With all the action across the country, we couldn’t organize any schedules to get a Gulfstream pod out this week. Never fear, because the intern is here to fill in the gaps, a full card analysis with a slightly different approach to my selections. After all, the multirace wagers are where it’s at on Mandatory Monday with stakes action, so let’s lock in and cash out in South Florida today.
RACE 1 – 7 ½ furlongs, turf, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 12:20 pm
A tough start to both the Players’ Pick 8 and the $3 Tropical Turf Pick 3 here. I certainly want to live through this contentious 2-year-old maiden, so I have no shame in using Lord Henry (#1) and Edwin Gonzales in this spot after a distant second place run last time out. I don’t think going two turns will be a problem for him. More Power To You (#4) comes out of Mark Casse’s stable and switches surfaces, where his siblings had their campaigns as well. To cover my bases, I’ll take Carribean Comet (#6) as well for the A-side, as Patrick Biancone wins 21% with his 2-year-olds. As a B-side, I want the price of Win Jet Win (#2), switching surfaces and featuring a 3×4 cross in the pedigree to the old grass champion Halo. He’s a sneaky good price worth the speculation.
Race 1: 1,4,6 / 2
RACE 2 – 5 ½ furlongs, synthetic, Maiden Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 12:51
The early Pick 4 kicks off this race. I’m going to single the 6-5 Bundalay (#6) here, based on how she took to the synth last time out. There isn’t much in the form lines to make me really like a price, but for a B-side Daddy’s Love (#4) switches surfaces at a price, but I’d only play it if I had an extra buck at the window.
Race 2: 6 / 4
RACE 3 – 1 mile 70 yards, synthetic, Maiden Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 1:22
The Rainbow Pick 6 kicks off in this race, a must-play wager on Mandatory Monday. Kent Sweezey has a solid 17% win rate and a nice $2.88 ROI when he debuts his runners in maiden claiming races, so I’m not ignoring first-time starter Flying Chief (#8) on any ticket. Workinclasskid (#2) finally gets a class drop and seems the most likely to run well, and sire Outwork has good percentages with progeny on the tapeta.
Race 3: 2, 8
RACE 4 – 1 mile, dirt, Claiming $10,000 Post Time: 1:56
Don’t miss out on the Late Pick 5 that starts here. To Joey (#4) comes into this race with the best record at the distance and the highest ceiling for a high percentage barn. Easy single for me.
Race 4: 4
RACE 5 – 5 furlongs, turf, Maiden Claiming $25,000 Post Time: 2:27
Start of the Late Pick 4, and also the second leg of the Turf Pick 3. I’d like to take a single in this race to make these multirace wagers more viable, especially since I went wide in the first turf race. Wheelhouse (#4) enters the high-percentage Saffie Joseph barn and gets top rider Micah Husbands. He’s also worked sub-36 second works over 3 furlongs in two of his three breezes, and his tapeta race in June saw multiple horses run in the money in their next starts.
Race 5: 4
RACE 6 – 6 furlongs, dirt, In Summation Stakes Post Time 2:58
The $100k In Summation Stakes is also the start of the Players’ $3 Late Pick 3. If the 80 Beyer on Sum Of Success (#3) is correct, then this horse is fast enough to take this easily.
Race 6: 3
RACE 7 – 7 furlongs, dirt, Maiden Special Weight. Post Time: 3:29
Start of the Players’ $5 Late Double. Lady Rockula (#7) has had some time to run into her best form, and if she captures her late-running style she showed off two races ago, I think the extra furlong will come easy for her here. Camber (#4) has the advantage of being a Gun Runner with upside, and I’ve learned not to count them out in a surface switch.
Race 7: 7,4
RACE 8 – 1 1/16 mile, turf, Allowance Optional Claiming $25k Post Time 4:00
In a field this close, I want to land all these multirace wagers with a price. Spicy Princess (#7), should she fire in her second race off the layoff, will secure a nice payout for the trouble. This filly had to take on stakes company earlier in the year, so I think there’s more to her then some are expecting against older. Patrick Biancone is also a great trainer with a 26% win rate with horses in their second start off the layoff. If you want to land these wagers securely, you should go wide, but I’ll stick with the #7 here.
Race 8:7
| Gulfstream Mon. | A | B |
| Race 1 | 1,4,6 | 2 |
| Race 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Race 3 | 2,8 | |
| Race 4 | 4 | |
| Race 5 | 4 | |
| Race 6 | 3 | |
| Race 7 | 4,7 | |
| Race 8 | 7 |
