Handicapping Articles

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/22/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  6       Race overview  A compact but solid AOC for fm3up at 1-mile on the main track.       Pace  There’s plenty here, as more than a few want to go early, so this may come apart in the lane when the speed potentially takes its toll.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over.      Best Play  #6 AMARTH (3-1): Class dropper has been in stakes for 3yo fillies all year and will now…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/21/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  8       Race overview  A modest 50k starter-allowance for 3yo fillies at 7 ½ furlongs.       Pace  There’s very little here, aside from longshot #3, so anyone who has tactical speed should have an advantage.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #7 ANONIMA (5-2): Class dropper has been facing tons better while holding her own, has enough speed to lay close…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/20/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  5       Race overview  A modest 40k MCL for 3up at 7Fs on the main.       Pace  It looks honest enough, as there re more than a few who want to be involved early, including the favorite, #7 MOBSTER (8-5).      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #7 MOBSTER (8-5): MSW dropper finally takes the plunge after they gave it the college…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/19/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  3       Race overview  A competitive 12.5k claimer for 4up at 1 1/16 miles on the main.       Pace  It looks on the slow side, as there’s no confirmed front-runner signed on, so expect a tight pack that will sprint off the far turn.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.       Best Play  #5 ETHEREAL ROAD (3-1): In-form runner goes off-the-claim for Sharp, a…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/18/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  9       Race overview  A full field of 30k 3up MCL’ers at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.        Pace  There’s 12 entered, though there aren’t a ton of burners (#10 Spy offers cheap speed), which means you likely will need to be close early on, which should put #12 HARBE (4-1) in a perfect spot.      Trends  A drying out main track played fair both Saturday and Sunday, after heavy rains left things sloppy and sealed Friday.      …

    “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…