Handicapping Articles

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/5/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 11      Race overview:  One of those loaded Saratoga N1X’s for 3up sprinting 7Fs on the dirt, with a field loaded with potential stakes runners.       Pace:  It should be honest, as there are more than a few here who want to be involved early.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, tough as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play:  #5 FRAT PACK (9-2):…

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a fantastic card with four graded stakes races including three Grade 1s.  While the Whitney and Test headline the day, don’t overlook the Troy Stakes where the awesome mare Caravel takes on the boys again as she aims to continue her domination of the turf sprint division.    Trivia Question: Only two horses have won the Whitney Stakes three times – who was the most recent horse to achieve this feat?  Race 8 – The Test – Grade I  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt, For Three Year Old Fillies  Pretty Mischievous: Divisional leader of three year old fillies after narrow wins in the Kentucky…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/4/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 3      Race overview:  A solid field of 10k claimers sprinting 6Fs on the main.       Pace:  It looks hot and contested, as more than a few want to go early, with just as many wanting to keep them honest.      Trends:  The main track has been on the fair side all meet, tough as a general rule, you want to have tactical speed sprinting, as races rarely fall apart in the lane.       Best Play:  #7 TURNSANDCONDITIONS (6-1): Stiff class dropper has been facing…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/3/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 1      Race overview:  An NYB MSW for 2yos routing 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, with several decent prospects and names to remember down the line.       Pace:  It’s a two-turn turf route, with a quick run to a first turn that most of these have never seen before, so things can get quick in a hurry.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  8/2/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 8      Race overview:  A strong renewal of the restricted De La Rose for fillies and mares going 1-mile on the inner turf.       Pace:  It’s turf racing in New York in 2023, so who the heck knows, but on paper it’s a pace that looks honest and contested, as you know #2 Evvie Jets (9-2) is going, #5 Technical Analysis (9-5) pressed her last time, and #6 Regal Realm (5-1) is no slouch early either.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm,…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date:  7/30/2023      Featured Track/Race:   Saratoga – Race 7      Race overview:  A stakes-caliber AOC for 3up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.        Pace:  It looks honest, as there are a few who want to be involved early, which should tilt this towards a first-run stalker.      Trends:  The turf has been a mixture of firm, giving, and OFF, so it’s tough to discern anything, though when it’s on the firm side, you need to be close early on, as making up significant ground isn’t easy.       Best Play:  #2…

Happy Jim Dandy Day!  For the fifth year in a row a different horse won each leg of the Triple Crown and we arrive at the Jim Dandy with the three year old division totally wide open.  Mage, National Treasure and Arcangelo each one a leg of the Triple Crown trail and then Geaux Rocket Ride upset the field in the Haskell. Given those results Forte probably retains a tentative hold on the division lead from his performances earlier this year – but much will be determined today and in the Travers.  Trivia Question – who was the last horse to win more than one leg of the…