GP Race 9 , Leg 1: 1,2,4,6,7
Very tough read to kick off Sunday’s sequence as we have a large field of unreliable restricted claimers going two turns on the grass. A murky pace scenario does us no favors so I’ll be using a quintet of inside drawn runners and hope one of them trips out to get us to the next leg. Since I view all these runners equally, I’ll go in numerical order starting with #1 Hendrickson (12-1). This lightly raced gelding looks like he could be going in the wrong direction, but he was very wide throughout against a tougher field last time so I’m willing to give him another chance. He should save every inch of ground in today’s heat and hopefully Ruiz tries to put him in the race early since his two best races by far came when he was close to the lead. #2 Mister Abarrio (6-1) has certainly had his chances, but I’m envisioning him getting a really good trip under Jose Ortiz and he has numbers that fit. #4 Forwardly (6-1) would probably be my top pick if I had to make one. Not a bad effort last out when he faced claiming company for the first time, the two pacesetters had it their own way up front and ran 1-2 around the track so I thought Forwardly did well to pass a few rivals and finish fourth. Chad Brown is more than capable of getting them ready off a layoff and note he ran a good second in his only race over this track. #6 Berlone (20-1) is a huge longshot that could be dangerous if they send him to the front. His recent form is pretty bad, but they’re throwing the kitchen sink at him today. The blinkers come off, he stretches out to two turns, and he tries turf for the first time. He’s got enough turf pedigree to suggest he should handle it and he did win his only race that came against claimers. And finally #7 Ordinary (6-1) is a threat from the back of the pack. He ran really well both tries on this turf course last spring, and returns in a spot that is begging for a newshooter to make an impact.
SA Race 3, Leg 2: 3,4,6
#4 Handsome Ticket (4-1) is my top pick in this second leg as the potential speed of the speed. He ran a huge race last time at Los Al when he shook away from two other pace rivals and poured it on late. He’s stepping up to face winners for the first time and switching to the grass, but he’s bred to handle it all day. The Glatt barn has never been hotter and everything he sends out this meet must be taken seriously so hopefully this guy can steal this race in a minor upset. I want to pair my speed horse with a couple of come-from-behinders in #3 Anmer Hall (3-1) and #6 Awesome Rhythm (8-1). I love that Knapp brings back Anmer Hall protected, especially since he hasn’t been seen in eight months. He flashed potential as a three year old when routing at Del Mar, but ultimately sprinting is probably his best game. There’s a good chance they fly on the front end so look for this runner late. Awesome Rhythm has the recency edge over Anmer Hall at a much more attractive price. He finally puts together consecutive races for the first time in nearly two years and if he can move forward off the most recent effort, look out!
GP Race 10, Leg 3: 5
This is one of the weaker maiden races I’ve seen this winter at Gulfstream and it seems like it’s #5 Reina Mar’s (5/2) race to lose. She plummets to the $16k level after an okay try on the grass against much tougher $50k foes. I think she has more speed than she showed last time as she broke with the field, but had to take back to last after a couple horses crossed in front of her. She then went three wide around both turns and just ran evenly to the finish. There’s nothing wrong with her prior form as she split the field in a couple of restricted stakes races and a maiden special weight race. Again this is a weak race for the level and the drop in class can’t be understated. There’s hardly any speed in this field so she should find herself close to a soft pace throughout and have every opportunity as they turn for home.
SA Race 5, Leg 4: 2,3,5,9
I’ve chased #9 Ketonia (8-1) in her last two races and I want to give her one more chance, this time at a much bigger price. Her first stateside race was way better than it looks on paper. She broke a couple lengths behind the large field and then got really rank throughout as she weaved her way through the field to challenge for the lead as they headed into the far turn. She tried to maintain that move in the homestretch, but she simply had way too much to do after that break and had exuded all her energy to get involved with the pace. Her most recent race was about the same on speed figures, but she continues to train well in the mornings and hopefully she can get a more aggressive ride with Kimura taking over. #2 Matina (6-1) is another Mark Glatt trainee that must be respected as she goes out for the first time. I was able to watch her workouts with the stablemate drawn in post six, and I thought Mahina clearly outworked that rival both times. #3 Rascality (4-1) ran a huge race on debut when she was up close to a fast pace that completely fell apart late. Good effort that day to stay on for third which was immediately followed by a dud in a similar spot. She went to the shelf after that so something must’ve gone wrong in that race. Mandella switches her to the grass for the return and she’s bred to handle it. And finally #5 Paradise Lake (8-1) is another first time starter that has looked good in the mornings on XBTV. I need to include her at a price for the red-hot combo of Peter Eurton and Antonio Fresu.
SA Race 7, Leg 5: 8
I’ll be taking another stand in the pay-leg with #8 Sawasdee (3-1). This gelding is super quick early and on paper it appears he should be able to clear this field with ease. I know his last couple tries don’t look as good as his prior form, but it’s important to note those came against open company. Two back he ran against a salty allowance group down at Del Mar and ran fine to only get beaten a length. Last time he chased home a tough foe in Tapatio Leo, who returned to win at Oaklawn with another big speed figure. That race looks like a clear regression, and on figures it definitely is, but it’s important to note he’s a completely different animal when allowed to be in front as will be the case today. This is a big drop in class as he returns to the Cal-bred ranks and the majority of this field has questions to answer about whether turf sprinting is really their game. That includes the likely favorite #7 Leyas Candy who significantly regressed in his two turf starts when compared to his dirt races. The same can be said for #4 Geezer, who could take money based on his solid race two back on the dirt against Grade 1 winner The Chosen Vron.
Ticket:
GP 9: 1,2,4,6,7
SA 3: 3,4,6
GP 10: 5
SA 5: 2,3,5,9
SA 7: 8
$60
