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Happy Belmont Gold Cup Day! The Belmont racing festival heats up with three graded stakes headlined by the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup, which is a two mile, four turn race on the inner turf. Trivia Question: What is the longest graded turf stakes race in North America? Race 3 – The Pennine Ridge – Grade III One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf For Three Year Olds Bottas: Won the first two races of his career last Fall including the Pilgrim (81 Beyer) which led to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he had no impact (73 Beyer). He can win with…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/3/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  A solid renewal of the 200k Commentator for NYBs at 1 1/8 miles.       Pace  It looks honest, if not a bit on the hot side, as not only are there more there a few who want to be close and involved early, including a few who have been running oat one-turn.      Trends  The short answer is N/A, though the longer one says a fast main track will likely be on the quick side, and play more towards speed. …

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/31/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 6   Race overview A very weak bottom-level 12.5k MCL for 3up at 1-mile.   Pace There’s not much here at all, save #1 CARSON (7-2), which should only flatter his chances on or just off the early lead. Trends The main track was very fair the first two days of the week, even tilting a bit towards off-the-pace types. Best Play #1 CARSON (7-2): Lightly-raced 4yo was a solid 2nd at the level off a four-month layoff, in what was his dirt debut as well, so he has more upside…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/30/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 3   Race overview A solid MSW for 3up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.   Pace It looks honest, as there are a few routers who want to be close, and some stretchout sprinters who should be forward as well. Trends The main track sped up Sunday, with all winners coming from 12st or 2nd early, so make sure to follow things early in the week. Best Play #3 SILENT WAY (8-5): Tactical sort was a good 2nd to Belmont-bound Powershift here on Derby Day, seems to be…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/29/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 9   Race overview An extremely (!) weak 50k MCL for fm3up at 1-mile on the turf.   Pace It’s a full field, with several who have shown an affinity to be close early, so things look honest enough up front. Trends The turf course doesn’t get used enough to come up with something concrete, though as a whole, it plays on the fair side. Best Play #8 RACONTEUSE (3-1) (turf only): MSW dropper was a close 5th with a giant figure (for this group) after stalking and tiring against tons…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/28/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 5   Race overview An extremely strong 20k starter-allowance for 4up at 1 1/8 miles.   Pace It looks very honest, and potentially fast and contested, as there are several entered who want to be close and vying early. Trends The main track sped up Sunday, with all winners coming from 12st or 2nd early, so make sure to follow things early in the week. Best Play #9 CAROLO RAPIDO (9-2): Well-drawn veteran has been in good form for a few different barns of late, now goes off-the-claim for Norm Casses…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/25/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 9   Race overview A muddled full field in an MSW for 3up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.   Pace There’s 12 here, so you’d think things will be honest up front. Trends There’s really nothing to go on here, as they use the turf course sparingly, and it’s taken some rain during the week as well. Best Play #8 ZIHNAL (7-2) (turf or dirt): Has this homebred as the BB in a Laurel stakes on Preakness Weekend but he scratched to run here, and with a big turf…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/24/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 5   Race overview A meek 30k MCL for 3up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.   Pace It looks honest, though not overly fast, as there are more than a few who want to be close early, but no confirmed front runners. Trends The main track has been a mixture of fast and sloppy this week, so take note how it may be playing early on the card. Best Play #5 NYQUISTADOR (5-2): MSW dropper will also (unfathomably) try the main track for the first time, and considering…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/23/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 10   Race overview A relatively modest 50k starter-allowance for 3up at 1-mile.   Pace It looks potentially hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to be close and involved throughout. Trends The main track has been playing fair, though it really sped up Sunday, with 5-of-7 races won on the front end, and another from 2nd early, so take note how it plays early in the week. Best Play #2 GETHSEMANE (7-5): Rice claim (21%) was a good 2nd going longer for 80k, so this…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 5/22/26 Featured track Churchill Downs Race number 7   Race overview A full MSW for fm3up at 1-mile on the main track.   Pace It looks honest enough, as there are more than a few who not only want to be close early, but are stretching out as well. Trends The main track has been playing fair, though it really sped up Sunday, with 5-of-7 races won on the front end, and another from 2nd early, so take note how it plays early in the week. Best Play #10 IN SCOPE (4-1): Arnold filly was 3rd on debut…