Gulfstream Opening Day features another rendition of the Claiming Crown, always a great opportunity for bettors on races that, for the most part, are a puzzle to decipher. Let’s get down to the analysis.
1st race: About 7 1/2 Furlongs | Fillies | 2 Year Olds | MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
12-2-8.
Heroic Activist has been running against much tougher competition (Newspaperofrecord), the cutback in distance and the two and a half months on the shelf can help her to score here. And She’s Gone had a rough start FTO, she was a $725K buy, so she must have shown something to spend that kind of money.
2nd race: 7 Furlongs. Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
1-3-2.
Uno Mas Modelo didn’t disgrace himself against Diversify, Mendelsohhn and company, this is a much softer group and the distance fits him to a Tee. Cautious Giant is 5 for 9 at this specialists distance, dangerous.
3rd race: 7½ Furlongs.(Turf) Mdn 60k. FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
8-3-12.
Bourbon in May goes second time out for Todd Pletcher, who looks primed to have a great meeting. Didn’t had much of a pace to run against on his debut, should be better now. Skychief already 0 for 5, but has the good post and drops in distance. Watch out for Bad Boy, Abreu knows how to prepare them for their vow run.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. Claiming Crown Express THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
2-14-7
In a race loaded with speed, I will go with a horse that has shown the ability to come right off the pace. He is 7 for 13 at this trip and gets a nice upgrade in Nik Juarez. First Growth comes from the 14th hole, a disadvantage, but if a bring speed duel develop[s, he will be right there picking up the pieces.
5th race: 5 Furlongs.(Turf). Claiming Crown Distaff Dash. FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
3-8-2
Blue Bahia looks solid in here. She is 3 for 6 at Gulfstream and 9 for 14 at this distance. Paco Lopez stays up and they were looking for this race since July. Indiana shipper looks like the main danger with her explosive speed.
6th race: 1 1/16 Mile. Claiming Crown Iron Horse. THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
9-2-12
Eight year old veteran Twocubanbrothersu has a pace advantage vs this bunch, and Saez is a master with these kind of horses. Quenane goes from Gonzalez to Paco Lopez, and that alone is enough to give him a long hard look.
7th race: 1 1/16 Mile.(Turf). Claiming Crown Tiara. FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
12-9-1
Class edge goes for the Kevin Attard trainee Starship Jubilee, who is 7 for 13 at Gulfstream. That outside post is no small feat to overcome, but she is clearly the class of this field. Watch out for the Kelly Breen trainee who is three out of her last four and will be forwardly placed from the start.
8th race: 1 Mile. Claiming Crown Glass Slipper. FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
9-5-14
In which is maybe the most difficult race to handicap all afternoon, I’ll go with the California shipper Ransomed, who was claimed by Diodoro, a big percentage low quality trainer, for this particular race. Southernperfection dictated the pace in the Spinster two races ago, and these fillies are nowhere near the quality of those.
9th race: 5 Furlongs.(Turf) Claiming Crown Canterbury. THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
1-11-9
Bushrod ran very nicely against Hembree, who then went into the Breeders Cup and after that placed in another stakes race. Rocket Heat can be the speed of the speed and can be long gone from that eleven post.
10th race: 1 1/16 Mile.(Turf). Claiming Crown Emerald. THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
1-6-8
Birdsnest Party is the speediest of this bunch, it is true that he is climbing the ladder aggressively, but I like this kind of move. Aquaphobia ran into a group way too tough for him, now returns to a level in which he has to be considered one of the premier choices.
11th race: 1 1/8 Mile. Claiming Crown Jewel. THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
6-7-5
I find difficult that this race goes outside the logical horses, Aztec Sense and Flowers for Lisa, both trained by Jorge Navarro. Advantage goes to Aztec Sense, undefeated in 2018, who can rate nicely behind a probable speed duel.