Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/15/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  5       Race overview  A deep and competitive N1X for 3up at 7 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks a bit on the tepid side, as there aren’t many with early zip, which suggests you need the ability to lay close early.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed on Wednesday, and, for the most part, has been throughout the meet (when fast).      Best Play  #5 ALSTON (6-1): Returnee delivered in his…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/14/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive 50k claimer for 3up at 1-mile.       Pace  It looks hot and contested, as basically everyone entered wants to go early, so anyone who can rate gets a big edge.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed on Wednesday, and, for the most part, has been throughout the meet (when fast).      Best Play  #5 CRUSHED IT (5-1): Expected stalker makes his first start for DeVaux (12% with barn…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/13/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6       Race overview  A stakes-caliber AOC for 3up at 6Fs on the main track.       Pace  It looks hot, and it looks contested, as (pre-scratches) there are several who want to roll early, which suggests this could fall apart in the stretch, and land in the lap of a stalker/closer.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed on Wednesday, and, for the most part, has been throughout the meet (when fast).      Best Play  #7 DISCREET…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/12/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  3       Race overview  A compact but very competitive 80k N2L for fm3up at 6Fs.       Pace  Things look hot and potentially crowded up front, as more than a few want to be involved early, so a stalking style seems preferred.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed a tad off-the-pace early in the week then turned a lot speedier and a bit inside on Sunday, after it dried out from Saturday rains.      Best Play  #6…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/11/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  2       Race overview  A solid 40k claimer for 4up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  There’s no one here who can run with #4 El Rey Dorado (7-2), which means he should be able to clear on the front, especially since several who are entered are two-turn routers with no speed at all.      Trends  The main track was fair and even seemed a tad off-the-pace early in the week then turned a lot speedier and a bit…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/8/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A deep and competitive AOC for NYBs at 6 ½ Fs on the main track.       Pace  There’s a ton of it here on paper, so there’s a chance something will give early, or someone will need to show a it of a new dimension.       Trends  It’s almost pointless t predict anything, as the weather has (unfortunately) wreaked havoc on the proceedings, though tracking things in the slop Saturday to see how the main plays can’t hurt. …

Happy Belmont Day!  Great match-up today in the Belmont with Derby winner Sovereignty meeting Preakness winner Journalism for a rematch. If either one wins today, they become the undisputed divisional leader.   Trivia question: If either Journalism or Sovereignty win today, they will be the first horse in seven years to win more than one leg of the Triple Crown, who was the last horse to do so?  Race 12 – The Manhattan – Grade I  One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward  1. Endlessly: Came off a nine month layoff in the American Stakes and finished a decent third (89…

Happy New York Stakes Day!  Today we have a huge card with six graded stakes and four Grade Is. NYRA has truly made this a racing festival by having such strong cards leading into Belmont Day. It would have been nice to have had Thorpedo Anna in the Phipps today – but she was poor in the La Troienne and now appears to be on an extended break. What we do have is an excellent renewal of the Ogden Phipps where you can make a case for almost all the entries.   Trivia Question: Four mares have won the Ogden Phipps Stakes twice – who was the most recent…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/6/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  7       Race overview  A solid AOC for fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course/       Pace  It should be honest, as there are a few who want to lead, and several others who want to lay close early.      Trends  There’s nothing to garner, as this is just a one-off five-day race week, but if the weather cooperates (another mystery), take note of how speed is playing on both turf courses.      Best Play  #3 MYSTIFYING (2-1)…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/5/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  5       Race overview  A seemingly weak MSW for NYBs fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.       Pace  It should be honest, as there are several stretching out, along with some dirt sprinters, so you have to figure more than a few will be involved early and often.      Trends  There’s nothing to garner, as this is just a one-off five-day race week, but if the weather cooperates (another mystery), take note of how speed is playing on…