Happy Valentine’s Day to all you horse players! I had three winners last week (finally). Here are today’s pics.
RACE 1: Maiden claiming $40,000, one mile and sixteenth, turf
#1 MATCHA was scratched last Friday and is back for this race. I picked him to win last time, I’ll pick him again today. Trainer John Kimmel is known for winning races at really long layoffs (+180 days) and when they win they go off at juicy odds. Mare has what it takes to win this race – solid Beyers, solid workouts and a 19% winning pct for the connections Tobey Morton.
PICKS: 1-2-4-8
RACE 2: Maiden claiming $12,500, 6 ½ furlongs, dirt
Tough one. I’m gonna go with #6 LUXE DIAMOND. Filly is dropping in class for this one. Fared well against Maiden $32,000. Although she was fourth, she was only 2 ½ lengths behind the winner. Trainer Joe Orseno is doing well too. He bats .33 with horses making their second race off a 180+ layoff, which is what we have here. Seems like a safe play.
PICKS: 6-2-4
RACE 3: Maiden claiming $12,500, 6 ½ furlongs, dirt.
Another low-price claimer sprint. #4 ZIPPY has what it takes to win. Trainer David Fawkes specializes in turf routes but he can win dirt sprints as well (9-for-56, .16). The Fawkes-Tyler Gaffalione angle is 3-for-14, .21 over the last two meets. This gelding has the best Beyers in the field (70+) and placed ITM in three out of his last four races. He’s also wearing blinkers for the first time. Fawkes bats .25 with first-time blinkers and .15 going from route-to-sprints. Seems like another safe bet of the day.
PICKS: 4-5-3
RACE 4: Maiden claiming $75,000, one mile, turf
I like #1 MAVERICK KITTEN. Trainer Michael Maker is a king in maiden claimer races (11-for-43 in the last two seasons). He wins a lot of races for the connections at Gulfstream (17-for-74, .23) and the colt lost by a head-bob last time out. Irad Ortiz is riding and he’s due for his first of the day.
PICKS: 1-2-10
RACE 5: Claiming $16,000, five furlongs, turf
Trainer Jane Cibelli is a turf sprint specialist (6-for-29, .21) and 18-for-56 in claiming races with a .32 winning percentage. Irad Ortiz is riding and he will get his second win of the day on #2 WHAT’S INSIDE
PICKS: 2-1-8
RACE 6: Claiming $12,500, one mile, dirt
This race will go to #7 QUALITY SPECIAL. Trainer Gustavo Delgado is batting .23 with horses going from turf-to-dirt. He’s also batting .26 in dirt races, .20 in route races and .25 this year in claiming races. Luis Saez is riding and he almost won on him two races back. The trainer-jock combo is also batting .29. Those are solid numbers for a solid bet.
PICKS: 7-5-1
RACE 7: Claiming $40,000, one mile, turf
#2 MUSIC FOR LIFE is trained by turf route king Saffie Joseph. He just acquired this filly from another trainer and he wins at a .33 clip with new horses first time out. The filly is also coming off a 60-to-180 layoff and Joseph is also batting .31 with this particular angle. This year the trainer-jock combo is batting .40. That’s really good. Seems like it’s a sure bet.
PICKS: 2-5-8
RACE 8: Claiming $12,500, six furlongs, dirt
#1 FRANK’S LEGACY should win this going away. It’s another Saffie Joseph horse and Joseph is batting .41 with horses off a claim. Jockey Paco Lopez is riding and he will get his first win of the day.
PICKS: 1-5-4
RACE 9: Allowance $51,000N1X, five furlongs, turf
The race of the day. Nobody really stands out so I’m going with #2 STURGEON. The trainer Kendall Connie is iffy (0-for-14 at GP this season) but this gelding had a great race last time out, coming in place and earning a Beyer of 84 at this distance on turf. The gelding likes this distance and seems to like the GP sod. Connie is switching jockeys too (Paco Lopez to Jose Ortiz). Maybe that will shake things up. Jose is due for a win today as well.
PICKS: 2-6-1
RACE 10: Maiden claiming $16,000, 1 1/16 mile, turf
Last race of the day. Anyone can win.
PICKS: 2-4-5-6