Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/31/25 Featured track Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Friday Race number 2   Race overview The 200k Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for 2yos at 1m on turf.   Pace It looks potentially hot and contested, as there not only is plenty of speed on paper, but several stretching out to two turns as well. Trends N/A Best Play #5 PLUTARCH (2-1) (turf only): Baffert runner had a troubled trip when 2nd on the turf in the G3 Del Mar Juvenile, was a close 3rd on dirt in the G1 American Pharoah, lays over these on class, and has the…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/30/25      Featured track  Del Mar      Race number  7       Race overview  The 100k Let It Ride for California-bred 3yos at 1-mile on the turf.       Pace  It looks honest, and potentially hot, as there are more than a few who want to be close early.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #6 FRIENDLY CONFINES (2-1) (turf only): Versatile sort looked good winning his return off a six-month layoff, has a class edge too, having run 2nd in an open stakes in March, drew well, and has…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/26/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  8       Race overview  A competitive renewal of the 200k Rags to Riches for 2yo fillies at   1 1/16 miles.       Pace  It looks honest, as there are a pair (#1 and #3) stretching out to two turns after having shown speed going shorter in their last.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #4 LIFE OF JOY (5-2): Gun Runner filly settled then decimated the field by a widening 14+ on Debut at Indiana, and while this group is…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/25/25 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7 Race overview A solid OC/N2X for 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 miles. Pace It looks to be on the slow side, as there isn’t much here, and this is a distance that several are likely to struggle with. Trends A fast main track (it was sloppy Sunday) continued to be very fair last week, with winners coming from everywhere. Best Play #1 QUICKICK (3-1): Amoss charge drops out of stakes company for the first time, which enables her to add Lasix, so with a cozy post and a run all…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 10/24/25 Featured track Keeneland Race number 7   Race overview A deep and competitive N1X for fm3up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.   Pace There’s not much on paper, in terms of confirmed front runners, so things figure tepid early, which will turn into a sprint off the far turn. Trends They don’t run enough turf races to develop any kind of trend or bias, though this is a much fairer course than a speedier Sar or GP. Best Play #5 CORRETO (4-1) (turf only): Motion 3yo showed promise in some GP stakes this winter…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/23/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  7       Race overview  A deep N2L for 2yos at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  It looks on the slow side, as there are no burners signed on, while several entered have shown an affinity to come from off the pace.      Trends  They don’t run enough turf races to develop any kind of trend or bias, though this is a much fairer course than a speedier Sar or GP.      Best Play  #9 EXPRESSWAY (7-2) (turf only):…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/22/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  3       Race overview  A meek 40k N2L for 3up at 6 furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as more than a few want to be close early.      Trends  A fast main track (it was sloppy Sunday) continued to be very fair last week, with winners coming from everywhere.       Best Play  #4 COLONEL CALIENTE (5-2): Pace presser was a strong 4th against better while facing winners, in a liv race that saw the winner…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/19/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  9       Race overview  A full field of 2yos in a MSW at 6 furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It could be hot, as there are a slew of firsters from sharp barns, as well as a few with experience who have gone fast early.      Trends  The main track continued to very fair during the first part of the week, and even had a bit of an off-the-pace feel to it Th/Fri.       Best Play  #5 TROUBLE…

      “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/18/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  6       Race overview  A solid renewal of the G3 Perryville for 3yos at 7Fs on the main.       Pace  There’s plenty here, as more than a few want to be involved early and often, including #5 Captain Cook (6-5).      Trends  The main track continued to very fair during the second week of racing, with winners employing several different running styles.       Best Play  #3 BARNES (5-2): Baffert charge lost to Captain Cook in his comeback in the G1…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  10/17/25      Featured track  Keeneland       Race number  4       Race overview  A seemingly watered down MSW for 2yofs at 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  It’s a full field, with some experienced runners who have shown speed, so things look honest up front.      Trends  They don’t run enough turf races to get a real feel, but a firm course, especially at this distance, typically plays to speed types.      Best Play  #2 LION LAKE (5-2) (turf only): Walsh filly figures primed for a white-hot barn…