Another thirteen race extravaganza is on tap at Gulfstream Park for today, and we have two listed stakes on calendar as the co-features. Let’s get to the analysis right away:
1st race: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) MC 20000 Purse $25,000 (includes $3,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
One Mission (#5) – Dropping from MSW to maiden claimers, he is one of the few that hasn’t faced such a modest group. Bill Mott hits at a 22% clip when doing this and Flavien Prat takes the call in a maiden 20K race.
Bunyan’s Ace (#10) – Blinkers on for this race, he has been knocking at the door at this same level. Now Luis Saez takes the reins from Jonathan Gonzalez and from the ten post, he will be taking a garden spot trip to try to run them down late.
Mountain Division (#8) – If you look for a live longshot, give this horse a chance. He debuted in an off the grass race, so the intention was to run him on the lawn. He showed speed and then faded, and Jaramillo takes over for trainer Ralph Nicks. Watch out !!
2nd race: 1 Mile. Clm 6250n3L Purse $18,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES.
Pirate’s Treasure (#3) – He looms large in this group, which he beat handily three weeks ago. He should be right at the thick of things from the start, and Saez takes over for Gaffalione. He also starts now from a better post.
Family Kitten (#4) – Has been a consistent money burner for his backers, but he was claimed by Antonio Sano, who has a 29% effectiveness first off the claim, and the fact that he runs just two weeks after failing as the favorite gives him another chance.
Takedown (#1) – Hasn’t won in a long time, but this is by far the easiest group he has encountered. Not encouraged by the fact that he is risked for half of what he was claimed for, but Paco López will look to send him right to the lead and take them as far as he can.
3rd race: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) SilksRunL75K Silks Run S. Purse $75,000 FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Vision Perfect (#5) – Without a doubt the first one to consider in this event. That number five post is just perfect for his style and that last race was much better than it appeared on paper. He will be a tough cookie to chew.
Imprimis (#2) – If for any reason the favorite gets involved in a burning speed duel, he is the one that can come flying in the stretch. Paco López will have him ready to pounce if the speed duel develops.
Singandcryindubai (#3) – Second time running for Jorge Navarro, he just ran into a buzz saw named World of Trouble in his comeback race. Now the group seems lighter and although he needs to step up, don’t fall asleep on him.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. OClm 50000 Purse $38,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
So Long Chuck (#3) – He is taking a sharp drop in class, and if he repeats that last race, in which he lost by less than three lengths to Uno Mas Modelo, he will be a very tough beat. The cutback in distance also helps him.
Tomater Gator (#6) – He is a Gulfstream Park specialist, with five wins in nine lifetime starts in this oval. He is also in his favorite distance and he has been improving with each new race. Flavien Prat takes the call replacing Castellano.
Uber Kirk (#2) – The only time this horse ran in a claiming race, he won handily. He went to the shelf in November and comes back with two easy works for trainer Kenny Mc Peek. He needs some pace to run at, and he might get it.
5th race: 6½ Furlongs. ‘Mdn 43k Purse $43,000 FOR STATE BRED MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Beau Trace (#9) – Has some nice horses on his running lines and that outside post will allow Leonel Reyes to watch the speed duel develop from a very comfortable stalking position. His last two breezes have been extremely good.
Tangled Web (#4) – Did all the dirty work in his debut and fell short at the stretch. Now gets a cutback in distance and Paco López repeats handling his reins.
Blessd by the Best (#2) – First time starter for trainer John Servis. Works have been good enough for him to win on his bow run and went for twenty times the stud fee.
6th race: 6 Furlongs. ‘OC 12500b Purse $44,000 FOR STATE BRED FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Sarasota County (#8) – Broke his maiden in fine form, it is true it was against a much weaker group, but the way he won makes you think he can transfer that form against better horses. Paco Lopez takes the call and that outside post is a big advantage.
Go Gone Gone (#4) – He was much the best in his most recent start, and was claimed out of that race by Michael Maker, a much more effective trainer that his old trainer. Rafael Hernandez replaces Leonel Reyes and he should be on the engine from the gitgo.
Bullgrats (#6) – With just five races lifetime, he still should have some upside in him. Theresa Pompay is a much-underrated trainer, and I think this horse still has not reached his ceiling. Works have been nice for this kind of horses.
7th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™OC 75000b Purse $51,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Kettle Valley (#8) – She won her debut and then was went to the shelf, returning today from a seven month hiatus and working steadily on the mornings. Price should be good enough to take a shot with her, as she represents the value of this race.
Irish Willow (#1) – That rail post should enable her to accommodate in a nice stalking position from the start, and Saez is known to be one of the best first flight jockeys in this colony. She also has the best running lines in this group, having competed in a Grade II already.
Feel Glorious (#6) – Germany shipper who has been running consistently in sprints in Europe. She will be routing for the first time, and this being her first race in four months, maybe her fitness is a question mark. But quality wise, she can be as good, or better than these.
8th race: 6½ Furlongs. MC 12500 Purse $21,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Florida Two Step (#11) – His comeback race was on the grass, maybe his trainer gave him that run to gain condition for this race. Outside posts have been doing good at sprints and he should be part of that early flight.
Smooth As (#4) – Ran just a week ago and he looked like a winner at some point, then faltered in the stretch. He should be fitter now and the lack of speed helps him.
Bibliotecario (#6) – Ran evenly in his most recent at Tampa, now gets Lasix and the fact that he is being sent south to a harder circuit makes me think connections are confident of a good showing. With just three races lifetime, there is still upside potential.
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.
Getmotherarose (#7) – Don’t see that much early zip in here, so she can clear this group, and with Jaramillo on the saddle, she can be rated nicely and will be a tough catch. I don’t see her at 6/1 at post time. That last race was a bolt tightener for this one.
Panther Hit (#2) – Solid run in her debut despite being bumped at the start. She stayed nicely up to the end at 37-1. Can she repeat such an effort with a 9-5 ML attached to her? Vazquez repeats on her saddle for trainer Tom Albertrani, who is carrying a 1 for 32 streak into this race.
Recess (#6) – First time start for Repole and Pletcher. Her owner paid six times what her stud service fee is and this field doesn’t look that deep on paper. She should run nicely first time out. Notice that Repole does not send her to Tampa, a lesser circuit.
10th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 30000b Purse $31,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE SINCE SEPTEMBER 30.
Chunnel (#11) – Has two bullets in preparation for this race, which will be his first on the grass since June, and that was in a stakes race in which he ran creditably. Outside post is no easy task for him, but Saez should be able to put him in a nice staling position from the start.
Bantu (#6) – First time running for a tag, trainer Brendan Walsh excels with these kind of horses (33%, 2.45 ROI). He needs pace to run at, and he should get it. Has four breezes that signal he is in tip top shape for this race.
Argentic (#3) – Another one running for a price for the first time, has been working at Palm Meadows consistently and he should be heard of when all marbles are counted. Difficult race to handicap, the all button is not a bad idea on this one.
11th race: 7 Furlongs. Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Promo Code (#3) – I have the information that this horse has been a workmate of the good maiden winner Spinoff, and didn’t disgrace himself in doing so. Sáez prefers him over the other Pletcher, and with Johnny V and Castellano at Tampa, he is the TP barn first choice.
Bernin Thru Gold (#1) – Ran well in his debut almost nine months ago and was given time after falling in the gallopout. His works have been great for his comeback and we can expect a step forward from him.
Skyriding (#7) – A Jimmy Jerkens firster who seems poised to run well in this, his bow run. He was hammered at 14 times his sire’s stud fee, so apparently they saw something good about him.
12th race: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) ™CptvIslndB75K Captiva Island S. Purse $75,000 FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Morticia (#2) – Has the class edge in this field, and she is maybe the fastest of this bunch, so she definitely looks to be the one to beat. Coming back from two months plus on the bench, she is working nicely for this return race.
Samara (#4) – Improving with each and every race and she will be pushing the leader from the start. That last win was particularly impressive, as she won going away and starting from the one hole. Leave at your own risk.
Fear No Evil (#5) – The best of the rest but definitely needs a scorching pace for her late run to be effective, and I am not sure she will get that.
13th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Bambalina (#4) – Showed some speed in her debut and then faltered, and after that race in September she was sent to the bench. Now returns after five months with Lasix and Paco Lopez on her saddle. Jerkens hit at 32% on MSW second time.
Tail Feather (#6) – I like the fact that she debuted at five furlongs at stayed the course, and now she will run at a mile. Luis Saez takes the call, and he could have ridden some of these.
Eternal Peace (#2) – Debut runner for Roger Attfield. Her works suggest she should run well first time out, with four bullets in preparation for her bow run.