I appreciate all the readers who followed my picks this Gulfstream Park meet. Overall, I found it lacked a bit of the punch it usually has, but that was mostly due to a lot of the lower level claimers being dominated by a handful of trainers. Additionally, the write ups were not as in depth as I would’ve liked during the second half of the meet due to life getting in the way, but I’m back here to close it out with a nice in depth analysis for the final day of the championship meet. Follow me on Twitter as I will be posting my final stats for the meet after the races conclude Sunday. Catch me hopefully sometime down the line, Thanks DG!
Race 1:
#4 Nation USA 20-1 ML
#1 King Wade 20-1 ML
#2 Pure Style 7-2 ML
Yes, I am taking an 0 for 40 maiden on top. The ML favorite is a Mott first time starter purchased for 150k that is in first time for the 12.5k tag. He will take money because its Saez and Mott but its obvious this horse cannot run if hes in this low FTO. #4 Nation USA is 0 for 40, as previously alluded to, but his last race beyer is very comparable to what most of this group has been running. Let’s hope for some fireworks on the final day of the meet. #1 King Wade has a race here in February that wins this race, but its a question with these bottom level claimers of when they will run back to those races. #2 Pure Style goes for a top conditioner and has been off for 7 months, but since Crichton’s return he has been winning with alot of his runners, wouldn’t shock me at all if he wins.
Race 2:
#1 Whiskey Shiner 7-2 ML
#5 WW Concerto 9-5 ML
#3 Love Tree 3-1 ML
#1 Whiskey Shiner got back to his better running form with a good 2nd place finish into a good pace at big odds last time out. The price will not be as good this time around, but a repeat of his last could upset the favorite. #5 WW Concerto will be on the lead and has been sharp of late, but might regress off the claim from Navarro and Saffie Joseph. #3 Love Tree’s last is good enough to finish off the tri.
Race 3:
#7 Totono 5-1 ML
#4 Littleroughjustice 5-2 ML
#5 Good Timing Man 9-2 ML
I guess these are the types of bottom level claimers you get at the end of a meet. #7 Totono should hopefully show improved speed on the stretch out and putting the blinkers on, and gets Irad. #4 Littleroughjustice was wide before launching a bid and coming up just short last time out, a repeat of that effort puts him into the exacta. #5 Good Timing Man goes for Biancone who has good numbers stretching out.
Race 4:
#3 Padrinoneverquits 10-1 ML
#1 Diva’s Revenge 4-5 ML
#2 True Boots 7-2 ML
#3 Padrinoneverquits won on the stretchout and the double jump in class last time. I am hoping the lightbulb angle applies here, and cutting back from a mile to seven is one of my favorite angles. #1 Diva’s Revenge will be 1-5 off the last win, but that was an off the turf race going 5F. Jason Servis just might be that good, though. #2 True Boots was better at one time, but is still good enough to round out the tri.
Race 5:
#3 Particularity 12-1 ML
#5 Valdocco 9-5 ML
#1 Blind Ruckus 5-2 ML
#3 Particularity may get overlooked a bit, but on the drop in class last time, he ran a much improved effort. He is at the level he fits at, and I think the extra furlong actually does him some good. #5 Valdocco is sharp as a winner of two straight, but remains at the non winners of 3 lifetime level after being DQd last time out. #1 Blind Ruckus continues on with his conditions against a softer group of claimers, but deserves a look off the blowout win.
Race 6:
#1 Michigan Miss 6-1 ML
#7 Chiqui the Gray 4-1 ML
#4 Bally Squall 7-5 ML
Pass on this race if you can. #1 Michigan Miss should improve on the stretchout, and if he doesn’t win today, it’ll be time to cut ties for me. The fact Dickey lures Saez is a positive. #7 Chiqui the Gray takes a large drop in class, and based on the rest of this field, I am just gambling he can run a bit. #4 Bally Squall is the best of the worst on paper, but could win by default.
Race 7:
#5 Stormy Justin 8-1 ML
#2 Eagle Dance 3-1 ML
#8 Victor Lounge 5-2 ML
Looks like theres a good amount of early pace in here, so i’ll side with an outsider who should be sitting just just off of the early pace setters. The last race beyer puts him right in the mix, in addition to the race flow. #2 Eagle Dance is another who will be coming late, while #8 Victor Lounge is the most talented of those who have early zip and could hang around for a share.
Race 8:
#6 El Chaval 15-1 ML
#2 Cool Mover 2-1 ML
#3 Gran Red 7-2 ML
#6 El Chaval has shown much improvement in the last couple, and might be able to blow by them all in the final strides at a generous number. #2 Cool Mover was the top pick a few weeks back, and made a big middle move before flattening in the return off the layoff. The one to beat.
Race 9:
#3 Awesomendensome 4-1 ML
#1 Summer Frock 10-1 ML
#5 Cordele 7-5 ML
I feel like I’ve been watching #3 Awesomendensome run in these 5F sprints at GP for years, and he still has that good speed hes shown so often in his races. As I look up and down this field, who wants any part of the lead aside from the top pick? If I get anywhere near 4-1, I’ll be thrilled. The play of the day for me. #1 Summer Frock returns off a long layoff but was doing some good things last summer in the Mid Atlantic. #5 Cordele has crossed the finish line first in his last few, and should run well again.
Race 10:
#6 Brookside 30-1 ML
#8 Oh My Warrior 6-1 ML
#7 Be a Hero 4-1 ML
There is alot of speed in here, and while #6 Brookside only shows up with his run every so often, this is the exact type of pace meltdown race where he could pays 80 dollars. #6 Oh My Warrior regressed slightly off the Dibona claim, but he wheels him right back and hopefully can find some of the pre claim form. #7 Be a Hero tried tougher last time to no avail and is back to where he belongs, should be a part of the early pace mix.
Race 11:
#5 Brilliant Light 6-1 ML
#2 Solar Warning 8-5 ML
#9 US Academy 6-1 ML
#5 Brilliant Light hasn’t tried the turf in awhile, but has been running well on the dirt, and shows a 3rd place finish in his last start on the grass last October at GPW. #2 Solar Warning takes the plunge, drops out of MSW company, and cuts back a half of a furlong. The logical choice.
Thanks for reading all meet and good luck to everyone!