Brian Nadeau Handicaps the Belmont Stakes

Belmont Park: The Grade I, $1 million Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles #1 Frac Daddy: Hit-or-miss type was a decent second to fellow entrant Overanalyze in a painfully slow GI Arkansas Derby, then was 16th in the Kentucky Derby in his last, so he’ll need a massive form reversal to factor. McPeek charge will…

Brian Nadeau Handicaps the Preakness

Pimlico: The GI, $1 million Preakness at 1 3/16 miles #1 Orb: Kentucky Derby hero made it five in a row in Louisville when he sat off a suicidal pace in the slop, rallied wide and rolled home as tons the best and will look to take the next step towards racing immortality in Baltimore.…

Who do you like? Betting the 2013 Preakness

While no one would suggest that making money on the Kentucky Derby is an easy proposition, at least the big field offers a variety of ways in which to cash a juicy ticket. The Preakness, on the other hand, offers a different kind of wagering challenge. Orb, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner, is the morning…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs: The GI, $2 million Kentucky Derby at 1 ¼ miles #1 Black Onyx (50-1 morning line): Streaking runner has won both starts this year, on turf at Gulfstream Park in February and in the GIII Spiral on the Polytrack at Turfway Park in March, and tries the dirt for the first time since…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Derby Trial

Churchill Downs: The Grade III, $175,000 Derby Trial at 1 mile #1 Officer Alex: Versatile sprinter kicks off the final race that offers points for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and looms an intriguing price player for Whiting, who won the Run for the Roses in 1992 with Lil E. Tee. If you toss his two-turn…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Lexington

Keeneland: The Grade III, $200,000 Lexington at 1 1/16 miles #1 Winning Cause: Well-bred son of Giant’s Causeway closed like a freight train when winning at seven furlongs earlier in the meet to raise his local mark to 2-for-2, and he rates as a real up and comer in this wide open GIII. Stretch runner…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Blue Grass

Keeneland: The GI, $750,000 Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles #1 Dynamic Sky: The first of two for Casse and Oxley drew a nice ground-saving post in this deep and oversubscribed field of 15 (only 14 will go) and gets back to the scene of his second place run in the GI Breeders’ Futurity last…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn Park: The Grade I, $1 million Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Carve: Local two-time route winner tries again after he was sixth, beaten nine lengths, when breaking from the rail in the local prep, the GII Rebel in March, and will need to hurry to factor today. If you’re looking for positives,…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Santa Anita Derby

Santa Anita: The GI, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Flashback: Highly touted Baffert runner won the battle but lost the war when he dueled through suicidal fractions with fellow rival Goldencents and succumbed late in the local prep, the GII San Felipe in March. and will need to settle a bit…