Thanks for checking out today’s analysis. Aside from this weekly article I offer daily free full card picks for Gulfstream Park as well as other tracks. Be sure to give me a Twitter follow on @mhjpicks. Saturday’s Gulfstream Park card offers us 12 puzzles to solve. Let’s get some winners!
Race 1
Today’s opening race is a 12.5k maiden claiming race for fillies and mares going 5.5 furlongs on the dirt. This is a wide open opener with many chances here. Several of these are very similar on paper so I looked for something to set one apart from the others. My top choice #8 I Love Magel comes off an almost year long layoff and is the only horse dropping from MSW company to MCL. Will be one of many early speed runners and should improve with the first time Lasix.
Selections: 8-11-2
Race 2
The second race is a 65k MSW for two year olds going 6f on the dirt. #9 I Am the Boss is off a bullet work for Alexis Delgado who is 18% with 2 Year Olds. Looks like a good spot to take a shot on a horse who is 15-1 ML. She has a nice horse just to her outside in #10 Flatterful for Todd Pletcher along who should be a live runner.
Selections: 9-10-3
Race 3
The third race brings us a 1 mile dirt 6250k claiming race for 4 year olds and upward. #2 Blame the Thief is first off the claim (35%) for Saffie Joseph out of the Pletcher barn. He ran terrible in his last race off a good effort previously. I look for an effort more similar to the latter today.
Selections: 3-9-8
Race 4
Today’s fourth race is a 25k MCL, 1 1/16 mile turf race for fillies and mares. #6 Act Like Artie is dropping to the claiming ranks for Maker who is 27% with the biggest drop in the game. Her last race was off the turf and she didn’t respond, I’ll throw that race out and look for an improved performance here.
Selections: 5-9-2
Race 5
The early pick 5 closes with a 6f dirt sprint for 35k three year old filly claimers. This is a pretty open race, a case could be made for any of these. #6 Bibliana is off a win, an angle for which D’Angelo is 38%, furthermore she comes off a solid bullet workout on July 2nd.
Selections: 6-5-4
Race 6
The sixth race is a 7 furlong 25k maiden claimer on dirt for fillies and mares. The odds board will likely have co-favorites who will be deserving based on previous performances, but I l’ll go with #3 Buxom Beast. She is second off the layoff and first time on the maiden claim for McPeek who is 16% with the move. She has been working well and could benefit from the two favorites beating each other up.
Selections: 3-6-4
Race 7
The Rainbow 6 starts off with a 32k maiden claimer for three year olds and upwards going 1 mile on the turf. #4 Champers takes a drop in class for Robert Hess. He always seems to take money and disappoint, however it’s a weak field and I think he will get his picture taken today. His speed two races back is much higher than anything the rest of the field has run, with #1 Maverick Kitten being the toughest competition.
Selections: 4-1-3
Race 8
Today’s late pick 5 kicks off with a 25k claiming race for three years olds and upward going 1 mile on the dirt. #4 Youcantcatchcurlin gets back to a route and should get enough pace to run into. He has never been less than 20-1 so that might lead to better odds than the morning line of 9/2. No matter the odds he could make his trainer happy today.
Selections: 4-5-1
Race 9
The ninth race is a 16k claiming race going 6 furlongs on the dirt. #2 Wicked Temptations is dropping a couple classes for Edward Plesa (20%) and adds blinkers which should help focus that early speed into a game effort.
Selections: 2-4-3
Race 10
The tenth is a 6 furlong 16k optional claiming race. #8 For The Road has the best speed in the field, however comes off a lengthy layoff. Before that layoff he won three in a row at Parx, with Rodriguez on the mount in a couple of those.
Selections: 8-4-7
Race 11
The eleventh is a 25k optional claiming race going 1 mile on the turf. #7 Tizzarunner has a couple of tough competitors but I’m giving the edge to the 7 year old taking a big drop for Carlos David who is 25% with turf starters and 21% in allowance races.
Selections: 7-4-9
Race 12
Today’s finale is a 10k maiden claiming race for three year olds and upward set for 6.5f on the dirt. #12 D’guapo is third off the layoff and goes back to a sprint, which is a 15% angle for Sanchez. Berrios should aggressively place this one on the lead. This is a tepid nod for a pretty open race in which you probably need to go deep on the multi-race tickets.
Selections: 12-8-1