Handicapping Articles

    ​“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/17/26      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  5       Race overview  A deep and competitive 50k starter-allowance for 4up at 7 Fs.       Pace  It looks honest, as there are a few who want to be close early, but it doesn’t look overly fast either, so being able to lay close is an asset.       Trends  The main track continues to play on the fair side, and even had a slight off-the-pace feel to it over the weekend.      Best Play  #8 TARANTINO (9-2): Jacobson runner cuts…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/14/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 2   Race overview A modest marathon MSW for fm3up at 1 ½ miles on the turf.   Pace They’re going longggg here, so expect things to crawl early and pick up entering the far turn, and turn into a sprint from there. Trends They don’t run enough turf races here for there to be a true course profile, but overall things seem to play fair to all styles. Best Play #2 ELIDA’S ANGEL (5-2) (turf only): DeVaux filly was a closing 4th at 1 1/8 miles in her debut, where…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/13/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 8 Race overview A deep and competitive 62.5k claimer for 4up at 7 ½ furlongs. Pace It looks on the tepid side, as there are no confirmed front runners signed on, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn. Trends The main track continued to play on the fair side for the first two days of the week, with winners coming from everywhere. Best Play #9 ZAMBEZI (8-5): Maker charge has been in good form in three starts off-the-claim without winning, but he romped (in the slop)…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/11/26      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  8       Race overview  A relatively modest (on paper) MSW for fm4up at 1-mile on turf.       Pace  There’s a trio on the inside that want to be on or just off the early lead, so things look honest, and potentially competitive, up front.      Trends  They don’t run enough turf races here for there to be a true course profile, but needless to say, it’s a lot fairer than the GP speedy highway that #3 HEDGE BOOK ran over in her career debut.      Best Play  #3 HEDGE BOOK (6-1) (turf only): Been waiting for…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/10/26      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  3       Race overview  A very strong 25k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles.       Pace  There’s not much here, with the possible exception of #7 Saltwater Cowboy (9-2), so being able to lay close early seems a plus.      Trends  A fast main track played on the fair side all week, with winners coming from every, including plenty from mid-pack off off-the-pace.      Best Play  #6 DAI VERNON (9-5): GP invader now also moves into a potent Crichton barn, which is a huge 36% with newcomers,…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/7/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A deep and competitive N1X for NYBs at 7fs on the main track.   Pace It looks hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to be on or just off the early lead. Trends The main track continued to be a paved highway the first three days of the meet, with minimal passing, so you better be close, at the very least, even at this demanding distance. Best Play #6 BOLD LOVE (5-1): Stalker ran well against open 3yos at 1m with big…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/6/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 4   Race overview A wildly deep and competitive OC/N1X for fm3up at 6 ½ furlongs.   Pace It looks hot and contested, and potentially supersonic, as there are more than a few who want to fly on the front end, which suggests this could fall apart in the lane (if the track is more on the fair side; see below) at what is a tricky and demanding distance. Trends The main track was predictably fast and speed Wednesday and Thursday, so make sure to check the charts Friday in the hopes…

Happy Belmont Day! Magnificent day of racing with six Grade 1 stakes races led by the Belmont. Only the Breeders’ Cup cards offer more Grade 1s. Oh, and pack a lunch – and maybe a dinner. First post is at 11am and the last post is at 8:02pm. Trivia question: Who won the other two editions of the Belmont Stakes contested at Saratoga? Race 12 – The Manhattan – Grade I One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf for Four Year Olds and Up Tiz Dashing: Didn’t fire in the Makers Mark Mile as he was in position but faded (91 Beyer). Two back in the…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 6/5/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6   Race overview A predictably deep and competitive MSW for fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.   Pace Simply put, there’s none here to keep #5 HOME WRECKER (10-1) from clearing early and trying to lull them all to sleep on the front. Trends It was just one day, but the turf sure played to speed Wednesday, with all but one winner being either on or just off the early pace, so monitor things Thursday, and swing away if it’s still the case. Best Play #5 HOME WRECKER (10-1)…

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…