Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/26/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A solid NYB 50k starter-allowance for fm3up at 7 furlongs.       Pace  It looks wildly fast up front, as there are several who want to roll early, so the ability to settle seems paramount.      Trends  The main track was washed out from the rain Sunday, but when fast, has continued to play fair throughout the meet.      Best Play  #6 OUR PREFERRED PAL (3-1): Versatile sort cuts back after pressing things at 1-mile, but has stalked…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/22/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  11       Race overview  A compact and extremely weak renewal of the G1 Alabama for 3yo fillies at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.       Pace  There’s none here, so expect the huge favorite #6 Counting Stars (1-2) to default as the speed, as she’s the only tactical one here.      Trends  A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace.      Best Play  #4 MY GUN’S LOADED (3-1): Up-and-comer…

Happy Alabama Day! Having already won the Acorn and CCA Oaks, Counting Stars goes for a sweep of the Summer Grade 1’s for three old fillies in New York. Kentucky Oaks winner Always A Runner does not run here and instead is being aimed to the $1 million Cotillion at Parx next month. Trivia Question: Who was the last filly to sweep the Acorn, CCA Oaks, and the Alabama? Race 10  – The Ballston Spa Stakes One Mile and a Sixteenth On the Inner Turf for Fillies and Mares 3 Years Old and Up Ozara: Defending champion is three for four over this track. In the Diana she…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/21/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 9   Race overview A very solid renewal of the 200k Fleet Indian for NYB 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.   Pace There’s a ton here, and comes from several who have been running at one-turn, so things should be hot and contested early, which suggests this could fall apart late at such a demanding distance. Trends A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace. Best Play #4 IRON ORCHARD (3-1): Stalker has run just once…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/20/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6 Race overview A very weak NYB 45K/N2X for fm3up at 1-mile on the main track. Pace It looks honest enough, as there are a trio who want to be on or just off the early pace. Trends A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace. Best Play #2 VALTELLINA (E): Low hanging fruit here, but this filly has been running in 1 1/8-mile stakes races, including a pair of graded events, so she not only brings a ton of class…

    PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 8/19/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview An extremely meek renewal of the 150k Statue of Liberty for NYB 3yo fillies at 1-mile on the inner turf.   Pace It looks on the slower side of honest, as there are no true speedsters, but there are several who want to be close early. Trends A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from all over, but tactical speed is always going to be an advantage with the tighter turns of the inner course. Best Play #7 SHE’S COUNTRY (2-1) (turf…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/16/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A deep and competitive 16k claimer for 4up at 6 ½ furlongs.   Pace It looks honest, and potentially hot and contested, as there are more than a few with outside draws that want to motor early. Trends All bets are off after a muddy main track Saturday, so check the charts to see how it played, and obviously the weather/track condition on race day as well. Best Play #4 FARM TEAM (6-1): Huge class dropper goes for a Kantarmaci barn that has had a solid meet with…

Happy Christophe Clement Turf Stakes Day! Very competitive Christophe Clement Turf with a field that includes the top three finishers from the Bowling Green, the winner of the United Nations along with several quality Euros including a mare who just won the Glens Falls two weeks ago. None of the seven entrants were off the board in their most recent start – all of which were against graded stakes company. Trivia Question: The Sword Dancer, now the Christophe Clement, has been contested since 1975. Which trainer has the most wins in this Grade I? Race 9  The Christophe Clement Turf  Stakes – Grade I One Mile and a…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/15/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A deep and competitive renewal of the 200k Galway for 3yo fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.   Pace It looks potentially supersonic, as there are more than a few who want to roll early, which suggests this could fall apart in the lane. Trends The turf has been fair throughout the meet, and has seen plenty of off-the-pace winners, though monitor the weather/course condition, after there were rains earlier in the week. Best Play #5 CADENZA (7-2) (turf only): Stalker didn’t handle the…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/14/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  An extremely strong OC80K/N2X for 3up at 7 furlongs.       Pace  It looks hot, as more than a few want to motor early, which suggest they could come back in the lane at this demanding distance.      Trends  The main track continues to play fair, and even had a bit of an off-the-pace feel to it over the weekend.      Best Play  #5 ELIMINATE (9-2): Rice charge ran huge winning for fun off-the-claim and off-the-pace at BAQ,…