Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/17/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A seemingly watered down MSW for 2yofs at 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  It’s a full field, with some experienced runners who have shown speed, so things look honest up front.      Trends  They don’t run enough turf races to get a real feel, but a firm course, especially at this distance, typically plays to speed types.      Best Play  #2 LION LAKE (5-2) (turf only): Walsh filly figures primed for a white-hot barn…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/16/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6       Race overview  A solid MSW for 2yos at 7 furlongs.       Pace  Things figure to be quick early, as #8 DR. KAPUR (5-2) showed high speed on debut, and there are a slew of first-time starters from strong barns as well.      Trends  The main track continued to very fair during the second week of racing, with winners employing several different running styles.       Best Play  #8 DR. KAPUR (5-2): Speedster led basically every step of the way…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/15/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  7       Race overview  A seemingly weak MSW for 2yo fillies at 7 furlongs.       Pace  It’s a full field with firsters and more than a few experienced runners who have shown speed, so expect things to be fast early.      Trends  The main track continued to very fair during the second week of racing, with winners employing several different running styles.       Best Play  #10 BONNE SANTE (5-2): Homebred was bet down like a good thing on debut and…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/10/25 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7 Race overview A very weak N1X for fm3up at 1 3/16 miles on the turf. Pace It’s a turf marathon with very few who have an abundance of proven talent, so expect things to be very slow early and turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends They don’t really run enough turf races to have much conviction on how it plays, though any give in the ground will hurt the speed. Best Play #2 VINA ARANA (2-1) (turf only): Extremely talented filly has struggled to get back to…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/9/25 Featured track Keeneland Race number 6   Race overview A deep and competitive AOC for 3yos at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf.   Pace There’s a ton of it here pre scratches, which suggests anyone who will be up front early will pay the price late. Trends They really don’t run enough turf races to have much conviction on how it plays, though any give in the ground will hurt the speed. Best Play #1 LITIGATION (3-1) (turf only): Stalker has won three in a row and now tests better, and while this is a…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/8/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  An extremely weak 30k MCL for 2yos at the short stretch finish line of 1 1/16 miles on the main track.       Pace  There’s none here to keep #7 TINGUS PINGUS (5-2) from being in front, especially since several others are deep one-run closers.      Trends  The main track played very fair Opening Weekend, with winners coming from everywhere.      Best Play  #7 TINGUS PINGUS (5-2): Expected speed/pace player tired in his main track debut at…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/5/25 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7   Race overview A solid MSW for 2yo fillies at 6 furlongs.   Pace It should be honest, as there are a slew of first-time starters, as well as a few proven runners who want to be close early. Trends N/A Best Play #4 PAIGE TURNER (4-1): DeVaux charge was a strong 2nd on debut at Saratoga for a barn that never cranks them, and this 350k daughter of Army Mule—who stands for just 20k—was bet that day (6-1), so she’s well-liked, and therefore she figures primed here. Bet Types…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/4/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  10       Race overview  A wildly deep and competitive renewal of the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile on the turf.       Pace  It looks honest and contested, and potentially even hot, as more than a few, including a pair on the inside, want to be involved early.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #5 WOODSHAUNA (5-1): Rapidly improving Euro 3yo won a G1 against his own two-back but ran a big 3rd after blowing the start when facing older, oozes class,…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/3/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  8       Race overview  An extremely subpar renewal of the G2 Jessamine for 2yo fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  It’s a full field, with many who have shown speed in the past, so things figure honest and potentially fast and competitive up front.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #12 TIME TO DREAM (2-1) (turf only): Pletcher charge enters undefeated and untested after two easy Saratoga wins, including the PG Johnson, has a stalking style…

Happy Champagne Day!  Four graded stakes at the Big A today led by two Grade 1s – the Frizette and the Champagne. Both are “win and you’re in” races for their respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.   Trivia Question: The Frizette and Champagne are the last Grade Is contested on the NYRA circuit for the year. What was the first Grade I run in New York this year ?  Race 6 The Frizette – Grade 1  One Mile On The Dirt for Two Year Old Fillies  Jetty’s Home: Still a maiden after three starts as she finished second in a restricted maiden last out where she hung a bit when…