Handicapping Articles

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 4/12/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 8   Race overview A relatively modest MSW for 3ys at 7 furlongs.   Pace It looks honest on paper, as more than a few want to be close and involved early on. Trends A fast main track was a bit forward early in the week but very fair on Friday, with winners coming from everywhere. Best Play #8 CIVIL LIBERTY (5-2): O’Neill runner came back off a five-month layoff and just-missed by a neck to a potential Baffert star (who returned to win by the length of the stretch and is…

Happy Jenny Wiley Day! You can go five or six directions in both the Lexington and Jenny Wiley. It doesn’t appear the Lexington will produce a Derby runner this year given overall point totals, but the winner here might well come back in the Preakness as a “new shooter”. Trivia Question: Who was Jenny Wiley? Race 9 – The Jenny Wiley – Grade I One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Up Expensive Queen: She’s three for four since coming to the U.S. Most recently she won the Al Stall (93 Beyer) where she leveled off nicely. She’s going…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 4/11/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 9   Race overview An extremely modest renewal of the G1 Jenny Wiley for fm4up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.   Pace With the exception of longshot #9 Aussie Girl (8-2), there’s none here, so expect a tight group behind her, and a race that will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends The Kee turf typically plays on the fair side, with stalker/closers having just as good of a chance as the front runners, unlike the speedy highways you may see at GP or SA. Best Play…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  4/10/26      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A relatively modest field of 40k N2Ls for 3up at the short stretch finish line of 1 1/16 miles.       Pace  There’s no true speedsters signed on, so expect a tight group early and a race that will turn into a sprint off the far turn.      Trends  A fast main track seemed to play forward on Wednesday, though one day is not enough to make an assumption, so continue to monitor things as the week progresses.      Best Play  #2 PROFOUND (3-1): Turf runner is bred…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 4/9/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7   Race overview A compact field-of-6 in an AOC for 3yo fillies over the short stretch finish at 1 1/16 miles.   Pace There’s no true speed signed on, so expect a tight group early. Trends The main track was sloppy Friday, and fast and drying out Saturday, so let’s watch early in the week before we make any assumptions. Best Play #3 MAJESTICAL (9-5): Eurton runner added Lasix and freaked in a FG MSW win two-back but couldn’t use it when last in their G2 Rachel Alexandra, so getting it back on…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  4/8/26      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive MSW for 3yo fillies over the short stretch finish line at 1 1/16 miles.       Pace  It should be honest enough, as there are several who are stretching out for the first time.      Trends  The main track was sloppy Friday, and fast and drying out Saturday, so let’s watch early in the week before we make any assumptions.      Best Play  #3 SHESTALLTHATSALL (9-2): Wilkes filly broke slow in her debut before quickly chasing early and then tiring…

Happy Wood Memorial Day! The end is nigh for Aqueduct and today marks the final Carter and Wood Memorial at the Big A. The on track experience at Aqueduct will be missed. The crowd there is comprised of the most passionate racing fans you’ll find anywhere. Sharp opinions abound, and no one is afraid to share them. It’s a pure horseplayers environment. But life moves on and the new Belmont Park is a great source of optimism for the long term health of horse racing in New York. The new Belmont will have an all-weather Tapeta track surface (along with dirt and turf courses) which hopefully expands the…

PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 4/4/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 10   Race overview A deep and competitive renewal of the G2 Shakertown for 3up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with several who want to be on or the pace or pressing it, so expect them to fly early. Trends Obviously it’s only Opening Weekend, but this is a course that can have some give to it and won’t be as speedy as a GP or SA, so stalkers/closers that had little to no chance there, can be used here. Best Play #8 LITIGATION (4-1) (turf only):…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 4/3/26 Featured track Keeneland Race number 6   Race overview An extremely weak N1X for 4up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.   Pace There’s literally none on paper, so expect a crawl early, which will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends Obviously it’s Opening Day, but this is a course that can have some give to it and won’t be as speedy as a GP or SA, so stalkers/closers that had little to no chance there, can be used here. Best Play #1 WITHOUT (9-5) (turf only): Admittedly been disappointed by this Euro in…

Happy Florida Derby Day! The Florida Derby card is loaded with 10 … yes, count ‘em …10 stakes races! The day is headlined by the $1 million Grade I Florida Derby with the Grade II Florida Oaks for three year old fillies highlighting the undercard. The top two finishers in those races will make the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields as both award 100-50-25-15-10 points. Trivia Question: Which filly won the Gulfstream Park Oaks and then went on to win a Triple Crown race? Race 9 – The Gulfstream Park Oaks – Grade II One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies 1. Betty’s Pearl:…