Gulfstream Park Saturday (7/2): Princess Rooney Stakes Analysis

Ce Ce returns the races in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney. Saturday’s race at Gulfstream Park is a win and you’re in for the Breeders’ Cup.

Tapeta Track Keeps Fields in Tact

The tapeta surface has now been in use for the better part of the year at Gulfstream Park. While initial reactions from much of the horses players was negative, their seems to now be a much more quiet acceptance of the surface.

Bigger Off Turf Fields

One of the major reasons for the installation of the tapeta track was the violent rains that can spring up in south Florida out of nowhere. This frequently caused late changes in the program where races had to be taken off the turf. This often meant that turf fields would scratch down to less than half of their original size.

A Success

The results after several months have accomplished one of the major goals of the install. Tapeta surfaces are always listed as fast rain or shine. However, the synthetic surfaces tend to play much more like turf courses.

This has led to very few scratches when races are taken off the main track and onto the synthetic course. In turn bettors are left with a better product.

The Princess Rooney

The 2021 Princess Rooney was won by Ce Ce. The same horse that is entered as the heavy favorite this year. Following the 2021 victory the Michael McCarthy trainee ran two more races before her year end try in the Breeders’ Cup.

Breeders’ Cup Preps

She finished 3rd in the Ballerina at Saratoga. After that she shipped back west to win the Chillingworth at Santa Anita. The latter was likely because the Breeders’ Cup was being held at Del Mar, just down the road from Santa Anita.

Breeders’ Cup Champion

The two preps served her well as she won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. In the race she went off as third choice in the betting at odds of 6-1. She defeated heavy favorite Gamine who was odds on and the ultra talented Bella Sofia at odds of 5-2.

Ce Ce will look to repeat her victory and eventual path to the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday.

Full Card Analysis

Gulfstream Park Race 1

Post: 12:30 PM ET; Purse: $65,000 Maiden Special Weight, 5 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 11

• #1 COMPANUEVO should be competitive based on the pedigree which has it tops in the group.
• #4 CHEERFUL CHARLIE has a great shot in the race given the speed & class.
• #8 BORIS is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance and blood lines.
• #10 ZONAL comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.

Selections: 1-4-8-10

Gulfstream Park Race 2

Post: 1:05 PM ET; Purse: $22,000 Claiming, 5 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 8

• #3 GOLDEN ISLE is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & pace.
• #6 PRONTA is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.
• #7 CODE NAME LISE merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & class.
• #8 SACRED SUNDAY merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & power rating.

Selections: 3-6-7-8

Gulfstream Park Race 3

Post: 1:35 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Maiden Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #2 BLANK'S HAT TRICK is worth a look here given edges in class & connections.
• #1 EXTRACTION WILL is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & pace.
• #8 MINISTER QUINN is a major player based on speed figures.
• #6 HECTOR B has decent enough speed figures to contend here

Selections: 2-1-8-6

Gulfstream Park Race 4

Post: 2:07 PM ET; Purse: $20,000 Claiming, 1 Mile 70 Yards on All Weather Track; Entries: 8

• #6 VANDALIA is worth a look here given edges in connections & pace.
• #7 MISS MAMBA is worth a look here given edges in class & race flow.
• #1 ALWAYS EDEN is worth a look here given edges in form & power rating.
• #3 RAISON THE GLASS merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & stamina.

Selections: 6-7-1-3

Gulfstream Park Race 5

Post: 2:39 PM ET; Purse: $48,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 7

• #6 INDY LYON is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & early pace.
• #4 GRAINGER COUNTY is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & power rating.
• #5 HENRY'S WORLD is worth a look here given edges in class & pace.
• #7 EXCHANGE DAY could get a good pace setup in this spot.

Selections: 6-4-5-7

Gulfstream Park Race 6

Post: 3:11 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 12

• #7 FEARLESS GIRL is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & race flow.
• #5 RACING COLORS has the speed figures to be competitive in this spot.
• #11 CAPRIDREY comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #12 HOLIDAY PRINCESS is a major player based on speed figures.

Selections: 7-5-11-12

Gulfstream Park Race 7

Post: 3:44 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Smile Sprint Invitational S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #3 DRAIN THE CLOCK (6-5) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including top connections & class.
• #6 WILLY BOI (5-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #2 GATSBY (15-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #5 PUDDING (9-2)fits here based on speed numbers. This one could have the best late turn of foot in the group.

Selections: 3-6-2-5

Gulfstream Park Race 8

Post: 4:15 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 MEADE is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & power rating.
• #2 LUSITANO should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & pace.
• #3 ONE EYED JACK is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #4 NACHO PAPA will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.

Selections: 7-2-3-4

Gulfstream Park Race 9

Post: 4:48 PM ET; Purse: $17,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #10 KING CAIRO should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & pace.
• #7 MERZAZ is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & power rating.
• #3 THE RED MAN is a major player based on speed figures.
• #4 SPRING THE BEAST comes into in good form and may be a player ready to run the best effort in this spot.

Selections: 10-7-3-4

Gulfstream Park Race 10

Post: 5:20 PM ET; Purse: $300,000 Princess Rooney Invitational S., 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 CE CE (4-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including stamina & late pace. The concern here may be trying to make up ground in a race with not a ton of confirmed speed and on a course that plays to speed. Still she’s the champ and is worth the respect.
• #3 GLASS CEILING (7-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & form. This one could take advantage of a more forwardly placed trip.
• #6 MAKE MISCHIEF (6-1) should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group.
• #1 SPIRIT WIND (6-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.

Selections: 5-3-6-1

Gulfstream Park Race 11

Post: 5:50 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile 70 Yards on All Weather Track; Entries: 13

• #9 POETIC CODE is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & breeding/.
• #8 GLORY AND VICTORY has put up speed figures that are among the tops in this group.
• #10 PAPA CHARLES is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including early pace.
• #12 GRAVE DANGER will have to work out a trip but has previous starts to make this one a possibility in this wide open race.

Selections: 9-8-10-12

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