Hello and welcome once again to another Thursday of Racing for Gulfstream Park. We’re two days away from the Pegasus World Cup Card but we have 11 races today to get to, so let’s do it already.
RACE 1: 3-5-7
3-ROSA STAR showed good speed going 1 1/16 last out before weakening late to finish 3rd. Now cuts back to 5F, the only other time she ran this distance on turf was last August at Arlington in a MSW, finishing 2nd. Early leaders have won 42% of the 45 turf sprints here this meet. 5-Salsita Roja was 2nd vs similar last out and may have moved early as she was caught late. Did finish behind top choice in aforementioned race at Arlington. 7-Gran Diamond drops to $20K today and tries turf for first time off an almost 4 month layoff. Victor Barboza 23% off long layoffs and 18% dirt to turf. Has his main guy Jaramillo aboard.
RACE 2: 6-3-4
6-JORDY’S READY has won 2 straight very impressively and now tries this n3L for first time. Also first off the claim for Marcus Vitali. A perfect 2-2 at GP. Unfortunately will be s short price. 3-Special Counsel faltered last out as the 3-2 favorite at today’s level and switches back to Jaramillo, who rode this horse in his maiden breaking win earning a career best 82 BRIS figure going gate to wire. Imagine she will be sent in similar style today. 4-Optimistic Shot has not fared well her last two efforts but puts Blinkers on today and has ran well at this level in the past.
RACE 3: 7-4-5
7-DRAGON MOON is 2nd off the claim for Jason Servis (32%) and looks to get him on turf for the first time in the U.S. drops from $35K to $16K today. Servis is winning at a crazy 32% rate for the last year, hard to bet against anything he sends out. 4-Zig Zillion May be the one to catch in this race here, setting the pace last out but settling for 4th. Before that dominated n2L at Laurel before trying Stakes Company at Tampa. Is 1st off the claim for Odin Londono. 5-Diamond Mint has a pair of 3rds his last two at today’s level and should not be far off the pace early on. Irad Ortiz rides for the second race in a row.
RACE 4: 4-3
4-LNGTERMRELATIONSHP was 2nd beaten just 1/2 length at this level last out going 1 Mile and cuts back to 7 furlongs today. Michael Tomlinson is 24% route to sprint and honestly this is the only horse I think can beat Florida Cotton in here. I just hope Jose Ortiz puts him closer to the pace than he was in that last race. 3-Florida Cotton will probably be 1-5 in here and his last 3 BRIS figures tower over anyone in here, but hasn’t ran since last June. And even though has ran big speed numbers, still only has 1 win in 12 race career. Trainer Barry Croft is 0 for last 21 bringing in off long layoffs. I am guessing either he or the legendary Gemologister will be on the early lead.
RACE 5: 1-3-8
1-SUBTLE HOPE showed good speed two back vs $25K claimers finishing 2nd. Yes that was on a sloppy track that day but if she can show similar speed today breaking from the rail she should be hard to catch in this group that has only 2 ITM finishes between the 8 entries. 3-Daisy’s Storm is a FTS for Pedro Xastillo, who doesn’t send many out but is 23% in MC events. The Dam has produced 2 winners from 2 starters already. 8-Buenamoza ran 2nd at this level last out at 34-1, but was well beaten by almost 9 lengths. Could be a pace factor as well.
RACE 6: 11-8-1
11-MUCH ABOUT IT drops from MC $50K to today’s $20K tag and is making 3rd career start. Had all kinds of problems in last start as she was crowd, bumped multiple times, and lacked room and even steadied but still was beaten less than 5 lengths. Both trainer Saffie Joesph and Jock Luis Saez have been on a tear here and she should perform much better with the class relief and hopefully a better trip. 8-Sacrifice ran an ok 3rd last out at today’s level in her first start at Gulfstream but switches to Romero Maragh who still struggles on turf. 1-Oh What A Moment will be close up early and was 3rd two back at the $10K level. Trainer Sarah Nagle runs a limited quantity of horses but we she does run usually excels; 36% for the last year and 4 of 10 at this meet so far. In the two starts since Nagle claimed her, Oh What A Moment has ran 68 and 69 BRIS figures, much higher than what she was previously running. Will probably need to jump 5-10 points higher to win today however.
RACE 7: 4-1-5
4-TUESDAY’S ROSE ran 3rd at this level last out and is second off the claim for Juan Avila, who decides to add blinkers for this 5 year old mare’s tenth start. Also gets a jock switch to Paco Lopez and is coming in offa pretty nice 4 furlong work on January 18 from the gate that was a test to see if she would show a little more focus from the gate, which appears all systems go. 1-Kaylie’s Girl I have picked on top her last two starts but I don’t believe in third times the charm. She did have trouble in that race being steadied and did drift but still had the lead in the stretch. Should be stalking the pace again today. 5-Dreamingofmermaids was 2nd at this level last out and actually finished ahead of top choice in that race. Race was the first time trying this level. Second off the claim for Tamara Levy and will probably be a couple lengths off the pace early on. 6-Scorched Earth has three consecutive show finishes at today’s level and is second off the layoff.
RACE 8: 10-2-12
10-THROW DOWN drops to maiden claiming ranks for the first time for Shug McGaughey, going dirt to turf(19%) and 2nd time Lasix(21%). Should find the class relief to his liking, as he has posted identical 91-97 E1 and E2 pace figures his first two races. The Dam Search Party has 3turf winners from her 10 runners. 2-Macho Mania drops from MC $50K and keeps leading jockey Luis Saez in the saddle. Trainer Kathy Ritvo is having a good meet (12-3-4-0) and she’s 21% in maiden claimers. 12-Cool Hand Cooptakes blinkers off after wearing them just 1 start for Jane Cibelli and is 3 of last 10 doing so. Set very fast pace figs in start with blinks (111-99) before tiring expectedly. Also dropping from MC$50K.
RACE 9: 2-1-6
2-MAXIMUM SECURITY romped in debut in a MC $16K by almost 10 lengths going gate to wire for Jason Servis, whom we’ve already talked about earlier. Ran a 94 BRIS figure that race which is 11 points higher than anyone else has ran on dirt in here. Has two maintenance works since debut. 1-Steady Earner ran 3rd beaten a neck vs similar level last October at Gulfstream West and has earned three straight 80+ BRIS speed figures. Hopefully gets a better start than last two races. 6-Liam Let’s Go should be a little closer to pace than has been in past and races for first time since breaking maiden.
RACE 10: 8-6-5
8-MYBIGITALIANFRIEND is another runaway winner in their last for Jason Servis (you can form your own opinion as to why he’s able to do this with his horses) earning a 97 BRIS figure in her 11 length win. Facing winners for first time is a concern. 6-Hello Juliet has raced at this level 5 races in a row and has three place finishes in that string. Makes first start for Rohan Crichton who is 5 of last 15 when a horse makes first start with. 5-Threat disappointed at this level in last but is first off the claim for Jorge Navarro (27%). Has been claimed his last 4 races and could be today as she is in for the tag. Navarro/Jaramillo together are 39% last 23 together.
RACE 11: 6-4-9-1
6-DROP KICK made turf debut last out in an entry level Allowance race, finishing mid pack but did make a brief middle move in that race. Also first time blinkers for Michael Maker(18%). 4-Giant Run has been very competitive his last three starts at tougher levels and sports 3 wins at the distance. Could be on the lead or at least very close to pace. 9-Jojo’s Dream could be on the early lead and makes first start for Georgina (19%) and making first start in over 6 months.