All statistics unless stated other wise are situation specific. Example Last 5 years 1st Time Starter /MSW / Turf / Route = %
Any mention of Figures refers to my personal figures unless stated otherwise.
Expect typos and grammar errors! Time is of the essence and I do not even have the budget for intern around here.
Please feel free to leave Comments or reach out to me on Twitter (@c_cupples) with any questions and/or suggestions.
I will be covering the Early Pick 5 in detail, and quick thoughts on rest of card.
You can find John Pinder’s work on the late Pick 5 under the Gulfstream Park menu as well here at Inthemoneypodcast.com
NHC – I debated putting up a NHC review piece after going through all my plays but decided to just put the short abbreviated version here.
A frustrating Friday led to eight 2nd’s on my main ticket and having horrible mandatory selections left me with $49 and $40 heading into Saturday. I elected to stick to my planned plays and was about as hot as I have been in a single day in quite some time. I managed to get both entries right at the cut line with 10 races to go while having optional plays to cover nearly every remaining race. I had a great time in Las Vegas with a lone exception of a 60 minute window of watching random bombs win at Turfway when I was right at the cut line with both entries and my friend Howard Kravets had both of his entries slightly ahead of me.
Ten minutes till post of Race 1 at Turfway on Saturday I thought Howard and myself would easily have at least 1 entry each advance to Sunday but it did not happen. I admittedly had some sour grapes for about a half hour afterwards and I remember someone in our crew telling me to get over it… Maybe it was Matt but not sure … regardless I needed the tune up.
I could easily point to Turfway and blame the randomness but in the end I made some decisions early in the day that would have made Turfway a non factor. The only race of the entire weekend that I played horses out of price necessity was the very last race of the day at Santa Anita on Saturday and IF!!! I played my top pick on my main entry……. It makes the Sunday cut! Yeah…… All on me Luckily I had a big day in cash that softened the blow and it was a fun time for someone who rarely gets out of their chair to be up emotional celebrating while some are looking at you like you are crazy because you hit a 5/2 horse at NHC but it was all about the benjamins……
Entry 1 – $146.72 ( This highest Win Mutual on this entry was $13.00 all the rest were less than $10)
Entry 2 – $144.78
Most importantly I had a great time and it would be a total fail if I did not credit my friend Matt Miller who organized our seating and planned nearly every dinner I ate while in Vegas.
The last Gulfstream Card I looked at was last Saturday and I had an abundance of strong opinions but this card is near the exact opposite.
I likely will piece together some narrow Multi race tickets but I am more interested in keeping it simple on today’s card.
Race 1
Lone A – 5 Sugar Treat dropped to this level for the first time last out at Tampa getting a figure that lays over this field but also comes with some red flags as often my Tampa figs do not translate when shipping down to Gulfstream and this filly was voided claim in her last two starts.
B LINE
3 Peggsue I Love U will try the dirt for the first time since adding blinkers while her previous dirt efforts are well behind the logical horses in this spot.
4 It’s Only Words is the most consistent of the group and will get the Irad attention at the windows.
Race 2 has several trying something for the first time with a lack of information on several.
A LINE
3 Shancelicious has the best turf route of the group and should be the logical favorite but instead will have nice value with the money gravitating to Tyler and Irad. The negative for me is I am not a big fan of Husbands…….
4 Shace Sloane see below
5 Steelin Bases and the 4 are the obvious two runners with nothing hidden.
B LINE
2 Accelerate Me is the only runner I have zero information on and the Sweezey barn is having a great meet.
7 8 9 are a bit unknown but I will move on without using them.
Race 3 is a short field that I had a hard time separating while finding nothing that is not on paper form.
A LINE
4 Evanora is the horse to beat as she has been a hard trier all the way back prior to debut. Maybe she has found the right group today.
5 Hockey takes another class drop today and puts the blinkers back on after the poor effort last out.
6 Perfect Shances has speed and gets a weight advantage with an outside post. She is facing older for the first time and I do question her going the 5.5 furlongs.
Others
1 J Z’s Last Schance would not surprise anyone having plenty of early speed with an inside post.
2 Travel Happy’s debut race I have as the best tapeta sprint race of this group then was claimed during the maiden breaker March 2024 only to be entered and vet scratched in April then again in May…… Not exactly what you are looking for when you drop a tag.
Race 4 I will primarily be using the two logical horses.
3 Always to the End has sprinted on the tapeta three times at this level and I thought her last effort was her best yet although a bit one paced. Puts the blinkers on today with Paco up so likely will be sending.
5 Did I Dazzle You I think is a bit dirtied up on paper so will provide some value. The Dec 28th effort sticks out where she put forth a game effort simply being out finished in the lane. Then drew the rail on two occasions and I comply toss the dirt try last time.
B’s – 2 4 6
Race 5 has a couple trying the tapeta for the first time that I would recommend including on a spread type ticket but I will stick with the logical horses who have the past tapeta form.
A LINE
5 Diamonds for Lily took the blinkers off two back only to stop once and run arguably her best race to date last out.
6 Clearly Copper cuts the claiming price in half on the drop and has faced some nice horses in her previous tapeta tries while in Makers care. Both wins came routing over this surface.
7 World Traveler is the obvious horse to beat with a pace advantage and I do not imagine Paco will be shy about stepping on the gas early. I will be using but not one I am looking to lean on.
Others
The 3 and 8 are both trying the tapeta for the first time. If was going to include one of them it would be the 8.
4 Bubby Champagne for a piece is likely a solid wager if you see value in the show pool.
Race 6
LONE A – 2 R Wins Aren’t Luck is the clear favorite and horse to beat.
B – 9 Bella Mendy trying the dirt for the first time would be one to include.
Others
6 Easyasyouplease I found no work information on but was a gate scratch March 14th but I do not recall the reason.
8 Magala I do have some interest in as I like her works back in Dec/ Jan but was entered Feb 14th only be Vet scratched.
Race 7 is very competitive and I will want some coverage in multi’s but my top selection is 3 Starrystarryknight who is making his second start off the bench after running well last time. The Feb 18th effort over a year ago will best this group but will need to work out a trip in a deep field.
Race 8 is a short field but this group should put on a show. I think in multi’s you need to pick one and take your shot or look at other wagers. I have nothing here that the paper form does not already tell you.
4 Waittilmidnitehour bested Mywifeknowsitall last time which caught me by surprise.
5 Mywifeknowsitall gets back to the 5 furlongs where I do think she is a touch better.
6 Amor Y Control has crossed the wire first in six straight races but will face a bit tougher today.
7 Heir to the Roar looks to get the pace setup and is the value of the group and I will put on top while likely making a small token wager on.
Race 9 I can come up with a reason to give each one of these a look but I have 5 Goodbetterbest on top. Was on the lead last time and this mare does her best work sitting right off or on top of the pace. My main opinion in this race is that I do not have one. Watch and take my notes…
