Twelve races are in store for us today at Gulfstream Park, with a possibility of a massive carry over in the Rainbow Pick 6. The feature is the Grade III Suwanee River for fillies and mares on the turf at 9 furlongs. Let’s go to the comments:
1st race: 6 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 43k Purse $43,000 FOR STATE BRED MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Fafa Fooey (#1), Last Judgement (#8), Lemniscate (#5)
Top pick didn’t come away cleanly in his debut and then rushed to try to get in contention. Around the quarter pole, he lacked room for his late run and was gaining on the winner. Saez will have the challenge of getting out of that number one hole, he should be on the engine from the start. Last Judgement is another one who had problems at the start in his bow run, he seemed to be the fastest of them if we judge from how fast he recovered. Johnny V. keeps the mount and the six-week rest should serve him well. Lemniscate was part of that early flight in that first race and Mc Peek is more effective second time out. Working lights out for this race.
2nd race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 6250 Purse $19,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Scotuscare (#8), Exclusive Zip (#4), Northern (#5)
Big drop in class for Scotuscare, the last time he faced such a weak group, he aired, and Jaramillo repeats on him after being practically eased last time out. Exclusive Zip is sporting a three race winning streak, the last two at this same level and with Nik Juarez on the saddle. Trainer Sano hits at a 30% clip first off the claim. Northern can be the speediest of this bunch, but he figures to have lots of company up front. Anyway, if he can clear, he will be dangerous.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Take Chargechristy (#1), Angelia (#6), Malibu Rainbow (#2)
A 1-2 favorite trained by Todd Pletcher will take all the money in this race, and I am not here to tell you the obvious. I’ll press my luck with Take Chargechristy, who just missed on her last at Woodbine. It is true that she will be facing much tougher fillies and that she has not ran on dirt yet, but she has experience routing and has had time to acclimate to a much warmer weather. Robby Albarado takes over for trainer Di Paulo. Angelia will be a strong favorite and deservedly so. She was well clear of the third place in her most recent, in which she was overtaken late. The added distance is somewhat of a mystery, but being by Curlin, she should handle it. Malibu Rainbow has routed already and ran nicely, although was disqualified for causing trouble late. Gaffalione keeps the ride and that number two hole will allow her to be on a perfect position from the start.
4th race: 1 Mile. ™Clm 6250n2L Purse $18,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
Sunny Sonata (#5), Hannah Catherine (#1), Mija Bella (#6)
In a race in which speed is limited, Sunny Sonata can take them from start to finish. Luis Saez will look to place her on the lead and see if she can stay the whole mile trip. Hannah Catherine showed some initial zip in her come back race, and then faltered. That race could have serve as a bolt tightener for this one. Nik Juarez takes the call back for trainer Edwin Broome. Mije Bella is the best from the rest, but that is not saying much at all. Nice jockey upgrade, from Vazquez to Gaffalione.
5th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Heroic Activist (#5), Take Ten (#13) , Piece by Peace (#7)
Extremely high morning line odds on a filly that debuted against the powerful Newspaperofrecord, who is at least 15 lengths better than this group. Jaramillo hits at a 25% clip with trainer Jorge Abreu and she should be much closer to the pace in this event. Take Ten will have to deal with a very tough post, but she has been knocking at the door for a win. Landeros has been riding very well lately. Piece by Peace is a first time starter for Chad Brown, with Irad Ortiz on the reins. That alone is enough to put her on your tickets, no matter how slow the works are, and in this case, they are good breezes for her debut.
6th race: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) ™SwneRvr-G3 Suwannee River S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Rymska (#4), Special Event (#2), Peach of a Gal (#6)
No question that Rymska towers over this field. If she repeats anything close of what she has been doing, she will be very hard to beat. It’s the Irad and Chad attack, again. Special Event has been extremely consistent, having finished in the money in five out of her last six, and now has the services of Hall of Famer Johnny V. She is dangerous from that number two slot. Peach of a Gal can be the one who takes advantage of a hot pace up front, and lures leading jockey Luis Saez to her saddle. Nice exotics play at 20/1.
7th race: 6½ Furlongs. MC 12500 Purse $21,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
In Gus We Trust (#11), Valid Exchange (#4), Oh Danny Bear (#2)
This race is more difficult than coming up with the winning Power Ball numbers. In Gus We Trust tries the dirt for the first time for trainer William Tharrenos, who claimed him back two races ago. Tharrenos hits at 31% going from turf to dirt and gets leading jockey Luis Sáez to ride him, who will place him closer to the pace. Valid Exchange has shown speed versus better horses, now drops to a level in which he has to be considered one of the horses to beat. Oh Danny Bear was gelded after his last race and takes a nice cutback in distance. His last breeze was very good, signaling readiness.
8th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™‘OC 16000b Purse $44,000 FOR STATE BRED FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Una Luna (#7), Reagan’s Odyssey (#2), Dynatown (#9)
My top pick has shown a level of consistency you generally don’t see in these groups. Now gets Irad on her saddle and she should be ready to pounce late if pace is strong enough. Reagan’s Odyssey just missed last time out under these same conditions. She figures to be the speediest of this bunch, let’s see if she can last for her new connections. Dynatown has been running in distances much shorter than this, and the pace scenario favors her. Get Johnny V. on the reins, always a guarantee.
9th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Dance and Dance (#12), Can’t Buy Me Love (#9), Clause (#4)
That outside post at a mile is no easy task to overcome, but I think Johnny V. is the ideal pilot to try to guide this filly to a win from the garden spot. Trainer Todd Pletcher takes the blinkers off, noticing she maybe went too fast in her debut and looking to harness her speed while taking a cutback. Can’t Buy Me Love was overtaken late in the stretch in her debut, when she seemed home free for a win. No Jose Ortiz on her today, but Nik Juarez is a capable jockey and I expect a similar performance from her. Clause is a debut runner for Chad Brown with Irad aboard. I know, it sounds repetitive, but don’t look at the works. Just include her on your ticket and forget about the rest.
10th race: 1ˆ Mile. OC 75000b Purse $51,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS
Global Campaign (#3), He’s Smokin Hot (#2), Standard Deviation (#5)
Global Campaign displayed a lot of talent in his debut run. Obviously, the stakes are higher in this race, but he looked like he wasn’t fully cranked for that race. With that race under his belt, and with two solid works in preparation, looks to position himself for competing in the Triple Crown prep races. Saez keeps the mount for Stanley Hough. He’s Smokin Hot looked good in winning his most recent start, in a group higher in quality that this one. 10-1 looks to be a very high morning line, expect him to be around half of it at post time. Standard Deviation was way over his head in his last two starts (Two Grade Is). Now drops to a much easier spot and Irad rides for Chad Brown, who freshened him up after his Breeders Cup collapse.
11th race: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) ElPradoL100K El Prado S. Purse $100,000 FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Mr. Cub (#5), Hembree (#8), Siem Riep (#6)
His most recent start, in which he came just three quarter of a length behind Bricks and Mortar, gains Mr. Cub the favorite’s role in this stakes race. After that, Bricks and Mortar won a Grade I, and the distance should fit him to a tee. Landeros has been his regular rider and stays on him. Hembree will get a great set up, as there is tons of speed signed up in here. Irad Ortiz rides for the first time and he is a master in getting late closers up in time. Siem Riep returns from a four-month break working nicely in Tampa. Is a good sign that he shows up in here, a stronger meet than Tampa, and he should be forwardly placed from the start.
12th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Delcapem (#4), Café Americano (#1), Modern Muse (#6)
A puzzling race to end this card. Delcapem tries the grass for the first time. She has three works on the lawn in preparation for this return race, and she has encountered trouble in her last two starts. She was 3-1 in the race in which Graded winner Positive Spirit won her maiden. Café Americano makes her debut for Chad Brown, and again Irad on the reins. Works have been good and steady for her bow run and the inside post is a big plus. Modern Muse at 30-1 can be a factor on the exotics. Tries grass and has two consecutive bullet works as preparation. Also, she is sporting blinkers for the first time, a sign that she needs to settle down a bit.