Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/29/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  10       Race overview  An awesome renewal of the 250k Maxfield for 3yos at 7Fs.       Pace  There’s a ton here, as more than a few want to motor early, so a stalking/closing style could play in a race that may fall apart late.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #2 CAPTAIN COOK (9-2): NY invader couldn’t quite…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/28/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  9       Race overview  A stellar renewal of the G3 Kelly’s Landing for 3yo at 6 ½ Fs.       Pace  They’ll be humming along early, as more than a few want to be on or just off the early lead.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #1 DR. VENKMAN (5-2): G2 winner was a strong 2nd behind the…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/27/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  4       Race overview  A strong 20k claimer for fm4up at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest and potentially crowded, as more than a few want to be close and/or involved early on.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #7 DEMI (5-2): Hartman claim (22%) has a huge closing kick, which should…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/26/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  5       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive 40k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.       Pace  It looks hot and contested, as more than a few want to be involved early on.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #1 DEAN MARTINI (7-2): Veteran used to be a speedster but has developed…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/25/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  3       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive 32k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.       Pace  It looks very modest, as there aren’t many here who want to go, so owning some tactical speed, at the very least, seems imperative.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #2 TIGER MOON (3-1): Veteran…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/22/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6       Race overview  A compact but solid AOC for fm3up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  There’s plenty here, as more than a few want to go early, so this may come apart in the lane when the speed potentially takes its toll.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over.      Best Play  #6 AMARTH (3-1): Class dropper has been in stakes for 3yo fillies all year and will now…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/21/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  8       Race overview  A modest 50k starter-allowance for 3yo fillies at 7 ½ furlongs.       Pace  There’s very little here, aside from longshot #3, so anyone who has tactical speed should have an advantage.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #7 ANONIMA (5-2): Class dropper has been facing tons better while holding her own, has enough speed to lay close…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/20/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  5       Race overview  A modest 40k MCL for 3up at 7Fs on the main.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there re more than a few who want to be involved early, including the favorite, #7 MOBSTER (8-5).      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #7 MOBSTER (8-5): MSW dropper finally takes the plunge after they gave it the college…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/19/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  3       Race overview  A competitive 12.5k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on the main.       Pace  It looks on the slow side, as there’s no confirmed front-runner signed on, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #5 ETHEREAL ROAD (3-1): In-form runner goes off-the-claim for Sharp, a…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/18/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  9       Race overview  A full field of 30k 3up MCL’ers at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.        Pace  There’s 12 entered, though there aren’t a ton of burners (#10 Spy offers cheap speed), which means you likely will need to be close early on, which should put #12 HARBE (4-1) in a perfect spot.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.      …