Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/15/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 9 Race overview A solid AOC/N2X for fm4up going 7 ½ furlongs on the turf. Pace There’s seemingly plenty on paper, so a hint of rating gear seems an asset. Trends The turf has played a lot more fair in the last month, as it’s not the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, though being close is always going to be preferred. Best Play #5 MALLEYMOO (9-5) (turf only): Versatile sort was a game 2nd in an Aqu turf stakes two-back before she didn’t like Tapeta last time, so…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/14/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 6   Race overview A deep and competitive 10k claimer for 4up at 5 ½ Fs on Tapeta.   Pace There’s plenty here, as more than a few want to be involved and/or close early, so having a stalking gear will come in handy. Trends Speed can be lethal sprinting on Tapeta, so at the very least, you need to be close, as races are rarely won from the back. Best Play #8 INCHON (4-1): Veteran cuts back after dueling going long in his first for Casse and at GP, drew perfectly, will…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/13/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 6   Race overview A deep and competitive 35k claimer for 4up at 1-mile.   Pace There’s very little here on paper, so expect a tight group to the far turn, in a race that will turn into a sprint from there. Trends Speed is always going to play on the main track, especially at this one-turn mile where fields can be strung out on the far turn, so having the ability to lay close is important. Best Play #7 SPEAK EASY (2-1): Tactical sort exits a race where the top-3 all came…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/12/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 2   Race overview A solid 17.5k N2L for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on turf (rails at 73’).   Pace There’s very little here to prevent #6 BAY OF BENGAL (3-1) from making the front and taking them all the way on the lead. Trends The turf has played a lot more fair in the last month, as it’s not the paved highway it was earlier in the meet, though being close is always going to be preferred. Best Play #6 BAY OF BENGAL (3-1) (turf only): The speed added blinkers and…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/6/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3 Race overview a relatively modest 25k MCL for 3yo fillies at 5Fs on Tapeta. Pace It doesn’t look overly heated, which means the fresh and classy speed of 8 STRET SUE (2-1) should be tough. Trends You need to be close in Tapeta sprints, as races are won up front, and rarely fall apart in the lane. Best Play #8 STREET SUE (2-1): MSW dropper hasn’t been out since July when she was facing tons better in NY, has really ramped it up in the AM in her last two…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/5/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3   Race overview A solid OC/SAL for 3yo fillies on the turf at 1-mile (rails at 73’).   Pace It doesn’t look overly heated, which says you should want to be close early, as per usual on the turf. Trends The turf was as fair as it’s been all meet last week, though speed is never a bad thing on the turf at all. Best Play #3 BINT MISCHIEF (2-1) (turf only): Tactical sort routed on turf OTC for Cibelli and romped, meets a modest group on the rise where…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/1/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 7   Race overview A modest OC/N1X for 3yo at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.   Pace It likely will be on the slow side, as this group will be tested at this elongated trip, which means they’ll want to take it east early. Trends Speed is never a bad thing on the main track, especially at this trip, as races can get very spread out by the far turn. Best Play #3 THUNDER CHUCK (9-5): Stakes-place runner caught Commandment (check how he does in the Fountain of Youth Saturday) when…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 2/28/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 14   Race overview A tremendous renewal of the G2 Foutain of Youth for 3yos—the best prep of the year—at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.   Pace It looks hot and it looks contested, as there are several who want to be on the lead or pressing it, many of which are stretching out for the first time as well. Trends Speed is never a bad thing on the main track, and this is a short stretch finish line race, though the pace just looks too hot to last. Best Play…

Happy Fountain of Youth Day!  There are eight graded stakes at Gulfstream Park card led by the Fountain of Youth and Davona Dale as the Kentucky Derby/Oaks preps continue to ramp up. The 50 points awarded to the winners of these two races should be sufficient to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields.  Trivia question: Who was Davona Dale?  Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Davona Dale – Grade II  One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies   My Miss Mo:Won a state bred maiden race at 1/10 then moved to the Sandpiper Stakes where she was off the pace but did make up some ground late (54 Beyer). This is too tough.  Blazing Brat:Cross entered in the Busher Stakes for a new barn. Ran on the poly and turf until a start in the Sandpiper at Tampa. In that effort she was kept in…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 2/27/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3   Race overview A competitive 8k N3L for 4up at 6 furlongs on the main track.   Pace There’s not much here, so the ability to lay close early is an edge. Trends Speed is going to play sprinting on the main track, though it’s noteworthy the inside has not been as dead as it was last month. Best Play #3 CAPTAIN EDDIE (2-1): Tapeta/turf runner has only been on the main once, and it was over a year ago, but he’s tons better now, drops in class too, and meets a…