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 major tracks. Give me a follow on Twitter @mhjpicks. Saturday’s Gulfstream Park card offers us six stakes races (All Stakes Rainbow 6) and a total of 11 puzzles to solve, let’s get some winners!
Race 1
We start the day with a 30k claimer going a mile on the dirt. #3 R U Lucky comes in off a win and first off the claim for Graciada (36%). He has tactical speed and can stay close, or if needed take the lead. #8 Threshold drops slightly for Casse having won in similar company two back. Lebron is more than capable of getting this guy home from just off the pace. #10 Makabim is off the layoff (16%) for Maker with only one effort on the turf under his belt. Was a solid effort in running third to #8.
Selections: 3-8-10
Race 2
Wide open MCL event, will look to a torpedo play with #5 Race the Storm, a first time starter with steady works. Doesn’t scream out, but this type of race is primed for chaos. #2 Fiery Princess offers a little more in the way of data to base performance and has improved finishing second last out. Dolphin Black may be the coolest trainer name in the game. #1 GT’s Blue Squall is another with a few starts under her that is also improving so makes a logical play. #3 Drillzilla is a first time starter for a 2% trainer, but I thought I’d mention because her pedigree score comes up solid and I couldn’t let the name escape mention.
Selections 5-2-1-3
Race 3
#2 Lets Play Hardball is an anchor selection for me here with a big drop in class for Maker. Has been off since July (18%) but working well including a recent bullet effort. Beyer speeds are consistently higher than the field. #10 Light Fury comes in off a maiden win and retains Prado in the mount. This horse has only finished out if the super once in eight races. #8 Violent Fight always seems to be in the mix, and this race should be no exception. He will sit just off and try to fight his way past in the stretch.
Selections: 2-10-8
Race 4
Good group of MSW 2YO horses. Will look to #3 Circus to get it done at first asking with several bullet works and good pedigree numbers. #2 Little Demon tried stakes company and was crushed, but perhaps the experience will be something to build on here. #6 Bailey has the top figure of the group and comes off a bullet work, granted that was at Arindel farm.
Selections: 3-2-6
Race 5
The last non-stakes race of the card is a claiming race going a mile on dirt. #5 Dardanellos won at this level before moving into AOC company. He has consistent speed and seemingly is always in the mix as he has been in the trifecta in the last 7 of 8. Panici gets back on, which is a good sign. #1 Geonosis also drops back into lower ranks which should give an improvement. Pretty evenly matched with #5. Also evenly matched and displaying the same characteristics is #2 Create Again, who overall has the best figures, just not as recently.
Selections: 5-1-2
Race 6
The first stakes race is the FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir with a purse of $150k. #2 Squeezdios has had a nemesis in #5, but I think today he can turn the tables as a mile flat seems to be the best distance for him. #5 Noble Drama is off a stakes win in closing fashion, may have a similar set up to run into today. #6 Garter and Tie should be right there with #5 as well, let’s see who can work a better trip.
Selections: 2-5-6
Race 7
The Hollywood Beach, 75k is our next event. Looking at a price play over the likely favorite with #2 Casalsa who hated the slop and was eased last out. I think there will be an improvement in this one. #1 Designed by Kitten is the likely for Ward who won easily in her debut in Canada. Deserves to be the favorite. #10 Big Daddy Dave drew a tough post, but has ability to get the win. Would have rather seen him closer to the rail.
Selections: 2-1-10
Race 8
The co-featured FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl for $400k is for 2YO fillies. A torpedo play for me is #8 Lilac Lace who exits a G2 experience and comes in off of two bullet works in preparation for this race. By the way that G2 was at Saratoga where the water is deeper this time of year and the maiden win was at Keeneland. A second torpedo option here is #5 Tamiami who disappointed in the last stakes effort and may be deserving of a 15-1 ML, however there is some potential with a better trip.. #2 Big Rings dominated on debut and a similar effort today would be a winning one. #7 Princess Secret is fresh off a 200k FTBOA Sire Stakes win in August and looks to repeat that front running effort. Another to mention is #3 Go Jo Jo Go who broker her maiden in a stakes race at 22-1.
Selections: 8-5-2-7
Race 9
The Armed Forces, 75k is a mile turf route for 2YO males. Looks to be an open and competitive race. #5 Fulmini was a beaten favorite in a 75k stakes race in August with a troubled trip. Exited well and fired a bullet work in preps for this battle. #3 Oxbow Pioneer is a torpedo shipping in from Evangeline Downs where he got his maiden win. I like the aggressive placement and think he could pop one off. #2 Poppy’s Pride could also pop one off for Yates (21%) off a nice maiden win and improving speed figures. #4 Raison d’Air is the ML favorite who won last out by 13 lengths, which is hard to ignore. The only caveat was that effort was on dirt, not turf.
Selections: 5-3-2-4
Race 10
The FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality for $400k is the male version of race 8. I have an anchor selection with #4 Breeze on By who has been spectacular going 3 for 3 including wins against several of the competitors in this race. He has the speed needed to control the race. #8 Hercules is a torpedo option in his second start off the maiden win and a bullet work. Is improving and will need a big jump to get it done, but with 2YO’s that is possible. #3 Gatsby is the only one to have finished within a length of #4. Got caught in an early duel with him last time and faltered, will have to look to come off the pace.
Selections: 4-8-3
Race 11
The finale is the Our Dear Peggy, a 75k mile turf race for 2YO fillies. #4 Marvelous Marlene scored her maiden win last out on a big improvement from her previous race. Should be able to improve again here and will need to if she wants to win. #8 Con Lima has nice figures, however on dirt, though Pletcher tried to get her on turf last time. She has the best numbers of the group, but again, those were on dirt. #3 Can’t Buy Love regressed in a stakes effort on the stretch out last time. Exited fine and is working well…always hard to count out Maker on the turf.
Selections: 4-8-3