Handicapping Articles

  “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…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/6/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 8   Race overview A wildly competitive OC/N2X for fm4up at 5Fs on turf.   Pace It looks hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to go flat to the boards early. 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 #8 COCO ABARRIO (9-2) (turf only): Stalker was a solid 2nd at the level in her first start off a…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/5/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 5   Race overview A relatively meek OC/SAL for 3yofs at 1-mile on the turf.   Pace It looks very honest on paper, as there are more than a few who want to be close and potentially involved early. 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 #5 CALL THE BULLPEN (9-5) (turf only): Dominant MCL winner rises in class but doesn’t meet much, will…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 2/1/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 9   Race overview A relatively meek 17.5k N2L for 4up at 1m on turf.   Pace It looks honest on paper, as there are more than a few who want to be close and potentially involved early. 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 OPERATION TORCH (9-5) (turf only): Stiff class dropper has faced tons better in his last two and should…

Happy Holy Bull Day! Derby preps are cranking up and Gulfstream Park hosts the Holy Bull for the three year old colts along with the Grade III Forward Gal for three year old fillies. Both award 20-10-6-4-2 points for the Kentucky Derby/Oaks. Trivia question: Who won the 2025 Holy Bull Stakes?   Gulfstream Park Race 10  The Forward Gal – Grade III Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies Music Burt: Broke her maiden at Churchill sprinting (69 Beyer) then moved to optional claimers and got the place money at Turfway on the poly (76 Beyer). Passing. Tessellate: Has hit the board in all five…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 1/31/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 7   Race overview A strong AOC for 4up at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.   Pace It’s unlikely they’ll be going fast at this elongated distance, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn. Trends The turf continues to play to speed, which means, at the very least, you need to be close entering the far turn. Best Play #10 WITHOUT (9-5) (turf only): Motion Euro import has been working in the AM with Pegasus Turf winner Test Score and has been holding his own,…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 1/30/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 1   Race overview A deep and competitive 25k MCL for 3yo fillies at 1M on the turf.   Pace It looks like #4 BINT MISCHIEF (3-1) will be on or just off the early lead, which gives her a huge tactical edge. Trends The turf continues to play to speed, which means, at the very least, you need to be close entering the far turn. Best Play #4 BINT MISCHIEF (3-1) (turf only): Stretchout sprinter has posted two strong turf works since being claimed, is bred top and bottom to…