Gulfstream Park Saturday: Royal Delta Stakes, Letruska Returns

With many of her top rivals now in breeding careers, Letruska is arguably the most talented female in training. Saturday she is favored in the Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park.

Royal Delta Analysis

Gulfstream Park Race 6

Post: 2:27 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Royal Delta S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 LETRUSKA (2-5) stands over this field and is a logical choice. Not sure there is much value here but sometimes it is fun to just sit back and admire brilliance.
• #3 CRAZY BEAUTIFUL (4-1) is my pick if Letruska doesn’t fire. I have liked this horse a lot in recent starts and she has run some really bang up races. She just runs into a beast here.
• #4 FAMILY TIME (30-1) and #7 HELPING LISA D (15-1) are interesting price horses that could factor in the exotics at a price.

Selections: 6-3-4-7

Saturday Undercard Analysis

Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM ET; Purse: $32,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 9

• #2 CONUNDRUM QUEEN (8-5) is well bred and will be forward early which is especially helpful on the Gulfstream turf.
• #3 CHICA BOOM (8-1) has the top speed figures of any in the group thus far.
• #1 GOLDLINER (6-1) could be sitting on a big performance in this spot.
• #6 SINFULICIOUS (5-1) is an interesting runner. I can’t get a great read on this one so I will let the board let me know if this one is ready to run.

Selections: 2-3-1-6

Gulfstream Park Race 2

Post: 12:29 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 CAPTURINI (9-5) has the top power rating in the group.
• #2 FUTURE FLAY (2-1) comes into the race in top form.
• #7 PRETZEL (10-1) will be forward early and has the top speed figures in the group. Don’t sleep on this one.
• #6 LUNAR BLAST (4-1) should be able to carry his speed the best of the group. I don’t know if he’s fast enough, but he should still be running late.

Selections: 5-2-7-6

Gulfstream Park Race 3

Post: 12:58 PM ET; Purse: $32,000 Maiden Claiming, About 1 1/16 Miles on All Weather Track; Entries: 9

• #9 MISS CALIFORNIA (3-1) is a firster for a barn that has to be respected in the maiden claiming ranks.
• #7 ARTEMUS SWEETHEART (4-1) rounds out the top 2 picks as the other first time starter. This one seems to go through the fresh faces.
• #2 STRAIGHT TO GO (7-2) is the experience play. This one stands over the field based on the races run so far, but still no wins in the career.
• #8 MORE GLORY (20-1) could potentially get a great setup here.

Selections: 9-7-2-8

Gulfstream Park Race 4

Post: 1:27 PM ET; Purse: $61,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 REINVESTMENT RISK (9-5) goes out for proven connections and will have the advantage of being forwardly placed throughout.
• #5 NO QUE NO (9-2) is class player in this spot and is no stranger to success on the Gulfstream dirt.
• #1 MILLIKEN (8-5) seems like a soft favorite, but does have the best speed figures in the group. I just think there are others that will have more in their favor here.
• #2 THINKABOUTIT (8-1) has hit the board at a higher clip than any other runner in the field.

Selections: 6-5-1-2

Gulfstream Park Race 5

Post: 1:57 PM ET; Purse: $24,000 Claiming, About 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 14

• #6 SHE'S CLASSY (3-1) looks to have this field over a barrel. I really think the morning line maker will be proven wrong and this one will take the most money into the post.
• #7 TIDAL WATERS (9-2) has a jockey and trainer that win races at a combined 50%.
• #9 POLISHED LADY (8-1) has competitive speed figures with this group and you’re getting plenty of points in the odds.
• #4 FILLMORE EAST (5-2) has a power rating that suggest this one could deliver as the morning line choice.

Selections: 6-7-9-4 (Best Bet: #6 SHE’S CLASSY)

Gulfstream Park Race 6

Post: 2:27 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Royal Delta S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7

• Royal Delta Stakes analysis provided above.

Selections: 6-3-4-7

Gulfstream Park Race 7

Post: 3:01 PM ET; Purse: $37,000 Starter Allowance, About 5 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 9

• #9 SMOKIN RICHIE (7-2) has been running against better and comes into the race in great form.
• #3 UNPRECEDENTED (3-1) has the top speed figures in the group.
• #6 RECONFIGURE (9-2) is a bit of distance specialist at these super short sprints.
• #5 AWESOME ANYWHERE (12-1) will look to be on the engine early. The tapeta has become more speed favoring lately and this one could steal it.

Selections: 9-3-6-5

Gulfstream Park Race 8

Post: 3:33 PM ET; Purse: $28,000 Claiming, About 7 1/2 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

• #6 RED MULE (10-1) hits the board 50% of the time at this distance. Given the chaos of turf racing, I’ll take my chances.
• #2 IMPRESSIVE SPEED (10-1) has a solid power rating and could be another upsetter in a race that appears to be wide open.
• #10 PROPENSITY (9-2) should be involved in the early pace and may be hard to reel in.
• #4 SOUPER FORTUNE (6-1) has the stamina to get this quirky distance.

Selections: 6-2-10-4

Gulfstream Park Race 9

Post: 4:05 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 12

• #10 BOURBON HEIST (4-1) is the speed, class, form, and pace horse. These types can be hard to beat.
• #3 MONTAUK POINT (7-2) could get a dream trip in this spot.
• #2 COMPLETE AGENDA (3-1) goes out for connections that can usually be counted on to fire good performances.
• #8 PIONEERING SPIRIT (5-1) has already proven capable of hitting the board at this extended distance.

Selections: 10-3-2-8

Gulfstream Park Race 10

Post: 4:37 PM ET; Purse: $61,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 10

• #6 STAR SEEKING (8-5) is the class of the field and should be well positioned to get the victory here.
• #5 APPLECROSS (9-2) will be forward from the outset and try to take this group wire to wire.
• #8 TALKING BOOK (10-1) has good speed figures and will look to press the pace. The wider post is a bit concerning.
• #1 BLACK SAND (7-2) should be ready to deliver based on the barn this one comes out of.

Selections: 6-5-8-1

Gulfstream Park Race 11

Post: 5:10 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Claiming, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 11

• #6 METEORITO (5-2) may be impossible to catch on the front end. This one has been in great form of late.
• #10 SPIN RATE (3-1) boasts the top speed figures in the group.
• #2 VINNY DREAM (4-1) could get a really nice pace setup in this race.
• #3 HIERRO (9-2) could be aggressive and make a sprint for the front. If this one clears it could be tough as the inside posts are very good on the Gulfstream dirt.

Selections: 6-10-2-3

Gulfstream Park Race 12

Post: 5:43 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 14

• #3 GROWTH CAPITAL (4-1) is bred to relish the turf mile.
• #1 LA MAQUINA (5-1) has faced the toughest to this point and could break through today.
• #14 ROADTRIPTONOWHERE (4-1) has the top speed figures of any of these but the post is almost an assured disaster. The only hope with this one is that there are so many scratches that it draws into about the 8 post or that it scratches and gets to show it’s talent another day.
• #6 THISTLE (9-2) is another first time starter who could do some damage here.

Selections: 3-1-14-6

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