Nadeau: Saratoga Play of the Day Sun 7.6.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/6/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A relatively modest, albeit competitive, AOC for fm3up at 1 ½ miles on the inner turf.       Pace  It’s a marathon on the turf, with no real speed on paper, so they’ll crawl early and sprint off the far turn.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #5 MIWA (5-2) (turf only): Pletcher charge makes the often key third start of her form cycle and for her new barn, plummets after being in over her head in the…

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Nadeau: Saratoga Play of the Day Sat 7.5.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/5/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  9       Race overview  An extremely strong NYB AOC/N2X for 3up at 7Fs on the main.       Pace  It looks extremely hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to be involved early and often.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #4 I’M WIDE AWAKE (3-1): Class riser moved to the Norm Casse barn and demolished a N1X field here last month, while showing the ability to press the pace and not get caught in a duel,…

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Applebee: Closer Look / Belmont Oaks Invy – Kelso SAR 7.5.25

Happy Belmont Oaks Invitational Day!  Strong card at the Spa with three graded stakes co-headlined by the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational and Grade III Kelso.   Trivia question: Which horse has won “Horse of the Year” honors the most times?  Race 10 – The Kelso Stakes – Grade III  One Mile on the Inner Turf for Four Year Olds and Up  Neat: In the Dinner Party on Preakness Day, he faltered and was eased. Looks to regain his three year old form when he won both the Manila and Hall of Fame Stakes. The mile should suit – but he has been off the boil for a while…

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Applebee: Closer Look / Belmont Derby Invy – Suburban SAR 7.4.25

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Belmont Derby Invitational Day!!!  Flat racing at the Spa and the 4th of July is a combo that would have been hard to imagine years ago, but this is not your father’s racing calendar. There are five stakes races on this loaded card led by the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational and the Grade II Suburban Handicap.   Trivia question: Which track was the original host of the historic Suburban Handicap in 1884?  Race 9 – The Belmont Derby Invitational – Grade I  One Mile and One Furlong on the Mellon Turf for Three Year Olds  Tank: Winner of three black type stakes…

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Nadeau: Saratoga Play of the Day Fri 7.4.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/4/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  6       Race overview  A seemingly weak restricted MSW for 2yos at 5 ½ Fs on the turf.       Pace  There are a slew of first-time starters entered, so expect things to be quick up front.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #2 NOWUCME NOWUDONT (4-1) (turf or dirt): Good Magic colt cost a hefty 425k at auction but gets to run here because he’s an NYB, so he’s facing a watered-down group of restricted runners or fellow NYBs, while he’s…

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Nadeau: Saratoga Play of the Day Thurs 7.3.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  7/3/25      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  8       Race overview  A solid renewal of the 150k Wild Applause for 3yo fillies at 1-mile on the inner turf.       Pace  There’s literally none here, so expect a compact group to the far turn, and a sprint home.      Trends  N/A      Best Play  #6 PLAY WITH FIRE (9-5) (turf only): Stakes winner was privately purchased after her Hilltop win at Pimlico and turned over to Brown (28% with barn newcomers), and she was already the best horse in…

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Nadeau: CD Play of the Day Sun 6.29.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/29/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  10       Race overview  An awesome renewal of the 250k Maxfield for 3yos at 7Fs.       Pace  There’s a ton here, as more than a few want to motor early, so a stalking/closing style could play in a race that may fall apart late.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #2 CAPTAIN COOK (9-2): NY invader couldn’t quite…

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Nadeau: CD Play of the Day Sat 6.28.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/28/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  9       Race overview  A stellar renewal of the G3 Kelly’s Landing for 3yo at 6 ½ Fs.       Pace  They’ll be humming along early, as more than a few want to be on or just off the early lead.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #1 DR. VENKMAN (5-2): G2 winner was a strong 2nd behind the…

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Nadeau: Play of the Day FRI 6.27.25

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  6/27/25      Featured track  Churchill Downs       Race number  4       Race overview  A strong 20k claimer for fm4up at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.       Pace  It looks honest and potentially crowded, as more than a few want to be close and/or involved early on.      Trends  The track continues to play fair, with winners coming from all over, though a drying out main track can play to outside stalker/closers.      Best Play  #7 DEMI (5-2): Hartman claim (22%) has a huge closing kick, which should…

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