So many races today at Gulfstream, so little time. Let’s cut to the chase immediately:
1st race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 6250 Purse $19,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Dash of Dazzle (#7), Northern (#8), Be A Hero (#2)
Dash of Dazzle is in the midst of a four race winning streak, and in each one of those he has been claimed, indicative of his good form and consistency. Trainer Joseph shines at 33% when sending a horse at the same level he was claimed, and Gaffalione stays up. Northern maybe the fastest of this group and working great for this, his first race in more than two months. Climbing up the ladder, but if he gets a clear lead he will be dangerous. Be A Hero just breezed a bullet in preparation, that number two door is not easy to overcome in such a short distance, but if he can manage a trip he will be right there at the end.
2nd race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Clm 16000n2L Purse $24,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
Our Closure (#10), Windjammer (#3), Reiltin Oir (#11)
My top pick just ran into this condition for the first time in his career and he lost by a little more than a length after a very slow start, and not having the benefit of a good pace upfront. Now gets into the Bobby Di Bona barn and he puts Javier Castellano on his saddle. Windjammer just missed last time out and returns at the same condition, with Gaffalione repeating as his pilot. Needs to have some pace up front and most probably he will get it. Reiltin Oir can be part of that early pace and with Paco Lopez, a master in getting the most out of speedsters, is an interesting proposition.
3rd race: 1 Mile. MC 12500 Purse $21,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Oh Danny Bear (#9), Firm (#4), Watch Your Step (#8)
This is a very weak group for three year olds that haven’t shown much, so I’ll go with a fresh face in Florida. Oh Danny Bear has not run in conventional dirt, and his pedigree says he should like it. Albarado takes the call and Woodbine shippers generally do well here. Firm is a Pletcher trainee being risked for a $12,500 tag in just his second start. He cost $82,000, so you can easily do the math on how much they are losing. Watch Your Step ran well last time out, he was part of the pace and was overtaken late. The other side of the coin is that he has run three times already in this same condition.
4th race: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) Clm 16000 Purse $28,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Versed (#10), Kantharo’s Image (#3), Moonwalker (#6)
Puzzling race this one, with many alternatives to choose from, and again I will side with a shipper, in this case from Parx. This horse has been facing stiffer competition than this bunch and Paco Lopez has already ridden him. He has been working nicely for trainer Preciado and that outside post is a big plus. Kantharo’s Image is also dropping somewhat in class and trainer Klesaris puts blinkers (hits at 33% doing this), looking for more speed out of him. Just fired a bullet in preparation for this race. Moonwalker hasn’t won in the last two years, but this is the easiest group he has faced in a long time, and Panici has been his regular rider for the most part, and stays up.
5th race: 6 Furlongs. ™Clm 12500 Purse $25,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Awesome Hills (#6), Bobby Lee (#8), Best Trebol (#5)
Awesome Hills drew the rail last time out in a group that compares favorably to this one, now has a much better post and can sit in the garden spot to make a push from the quarter pole on. Gaffalione stays up for trainer Ralph Nicks and has two solid works in preparation. Bobby Lee won her maiden in her most recent start and skips the non winners of 2 condition. Dale Romans gives the responsibility to one of his main guys, Robby Albarado. Best Trebol is the wild card in here, undefeated in the Dominican Republic, and working steadily since November after an acclimation period.
6th race: 6 Furlongs. ‘OC 12500n1x Purse $44,000 FOR STATE BRED FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR OPTIONAL CLAIMING PRICE OF $12,500.
Coop Tries Harder (#7), Amanecer (#3), Trev (1)
I think this race sets up nicely for my top pick, who should have a fast enough pace upfront and will be a force to be reckoned with at the stretch. Landeros preferred him over my second choice, who just broke his maiden in fine fashion, coming back from a five month rest. There is always the fear of a bounce after such a nice performance, but Saez is a more than able replacement for Landeros, so you can’t overlook him. Trev is the only one that has a claim tag attached, but, of the quick ones, is the one that can take them wire to wire if they give him a clear lead. Watch out from that one post, Paco will be sending him.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Lady Kate (#8), Lavish (#10), High Road (#9)
Lady Kate seems ready to fire a big shot first time out for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Her breezes have been superb, José Ortiz takes the call, and he, and Kenneally hit at a 26% clip. Lavish goes second time out for Todd Pletcher. She is returning from a six month break and hasn’t missed a beat since November. Will be in that first flight from the start. High Road hasn’t been seen since Keeneland’s fall meet, now gets the services of Javier Castellano and worked two bullets in preparation.
8th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Amandrea (#4), Connectivity (#2), Hidden Facts (#8)
In her debut, Amandrea was parked on the outside post of a seven and a half furlong race, in which the turn comes quick after the start. Nevertheless, she was able to close into a moderate pace set by my second choice. Tyler Gaffalione repeats with her and looks poised to take it late in the stretch. Connectivity is a first time start trained by Chad Brown. She was hammered at almost 19 times the stud fee, so the people from Klaravich saw something in her. Irad rides for one of his main clients. Hidden Facts is the speed of the race, the problem is that she has not been able to take them wire to wire despite easy fractions in her last two starts.
9th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) TropTrf-G3 Tropical Turf S. Grade III. Purse $100,000 FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Heart to Heart (#6), White Flag (#2), Holiday Stone (#3)
Don’t see much speed signed in, so Heart to Heart will be a very tough beat in this event. His last two races were in less than firm footing, which he dislikes. There is a slight chance of rain tomorrow morning, so we need to keep that in mind. If the turf is firm, he should win. White Flag generally run in shorter races, so he will be the one that serves as an escort, right behind the leader. If the favorite is not up to the task, he should resolve. Holiday Stone returns to a more suitable distance for his means, and can be a good exotics play.
10th race: 6 Furlongs. Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Geoscience (#6), No Rules (#8), Camgo (#1)
Interesting race in which we cannot say any of entrants go without a chance. I will go with Geoscience, who dictated the pace at a swift 22:1, at GP West, a track slower than this one. Now drew a better post and the Gemologist offspring is doing great lately. No Rules cost $330,000 at the sales and goes for Chad Brown first time out. Castellano gets the call and that last breeze gives him a good chance to score coming late in the stretch. Camgo debuted at Parx, and that day Jaramillo was aboard. Three months later returns and Emisael keeps the ride. That day he came from a very tough post, and again drew the rail.
11th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™MrshsRvr-G3 Marshua’s River S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
La Signare (#7), Bellavais (#1), I’m Betty G. (#6)
The way that this filly ran in the Grade I Belmont Oaks, at a much longer distance and setting very respectable fractions, gives her the nod in this race. She should be part of that first flight and José Ortiz is a master in rationing up the speed of the quick ones. Working nicely for her return from six months on the shelf. Bellavais found less than firm ground in her latest, now should get a surface much more to her liking. Nice rail post and Castellano stays on the saddle. I’m Betty G. receives a good jockey upgrade and she is maybe the quickest of this bunch, in a race in which there is speed signed in. Maybe Irad can change tactics with her and bring her from close range.
12th race: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) ™OC 35000n1x Purse $51,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $10,000 OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER OR RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR OPTIONAL CLAIMING PRICE OF $35,000.
War Cabinet (#2), Sweet Sting (#7), Regal Dame (#1)
War Cabinet is returning from being eased in the Comely about six weeks ago. The relative short time recuperating and her works leading up to this race makes me think she is ready to fire, and José Ortiz repeats in her for Shug Mc. Gaughey, a very potent combo. Sweet Sting hasn’t win in almost a year, but she has been running against much better fillies. Castellano takes over trainer James Jerkens and she will be sitting mid pack, ready to pounce when called for. Regal Dame can be a big longshot at morning line of 15/1. Gets the rail and Irad will came firing with her, trying to take them wire to wire.