Handicapping Articles

Happy Ogden Phipps Day! Five stakes on the card today for the fillies led by three Grade Is. The Acorn has four of the top five finishers in the Kentucky Oaks back in the starting gate as they face each other in a re-match. It’s a short field, but all the right ones are entered. The question in the Odgen Phipps revolves around Nitrogen and whether she can regain her form after being defeated by Majestic Oops in the Azeri and the late Claret Beret in the Apple Blossom. She didn’t have an excuse on either day. She has had a bit more time between starts this time…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/4/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 8 Race overview A solid renewal of the G2 Intercontinental for fm4up at 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon turf course. Pace It looks hot and contested, as there are at lest three who want to motor early on the front end. Trends N/A Best Play #3 IN OUR TIME (3-1) (turf only): Tactical filly cut back and wowed in the G2 Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland, has the perfect running style to sit off the speed and get first run on the closers, and should only be better with the sprint return…

Happy Belmont Gold Cup Day! The Belmont racing festival heats up with three graded stakes headlined by the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup, which is a two mile, four turn race on the inner turf. Trivia Question: What is the longest graded turf stakes race in North America? Race 3 – The Pennine Ridge – Grade III One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf For Three Year Olds Bottas: Won the first two races of his career last Fall including the Pilgrim (81 Beyer) which led to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he had no impact (73 Beyer). He can win with…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/3/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  A solid renewal of the 200k Commentator for NYBs at 1 1/8 miles.       Pace  It looks honest, if not a bit on the hot side, as not only are there more there a few who want to be close and involved early, including a few who have been running oat one-turn.      Trends  The short answer is N/A, though the longer one says a fast main track will likely be on the quick side, and play more towards speed. …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/31/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 6   Race overview A very weak bottom-level 12.5k MCL for 3up at 1-mile.   Pace There’s not much here at all, save #1 CARSON (7-2), which should only flatter his chances on or just off the early lead. Trends The main track was very fair the first two days of the week, even tilting a bit towards off-the-pace types. Best Play #1 CARSON (7-2): Lightly-raced 4yo was a solid 2nd at the level off a four-month layoff, in what was his dirt debut as well, so he has more upside…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/30/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 3   Race overview A solid MSW for 3up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.   Pace It looks honest, as there are a few routers who want to be close, and some stretchout sprinters who should be forward as well. Trends The main track sped up Sunday, with all winners coming from 12st or 2nd early, so make sure to follow things early in the week. Best Play #3 SILENT WAY (8-5): Tactical sort was a good 2nd to Belmont-bound Powershift here on Derby Day, seems to be…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/29/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 9   Race overview An extremely (!) weak 50k MCL for fm3up at 1-mile on the turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with several who have shown an affinity to be close early, so things look honest enough up front. Trends The turf course doesn’t get used enough to come up with something concrete, though as a whole, it plays on the fair side. Best Play #8 RACONTEUSE (3-1) (turf only): MSW dropper was a close 5th with a giant figure (for this group) after stalking and tiring against tons…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/28/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 5   Race overview An extremely strong 20k starter-allowance for 4up at 1 1/8 miles.   Pace It looks very honest, and potentially fast and contested, as there are several entered who want to be close and vying early. Trends The main track sped up Sunday, with all winners coming from 12st or 2nd early, so make sure to follow things early in the week. Best Play #9 CAROLO RAPIDO (9-2): Well-drawn veteran has been in good form for a few different barns of late, now goes off-the-claim for Norm Casses…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/25/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 9   Race overview A muddled full field in an MSW for 3up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.   Pace There’s 12 here, so you’d think things will be honest up front. Trends There’s really nothing to go on here, as they use the turf course sparingly, and it’s taken some rain during the week as well. Best Play #8 ZIHNAL (7-2) (turf or dirt): Has this homebred as the BB in a Laurel stakes on Preakness Weekend but he scratched to run here, and with a big turf…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/24/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 5   Race overview A meek 30k MCL for 3up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.   Pace It looks honest, though not overly fast, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, but no confirmed front runners. Trends The main track has been a mixture of fast and sloppy this week, so take note how it may be playing early on the card. Best Play #5 NYQUISTADOR (5-2): MSW dropper will also (unfathomably) try the main track for the first time, and considering…