0-for-1 on Friday, with GOLD BEAR getting bet down to even-money but finishing off the board.
Gulfstream – Race 1
#8 ANOTHER WOMAN (15/1 ml)
A couple of very interesting longshots here, but let’s give the edge to this Mott trainee. Appeared to work a 2nd-of-51 back on New Year’s Eve with the older multiple stakes winner FRANK’S ROCKETTE, which is almost hard to believe considering it was her first 4-furlong drill. Followed that up by appearing to work a best-of-21 bullet on Jan 16 with the older multiple winner LAKE AVENUE, who came out of that drill to win a fast allowance race (at this same distance) on Feb 3. Most recently seems to have been involved in a multi-horse team drill (which Mott appears to have used with several winners at this meet) with the older stakes winner ANTOINETTE, who is entered in Race 13 today, and/or SIR OLLIE (won debut, close second in subsequent allowance start). Go-to rider Alvarado aboard, and well-drawn on the outside here. Appears live.
Also very much need to mention the rail horse GIGI B. (15/1 ml), a Brendan Walsh trainee who appears to have worked on Feb 12 with the huge debut winner PREVALENCE, who of course was being pointed to today’s Fountain of Youth Stakes before spiking a fever and missing some training. Before that, GIGI B appears to have been working with a couple of older barnmates (including a multiple winning 6yo gelding), and also seems to have worked back on Dec 22 with BLUE CAT, who won a one-mile turf race at Tampa (at 10/1 odds) back on Jan 23. Same rider (Gaffalione) who was aboard PREVALANCE in that one’s debut, fwiw. Lots to like here obviously, although the rail draw is always a big concern in a long one-turn race such as this one.
Gulfstream – Race 5
#8 BLITZ TO WIN (9/2 ml)
Been waiting on this horse to run back ever since his debut 6 weeks ago. I had a strong opinion on him in that race ( write-up available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46000102) which CANDY MAN ROCKET won by 8 lengths before returning to win the Sam Davis Stakes in his next start. In fact, 3 different horses have returned to win out of that race, with a 4th horse finishing second by a nose, so it has definitely turned into a key race. If you watch the replay (available here, BLITZ TO WIN is #5 in the checkerboard silks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWjwq1CsM9U ), keep your eye on him as he approaches the turn for home, where rider Alvarado (strangely aboard BLITZ TO WIN while his current mount CANDY MAN ROCKET wins by 8 lengths???) doesn’t really seem to be asking him much at all while sitting behind two horses who are clearly spinning their wheels, after which he finally gets tipped out much too late at the top of the lane and just explodes, passing the bulk of the field while racing far outside (almost off the screen) to come up and take 3rd. Also note that he ran right past CANDY MAN ROCKET shortly past the wire, for whatever that’s worth. Unfortunately, he did seem to have an issue recently as he returned to work a last-of-46 coming out of that race, then immediately disappeared for 21 days (apparently suffering some kind of setback). That being said however, he returned from that hiatus to outwork the older stakes winner NIKO’S DREAM in a very sharp drill on Feb 14 (available for viewing on XBTV). Seems to have more speed than shown last time, and certainly looks as if he may enjoy the added distance. Expecting a good run today.
Regarding BENNYFROMTHEBRONX (the half-brother to CHARLATAN trained by Chad Brown), he comes in off 4 straight drills with REALM OF LAW, who ran a close third in his only start last year behind subsequent Belmont Futurity winner SECOND OF JULY while in the Brisset barn. FIGHTING FORCE was second in that race, fwiw. Morning line favorite COLLABORATE had a very sharp-looking team drill heading into his debut where he had breezed past IRISH HONOR, who came out of that drill to win an allowance race. COLLABORATE didn’t have a great trip and ran pretty well; fair to expect improvement here. The Mott runner FULL COURT PRESS appears to have worked with CANDY MAN ROCKET and/or OBLIGATORY (won a similar one-mile race on Feb 7) in his most recent drill on Feb 20,
ThoroBredPicks record:
Win record: 26-for-98 (27% winners)
Total mutuels: $220.90 ($8.50 average win price)
