Gulfstream Park: Ft. Lauderdale Caps Saturday of Stakes Racing

Gulfstream will run a mostly tapeta card the Wednesday before the Christmas.

The Gulfstream Park Championship meet continues on. Saturday’s card features 5 stakes races, 4 of them graded. The highlight will be the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale.

Three Surfaces

Earlier this year Gulfstream Park became the first ever track to have 3 different racing surfaces.

The dirt track is extremely speed favoring and is 8 furlongs or 1 mile.

Just inside the main oval is the newly installed tapeta, or all weather, track. This artificial surface tends to run more like traditional turf. This surface has proven to be best for runners with good kick who can find the outer parts of the track.

The final surface sits inside of the tapeta and is the turf track. It is the smallest course and has very tight turns. This often makes the track uncharacteristically kind to speed runners.

Saturday Analysis

Gulfstream Park Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

#8 MOGALU (3-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts. #9 JINXED (9-2) should also be a major player here. #7 CARNIVORE (8-1) has to be respected based on the connections. #3 JACK BACKED (5-1) should be competitive today based on the horse’s advantages in speed & form.

Selections: 8-9-7-3

Gulfstream Park Race 2

Post: 12:30 PM ET; Purse: $35,000 Maiden Claiming, About 1 Mile 70 Yards on All Weather Track; Entries: 8

#2 UKIYO (6-5) is the favorite edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating. At this class level sometimes the race on paper can vary greatly from the final result. #6 ONLY TIME (5-2) merits consideration in this spot given the connections. If horses sit back too far #1 GIRLY THE BUTCHER (8-1) and #4 SOUL OF AN ANGEL (20-1) are both nice prices that could look to spurt away from the field in the stretch.

Selections: 2-6-1-4

Gulfstream Park Race 3

Post: 12:58 PM ET; Purse: $19,000 Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

#1 WICKED TEMPTATIONS (3-1) is a major player with the top power rating in the group. #4 DOO WOP DON (5-2) also merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & form. #3 PERSONAL MEADOW (9-2) is a solid contender given the earl pace numbers. #5 NO COMMISSION (8-1) is the long shot that looks to be most poised to hit the board.

Selections: 1-4-3-5

Gulfstream Park Race 4

Post: 1:26 PM ET; Purse: $32,000 Maiden Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

#5 BOURBON OVER ICE (9-2) should be competitive today based on recent speed figures. #2 INNER WAVE (8-1) is one I like to upset in this spot as well with good pace numbers in the early part of the race and finishing kick that stacks up just fine against this group. #4 KNIGHTS BIRD (7-2) will look to run to the front and just keep going. Never a bad strategy against horse that don’t like to win. #1 RULING FRONT (5-1) has run against the best foes in the group so far.

Selections: 5-2-4-1

Gulfstream Park Race 5

Post: 1:54 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Suwannee River S., 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 12

#3 SHIFTY SHE (3-1) has to be respected as she looks like the class of the race. #2 IN A HURRY (5-1) should have no problem getting the distance. #6 CLASSIC LADY (15-1) has to be respected based on the connections. #9 SUMMERING (8-1) is another interesting long shot who could play a factor in this race.

Selections: 3-2-6-9

Gulfstream Park Race 6

Post: 2:28 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Rampart S., 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 6

#3 DANCE D’ORO (7-2) is in great form and has speed numbers that are best in the group. #2 DON’T GET KHOZY (6-1) has the best power rating in the group and could get the right race flow to be successful here. #4 QUEEN NEKIA (3-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts. #1 ALLWORTHY (4-1) is worth a look here given the connections.

Selections: 3-2-4-1

Gulfstream Park Race 7

Post: 2:58 PM ET; Purse: $24,000 Claiming, About 5 1/2 Furlongs on All Weather Track; Entries: 15

#10 EARTH (10-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future and against this group I don’t mind taking a stab. #7 ALLEGEDLY PERFECT (5-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today’s distance and surface conditions. #2 SOVEREIGN WARRIOR (20-1) is a major player based on speed figures at a big price. #11 HURRICANE HILL (5-1) could get the perfect trip and has been facing tougher.

Selections: 10-7-2-11

Gulfstream Park Race 8

Post: 3:28 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Sugar Swirl S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

#5 CENTER AISLE (2-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & stamina. #3 FRANK’S ROCKETTE (9-5) has to be respected based on the class of this runner. #4 LORILOUPIES (10-1) is one that is likely to get forgotten about on the tote board but can run big races. #1 QUINOA TIFAH (6-1) should be a major player to at least hit the board here.

Selections: 5-3-4-1

Gulfstream Park Race 9

Post: 3:59 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 6

#6 FEARLESS (8-5) has the best speed and class numbers in the group. That may be tough for the others to overcome. #1 MIGHTY HEART (9-5) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers. #4 EYE OF A JEDI (8-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today. #5 SOUTH BEND (4-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.

Selections: 6-1-4-5 (Best Bet: #6 Fearless)

Gulfstream Park Race 10

Post: 4:32 PM ET; Purse: $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale S., 1 1/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 13

#2 L’IMPERATOR (5-2) looks solid in a lot of key metrics. #3 BREAKING THE RULES (10-1) is a much bigger price, but not that far behind some of the others in here. The price makes this one a big upgrade. #8 ANALYZE IT (4-1) has to be respected based on the connections. #1 DOSWELL (6-1) is a major player based on speed figures.

Selections: 2-3-8-1

Gulfstream Park Race 11

Post: 5:05 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 16

#5 MISBEHAVED (2-1) makes sense based on the career speed figures. #14 GOOCH GO BRAGH (4-1) merits consideration based on the horses its run against thus far. #1 IMMOKALEE (9-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today’s distance and surface conditions. #9 RIDLEY’S MAJOR (5-2) is worth a look here given edges the breeding.

Selections: 5-14-1-9

Betting News Handicapping Tools

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By Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.