Today card I had mixed feeling on as I was going through the card, I kept finding favorites I did not like and landing on big bomb prices.
THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH ME!
None of the big prices are hard bets for me today , just more token plays.
At the time putting this up, I have not even begin ticket construction as got behind on things this week.
Race 1
A – 1 Reggae Man on Dec.30th woke up when Vazquez got aboard closing into an average pace 3-4 wide stayed on in stretch and likely would been 3rd if not herded a bit late. Return on Jan 14th to run almost an identical race.
A – 2 Sweet Travels I think could go off around 9/5. Dec 10th on the grass ran very well making an early wide move running on well in the lane, then came back on the tapeta running a winning race that day if not for the winner getting a rail trip and cutting the corner while Sweet Travels ran 4 wide. Was entered Saturday in Race 2 MSW and wisely scratched for this spot.
B – 6 Mission Mike at first glance was a toss for me. Entered on Dec 30th for the grass and scratched instead of running on the tapeta, hinting maybe would not like the tapeta. But then when elected to run on Jan 14, ran behind Reggae Man with a similar trip 3-4 wide moving up through the turn, but then was taken completely out of the race when carried out extremely wide. Barn is 0 for 16 in this spot Ouch
If Spreading here the 8 is the only horse I could completely toss here.
Race 2 I really like these MSW turf races at this meet, this one however I did not find anything to heavy to lean on.
A – 4 Royal Wintour for Motion who is only 4% in this spot as the barn does not look to win first out. This one really caught my attention in the works I watched. Had a nice gate work then looked really good on the grass. I anticipate getting better than the 4-1 ML, I will make a small win wager here.
A – 6 Overly Dramatic I would assume is the better of the two Pletcher’s had no reason to use other than connections.
A – 8 Sands of War for DeVaux who horses have not run particularly well at this meet. Took a bit of money on debut and showed good speed, now adds lasix with Jose up.
B – 2 Charm of the Song for Wilkes will be a big price, gets lasix and stretches out for the first time. Looked really good in the turf work on Feb 2nd, was lightly shook up but mostly in hand to get that 46.
B – 5 Vive Veuve no reason to include other than need to see more of this one.
C’s – 1 , 11
Race 3 I am not overly excited about as everyone in the field has question marks I think I will use my two A’s and take my chances with the value.
A – 3 Steel Racer has never went 3/4’s. Ran a big 2nd behind Goddess of Fire last out, hard trying filly that has caught my eye a couple times. My concern is her lack of speed and has not passed horses unless close up on the outside.
A – 6 Olga is a bit hard to trust with no excuse last time, but that helps the price here. She has the best 6 furlongs races of the group and will get first run on the 7 who I do not like.
Fades
1 American Rockette has not raced since Nov. 2022 in the Golden Rod, would not surprise anyone if she wins here. My issue with her is after that monster troubled race she ran in the Spinaway she just never looked right. I think this is a come back spot and will be going 2 turns next time.
7 American of Course should get the lead fairly easy here and she can clip off some fast splits, but I have never liked her and she solidified my opinion last out when on the lead cut the corner and had nothing !
Race 4
A – 2 Siphon City Girl looks to be a short price and the only you need here. Last out added blinkers and got on the tapeta for the first time to run a big race for the level. After setting fast fraction in hand, responded well when asked just got run down at the wire but was trying hard with good energy through the wire.
Race 5 I do not have a strong opinion here, not entirely sure who the pace setter will be here. Several are fast enough to be on the lead if they choose. Starts off the Tropical Pick 3
A – 1 Treasure King the favorite here? Not one I would feel overly confident in for the Irad blind betters. He won the 1st 2 races of his career versus 3 year old only company and his last win was in a 3NL claimer at woodbine. The positive is he did run extremely well on the tapeta last time, and since being claimed came back with a monster work over the grass.
A – 3 Souper Energizer recent form has been horrible. Gets back to Gulfstream where he has ran most of his better races , changes barns and gets Paco up. At a price I would put a token bet on this one well before the favorite I will make a token wager if the price holds.
B – 2 , 4, 5 , 6 Nothing really hidden on paper about any of these.
Race 6
A – 7 Vincey Girl showed good speed on debut breaking sharp inside, took over with ease early in hand but when asked NO RESPONSE + Lasix
A – 9 Tinki Abarrio 15-1 is one I have to bet something on today due to the price. She ran a very nice debut with all sorts of trouble and I will give her pass last time when drawing the rail breaking slow / ducked in at the gap / then made an early 3 wide move leveling off quickly. Adds blinkers today and makes her 3rd start.
A – 10 Dixie Mischief was working very nicely leading into her debut that washed off the turf then ran behind fast pace. Barn has good numbers 2nd time out, and even better 2nd time out Turf to Dirt. ( yes I know was tapeta last but intended for turf)
A – 11 On Moonlight Bay Pletcher / Irad blah blah blah. The lone work I watched she did nothing wrong , typical for this barn.
B – 8 Grace Given tried stakes company as a maiden in August and not been seen since. If she is taking money would add her to my late pick 5 ticket.
C – 2 Amor Fati Barn can get a first timer ready, I have no Information on this one.
C – 4 Save Time is another I have no information on. Yesterday I mentioned Chad’s good numbers with dirt 1st timers at gulfstream, surprisingly good.
Race 7
A – 9 Kalispera filly was training lights out prior to the US debut which washed off the turf and she got the job done on the tapeta. Has continued to train well out that win and now gets to the preferred surface. Excited to see her on the grass. There are a handful with reasons to improve but they look to be running into a monster today.
Race 8 looks to be a contested pace in a group with several question marks. ALL !!
Something a little different here, as I do not have a strong opinion in here, just mentioning the reasons I do not like the favorites.
3 Big Martini has some nice races on the lead. Fractions in the Tampa races faster than any of his previous here at Gulfstream which makes me question the from a bit, is cutting back from 7 furlongs. I just cannot trust this one with so much other pace in here.
5 King Cab is going to be a co-favorite or 2nd choice and is also speed dependent. Has not lasted to get his picture made since facing 3 year old only company in 2022.
1 – Southern Dream 20-1 retains Jose Ortiz here and came from off the pace last time versus maidens to win in ugly fashion. Has to take on a tough group of winners for the first time today. The positive has only sprinted on 3 occasions and now goes out 2nd off the bench. I may make a small token wager at a big price.
Others Unikee comes back in here who showed a lot of talent as a 3 year old. Dangerous Ride could pick up the pieces can make a case for all of them.
Race 9 NO CLUE WHO WINS THIS ONE
A – 1 Stone Silent made her first start for Lynch last time when stepping into older stakes company for the first time but got a near perfect outside trip that day, talented filly but she is going to have to show me again before I buy any stock.
A – 3 Fulminate cleared from the far outside last time setting fast fraction and Paco never asked for anything until the 8th pole winning impressively. Will have to run without lasix today is worth noting, I cant take a short price in this group.
A – 7 Choose Joy is not going to wow you but is as consistent as it gets. 10 starts going 5 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream with 5 wins and 5 seconds. She is a contender here, but she almost has to trip out to win.
A – 9 Shasta Star you can toss the last race, pinched at the start and was behind the entire race. You have to respect the record, 16 wins lifetime. Turf Sprinting 8 for 11 there is a ton of speed in this spot, but if you like her you will have to pay the Irad tax.
B – 4 Baby Steps surprised me last time going a mile and now cuts back to her distance. She will need to sit off the pace today and has not proven she can do that yet. She has always showed plenty of talent, Ryan Hanson had pre-entered her in the Juv Filly Turf and Juv Turf sprint Breeders Cup 21, but she got in neither.
C’s – Everyone else, there are some fast synthetic horses trying the Gulfstream Turf for the first time, just had a volatile look to it.
Race 10
A – 2 Lunetta Jak had a near perfect trip last time, but traveled easy at rail unasked till off turn ran on same pace to wire holding a position with good energy. Now makes her 2nd start around 2 turns, clearly the safe play and favorite here.
A – 6 Sandy Bullet debut was better than looks on paper, she broke ok from the rail inside of horses and had to check out when put in tight falling well back. She was hand ridden through the turn cutting the corner and mostly hand ridden in the stretch making up ground, Perez went stick late and thought she responded ok for the level. She galloped out well and her work prior to debut she was hard ridden early but also went out decent for this level. I’m taking a shot
B – 4 Broken Bankers traveled well behind horses last out, was boxed in through the turn but when she got room was just same pace plodding along. 1st time going a route with Lasix and just dropped to this level last time.
