Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/27/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  A solid AOC for 3up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  There’s a ton here on paper, as runners 1-4 all want to be on or just off the early lead, so having a tactical gear seems imperative.      Trends  A fast main track has played towards speed, so you need to be able to lay somewhat close early, at the very least.      Best Play  #6 WARRIOR RICHARD (2-1): Stalker enters in top form…

Happy Jim Dandy Day!  Bill Mott has campaigned Sovereignty as well as you could.  Sure, they passed on the Preakness. But that was never their plan, Mott has stuck to the plan, and he should get credit for that. The question today is whether Sovereignty will be fully cranked today. It is Saratoga of course, and plenty of 1/5 shots in big races have found their demise along Union Avenue.  Trivia Question: Who was Jim Dandy?   Race 9 – The Lake George Stakes – Grade III  One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Inner Turf, for Three Year Old Fillies  Reining Flowers: Consistent performer hasn’t won a stakes…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/26/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  11       Race overview  A full field of NYB fo3up at 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon Turf.       Pace  There’s not really much on paper, so expect a tight group that will sprint off the far turn.      Trends  While it hasn’t been often, a firm turf course has been playing a bit on the speedy side, so, at the very least, you want a runner who has the ability to be tactical early on.      Best Play  #9 HELLO…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/24/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  10       Race overview  An extremely deep and competitive 35k N2L for 3up on the inner turf course.        Pace  There’s none here at all—save for #8 KID KREESA (8-1)—who should be able to control things from the outset.      Trends  While it hasn’t been often, a firm turf course has been playing a bit on the speedy side, so, at the very least, you want a runner who has the ability to be tactical early on.      Best Play  #8 KID…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/25/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  A solid renewal of the G2 Amsterdam for 3yos at 6 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  No doubt #1 Macho Music (2-1) is going from the rail, which should put #3 SMOKEN WICKED (6-1) in a good pressing/chasing outside.      Trends  A fast main track has played towards speed, especially the sprints, though watching the weather and the races early in the week is prudent, as a forward main track isn’t out of the ordinary…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 7/23/25 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6 Race overview A strong AOC for 3up at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. Pace For a marathon, it actually should be honest, as there are more than a few who want to be part of the early pace. Trends While it hasn’t been often, the a firm turf course has been playing a bit on the speedy side, so, at the very least, you want a runner who has the ability to be tactical early on. Best Play #2 CATCH A WAVE (5-2) (turf only): Brown runner was asked to…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/20/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  A deep and extremely strong renewal of the G2 Honorable Miss for fm4up at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  It should be hot and contested, as there are more than a few entered who want to be involved early and often.      Trends  A fast and finally consistent main track on Wednesday and Thursday seemed on the fair side, with potentially a slight tilt towards those who can lay close early, though that’s hardly surprising.    …

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  It would have been nice to get a rematch between Good Cheer and La Cara in the CCA Oaks after La Cara’s Acorn Stakes triumph. While La Cara is entered today the connections for Good Cheer are aiming for the Alabama Stakes later in the meet. Maybe we’ll get the rematch then. But we do have are three very strong graded stakes led by the CCA Oaks and the Vanderbilt Handicap – both of which are very betable races.  Trivia question: Which trainer has won the Coaching Club American Oaks the most times?    Race 10 – The Coaching Club American Oaks…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/19/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  12       Race overview  A wildly deep and competitive N1X for 3up at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s a full field of sprinters, so it’s going to be fast, and likely contested early on, which says a rating gear will come in handy.      Trends  A fast and finally consistent main track on Wednesday and Thursday seemed on the fair side, with potentially a slight tilt towards those who can lay close early, though that’s hardly surprising.      …

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/17/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  A very competitive 16k claimer for 3up at 7Fs on the main track.       Pace  There looks to be plenty here, especially towards the outside, so the ability to settle and kick on late seems like a good asset.      Trends  It’s been a constant changing of track conditions throughout the first four days, so there’s really nothing to by, in terms of how the track may be playing, so things bear watching once some consistency from the…