes winner makes her first start since December and first…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 8/30/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 5   Race overview A full field of NYB MSW 2yo fillies at 5 ½ furlongs.   Pace There’s a slew of first-time starters, and the favorite #6 D’MUEHL (2-1) is speed too, so they’ll be moving early. Trends A fast main track has played fair throughout the meet, though speed is never a bad thing. Best Play #6 D’MUEHL (2-1): Cox runner dueled then tired in a solid 2nd in her debut, has a huge experience edge, and has the speed to be involved throughout as well. Bet Types Aggressive win bet, and…

Happy Travers Day! Today is the big day at the Spa with five Grade 1s on the card. We have a fantastic renewal of the Travers featuring Kentucky Derby/Belmont winner Golden Tempo, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, Jim Dandy winner Renegade, and Haskell winner Baby Vino. Trivia Question: Secretariat famously won the 1973 Belmont by 31 lengths while “moving like a tremendous machine”. Who holds the record for the widest margin of victory in the Travers? Race 11 – The Forego Stakes – Grade I Seven Furlongs On the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward Tip Top Thomas: Narrowly lost an optional claimer last month to Senior Officer…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/29/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A competitive renewal of the G2 Lake Placid for 3yo fillies at 1-mile on the inner turf.   Pace There’s very little here, so expect a tight group early on, that will sprint off the far turn. Trends A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners using all running styles. Best Play #5 NAOMIS (3-1) (turf only): European invader was a private purchase after her G2 win at Chantilly and subsequently turned over to Brown, who has had a lot of success with less…