Handicapping Articles

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:…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/29/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 8   Race overview A full field of 4up 10k claimers at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.   Pace It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, though expect a tight pack as well. Trends Tapeta routes are kinder to stalker/closers than sprints, as winners routinely loop on the turn and come down the crown of the track. Best Play #12 NINJA STAR (2-1): Class dropper is back at the claim level for a white-hot Fawkes after running 4th against tons better last…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/28/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 10   Race overview A solid renewal of the 175k Sanibel Island for 3yo fillies at 7 ½ furlongs on turf (rails at 0’).   Pace It looks honest, as there are more than a few who want to be on or just off the early pace. 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 #9 SECRET HIDEAWAY (2-1): Euro import makes her…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/27/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3   Race overview A relatively modest OC35k/SAL35k for 3yo fillies at 5Fs on turf.   Pace It’s a turf sprint, so they’ll be moving early, though on paper there’s not a lot of true speed, outside of #3 Gigi Cake’s. 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 #7 CHUCKY’S RIDE (9-5) (turf only): Pace presser drew perfectly after running 2nd at the level…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/26/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 1   Race overview A relatively modest 25k MCL for 3yo fillies at 1-mile on turf.   Pace There’s other speed on paper, though with Saez on #1 ROLE PLAY, she still seems likely to get loose early on. 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 #1 ROLE PLAY (8-5) (turf only): Expected speed of the speed drops stiffly in class too, after holding…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 3/22/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 5   Race overview A seemingly modest (on paper) MSW for 3yos at 7 ½ Fs on turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with more than a few first-time starters, so you would think things will be honest enough up front. 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, and there’s some give to the ground too, though being close is always going to be preferred. Best Play #8 ZAKINTHOS (2-1) (turf only):…

Happy Louisiana Derby Day! Fair Grounds takes the stage today with seven stakes races headlined by the Louisiana Derby and Fair Ground Oaks, both of which award 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks/Derby points. The top two finishers in both of these races will earn enough points to make the Kentucky Oaks/Derby fields respectively. Trivia Question: Surprisingly, only two winners of Louisiana Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby – who was the most recent? Race 11 – The Fair Grounds Oaks – Grade II One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies 1. Miss Metoyer: Demolished optional claimers at Delta Downs last month…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/21/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 8   Race overview A wildly deep and competitive OC/N1X for fm4up at 1-mile on turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with more than a couple who want to be close early, so it seems honest, at the very least. 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 #11 LA CANTERA (4-1) (turf only): Stalker was a good 2nd to a potential Brown buzzsaw…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/20/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 9   Race overview A competitive OC/SAL for 3yos at 5 ½ Fs on Tapeta.   Pace There’s actually not much here—for a Tapeta sprint—so at the very least, you better be able to lay close early. 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 #7 COPERNIUM (8-5): Pace player came back off a six-month layoff, tried Tapeta, and won for fun, now goes off-the-claim for David, a wild 31% angle, drew perfectly,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 3/19/26 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 6   Race overview A solid 35k MCL for fm3up at 5Fs on Tapeta.   Pace It looks honest on paper, and with three first-time starters entered as well, they should be motoring up front. 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 #3 JUST SILVIA (9-5): Stalker sprinted on Tapeta for the first time and was a 2nd neck, and likely wins if she wasn’t guided towards the rail in the stretch,…