Gulfstream Park: Stakes Trifecta Highlights Saturday’s Card

The Derby preps are on hold until the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. However, there is still plenty of great stakes action for racing fans in Hallandale Beach.

Gulfstream Park Race 1

Post: 12:35 PM ET; Purse: $35,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 10

• #9 CARNIVORE (5-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #8 SIMMS (10-1) is a horse at a price that could surprise.
• #2 LEOPARDI (3-1) is a lightly raced runner for Todd Pletcher who will be well served by Luis Saez getting the leg up today.
• #3 CATATUMBO (6-1) isn’t the likeliest winner, but looks a little under valued on the morning line.

Selections: 9-8-2-3

Gulfstream Park Race 2

Post: 1:04 PM ET; Purse: $28,000 Claiming, About 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 7

• #6 SHEZ RECKLESS (7-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & pace numbers.
• #7 UNCONSCIOUS (3-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & race flow.
• #2 GOLDEN ISLE (5-2) could end up being just better than these. The price is a bit short, but this one definitely fits the conditions.
• #4 DOLCE APRILE (12-1) goes out for Antonia Sano who is putting together a very nice championship meet.

Selections: 6-7-2-4

Gulfstream Park Race 3

Post: 1:33 PM ET; Purse: $24,000 Claiming, About 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 8

• #1 LUCKY GIRASOL (3-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & form.
• #5 ALIZEE (7-2) looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & power rating.
• #8 DRINKS ON ME (4-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #4 MS BIG SPRING (5-1) could try to get the front and run on with it. I don’t usually love Meneses on horses unless they need to get to the front. In this spot, this one does.

Selections: 1-5-8-4

Gulfstream Park Race 4

Post: 2:01 PM ET; Purse: $43,000 Maiden Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #1 VIVE BIEN (8-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & form.
• #3 STAT (2-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & pace numbers.
• #2 REDDINGTON (3-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & record at the distance.
• #4 HAMMER LANE (20-1) has an apprentice jockey aboard. That means this one will carry less weight and Morrison has shown some promise in the saddle over the last month.

Selections: 1-3-2-4

Gulfstream Park Race 5

Post: 2:31 PM ET; Purse: $22,000 Claiming, About 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 10

• #5 MIRACLE SILVER (7-2) is worth a look here given edges in race flow & power rating.
• #10 BALISTICO (3-1) gets Hector Berrios aboard. He is one of my favorite jockeys to use. I move his horses up even more if they like to be forward early and the purse is under $25k. This race has a purse of 22k and this horse likes to be on or near the lead.
• #1 LIVING VICARIOUSLY (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & race flow.
• #8 JETTIN OUT (9-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.

Selections: 5-10-1-8

Gulfstream Park Race 6

Post: 3:01 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Any Limit S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 LEVIOSA (8-1) is my upset pick in this race. This one has been sneakily running against some really talented horses.
• #5 SPIRIT WIND (2-1) is pretty solid over this 6 furlong distance and is a logical player.
• #6 STRATEGIC BIRD (9-5) also makes sense based on speed and form.
• #4 ONE IDENTITY (7-2) is another runner who has kept good company of late.

Selections: 1-5-6-4

Gulfstream Park Race 7

Post: 3:35 PM ET; Purse: $41,000 Claiming, About 1 1/16 Miles on All Weather Track; Entries: 7

• #5 PEACE OF EKATI (2-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including stamina & pace numbers.
• #6 PUBLIC INFORMATION (3-1) has to be respected today edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & power rating.
• #4 KOBLA MAS (7-2) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #2 BUENISIMO (6-1) will have Castellano in the irons as he will look to sit and pounce on the leaders in the late stretch.

Selections: 5-6-4-2

Gulfstream Park Race 8

Post: 4:06 PM ET; Purse: $61,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

• #10 HARPER'S IN CHARGE (4-1) will be on the engine and could be tough to catch if she can get clear.
• #8 DANCING DOLL (8-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #6 TREVESS (6-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #5 IGLOO (7-2) should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group.

Selections: 10-8-6-5

Gulfstream Park Race 9

Post: 4:38 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 BRIGHT FUTURE (5-2) has to be respected based on the connections. Irad and Pletcher are always dangerous, though admittedly I’m a bit worried about how short a price this one may come up.
• #4 GASOLINE (7-2) is really bred for these conditions. This one is in with a major chance and keeps the race squarely through the Pletcher runners.
• #1 MACHISTO (6-1) has experience and based on the small sample it looks like there have been some really good runners in those groups.
• #3 TOUCH CODE (4-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & record at the distance.

Selections: 5-4-1-3

Gulfstream Park Race 10

Post: 5:10 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Silks Run S., 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

• #3 ARREST ME RED (5-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & power rating.
• #6 BELGRANO (10-1) could get a really nice pace setup in today’s race.
• #5 CHESS MASTER (7-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & record at the distance.
• #9 YES I AM FREE (4-1) will have to overcome the 9 post, but if he can clear has the potential to be the one to catch.

Selections: 3-6-5-9

Gulfstream Park Race 11

Post: 5:42 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Hutcheson S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 NITROUS CHANNEL (7-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & pace numbers.
• #5 PROVOCATEUR (3-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & power rating.
• #7 CATTIN (7-2) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #2 AMERICAN SANCTUARY (9-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.

Selections: 4-5-7-2

Gulfstream Park Race 12

Post: 6:12 PM ET; Purse: $35,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 11

• #4 HASHTAG NO WONDER (3-1) is a major contender given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #1 ISTHMIAN (12-1) draws the rail with Junior Alvarado in the saddle. He is a really good turf rider and may just be able to work out the right trip on this one.
• #5 TRAVEL GUIDE (12-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #7 FOOD BANK HELPER (6-1) is trained by Gilberto Zerpa and ridden by Jose Ortiz. At 6-1 the connections alone are worth a stab.

Selections: 4-1-5-7

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