There may not be any Derby preps this weekend, but there is plenty of stakes action to go around. Gulfstream Park will run the Sunshine Millions Classic and Sprint this Saturday.
Sunshine Millions Saturday Stakes Preview
Sunshine Millions Classic
Post: 2:31 PM ET; Purse: $75,000 Sunshine Classic S., 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7
#3 SHAMROCKET (6-5) is the logical favorite. This one has just been running against much better and should welcome this group. #1 SIR OLLIE (7-2) has competitive numbers to the #3 and will definitely be a factor in the race. #2 BIG VENEZUELA (4-1) will be forward early and on the dirt at Gulfstream that is paramount to success. #7 GLORY OF FLORIDA (9-2) is a major player based on speed figures.
Selections: 3-1-2-7
Sunshine Millions Sprint
Post: 4:42 PM ET; Purse: $75,000 Sunshine Sprint S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8
#7 LEGAL DEAL could be on the lead early and may be tough to reel in. If there is a hot pace on, this one does appear ratable just off the pace as well. #2 PUDDING comes from a barn that you can bet against at your own peril. #1 COOL QUEST comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future. This seems like it was the target and the horse may be ready to run out of its skin. #5 GATSBY is a speed figure play and has a shot to pull down this race with his best performance.
Selections: 7-2-1-5
Gulfstream Thursday Selections
The 2nd day of the racing weekend is a 10 race card full of maiden, claiming, and optional claiming events.
Playing Vertical
When playing cards composed largely of these types of runners I have found greater success playing vertically.
The unpredictability can be a huge asset to big exacta and trifecta payouts, especially when keying longshots over and under logical horses. Days like this can be extremely frustrating for horizontal players as stringing together long lines of winners on a budget can seem like throwing darts.
Selections
- 7 / 6 / 5 / 3 (Key Longshot #7)
- 3 / 4 / 6 / 1 (Key Longshot #6)
- 4 / 6 / 8/ 2 (Key Longshot #6)
- 1 / 2 / 5 / 3 (Key Longshot #2)
- 10 / 12 / 5 / 6 (Key Longshot #5)
- 3 / 1 / 2 / 6 (Key Longshot #2)
- 2 / 3 / 6 / 7 (Key Longshot #7)
- 9 / 8 / 3 / 5 (Key Longshot #9)
- 4 / 7 / 6 / 5 (Key Longshot #5)
- 2 / 5 / 1 / 8 (Key Longshot #1)
*To be considered a longshot horses needed to be listed at 6-1 or higher on the morning line.
Gulfstream Friday Selections
With Saturday being the marquee race day, Friday will feature the same type of runners seen on Thursday. In general there will be a lot of lower level races over the next couple weeks as the best horses on the grounds are largely laid off until Pegasus World Cup weekend at the end of January.
Playing Horizontal
The main difference between Thursday’s card and Friday’s is that the Friday card looks to have far more formful races sprinkled throughout. One of my favorite plays on a day like this is to play doubles or pick 3s keying longshots into logicals.
For example, in race 1 I like the #8 as a longshot at 8-1. Using this play as a key I would use all my reasonable winners in the 2nd race and weight it according to price.
Friday Race 1 Doubles
- $5 Daily Double 8/2,3 ($10)
- $2 Daily Double 8/4,5 ($4)
Selections
- 2 / 6 / 7 / 8 (Key Longshot #8)
- 2 / 4 / 5 / 3 (Key Longshot #5)
- 7 / 6 / 8/ 1 (Key Longshot #1)
- 3 / 5 / 6 / 1 (Key Longshot #6)
- 9 / 8 / 1 / 4 (Key Longshot #9)
- 2 / 3 / 1 / 5 (No viable longshot)
- 3 / 5 / 6 / 2 (Key Longshot #5)
- 7 / 8 / 5 / 6 (Key Longshot #6)
- 5 / 1 / 4 / 2 (Key Longshot #4)
- 9 /6 / 5 / 8 (Key Longshot #6)
*To be considered a longshot horses needed to be listed at 6-1 or higher on the morning line.
Saturday Analysis and Selections
Gulfstream Park Race 1
Post: 12:00 PM ET; Purse: $32,000 Maiden Claiming, About 1 Mile 70 Yards on All Weather Track; Entries: 9
#6 SOLAR TAP merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & stamina. #3 STARSHIP WIZARD will likely be undervalued on the tote board. There are signals this one could pull the upset. #2 MOON AT MIDNIGHT looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including power rating. #4 TRAVEL GUIDE comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
Selections: 6-3-2-4
Gulfstream Park Race 2
Post: 12:29 PM ET; Purse: $34,000 Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8
#1 LARA’S LADY is a major player in today’s race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & form. #5 DEL REY DOLLY is with a great chance based on the horse’s record at the distance & early pace numbers. #2 MADAME CLAUDE will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race. #6 ADIOS DIXIE should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group. At the price this one is definitely worth inclusion.
Selections: 1-5-2-6
Gulfstream Park Race 3
Post: 12:58 PM ET; Purse: $25,000 Maiden Claiming, About 1 1/16 Miles on All Weather Track; Entries: 8
#5 CONGLOMERATE looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class. #1 MIGHTY TOUGH comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future. #8 PERPETUAL CHANGE will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race. #3 SIR TERRE is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
Selections: 5-1-8-3 (Best Bet: #5 CONGLOMERATE)
Gulfstream Park Race 4
Post: 1:27 PM ET; Purse: $24,000 Starter Optional Claiming, About 1 Mile 70 Yards on All Weather Track; Entries: 9
#3 P H FACTOR is with a great chance based on the horse’s connections & power rating. #1 GEMONTEER wouldn’t be a huge surprise in the winner’s circle and could definitely be a key longshot in vertical exotics. #7 STRIKE THE TOP merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & record at the distance. #6 POPPY’S BOYS comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
Selections: 3-1-7-6
Gulfstream Park Race 5
Post: 1:57 PM ET; Purse: $41,000 Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 9
#6 FREEDOM MATTERS should be competitive today based on the horse’s speed & power rating. #3 THRESHOLD is with a great chance based on the horse’s stamina & pace numbers. #8 BENELUX wouldn’t be a huge surprise in the winner’s circle. #7 SIR SEAMUS is a major player based on speed figures.
Selections: 6-3-8-7
Gulfstream Park Race 6
Sunshine Millions Classic Analysis provided above.
Selections: 3-1-2-7
Gulfstream Park Race 7
Post: 3:05 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, About 1 1/16 Miles on All Weather Track; Entries: 8
#3 BLACK SAND should be competitive today based on the horse’s speed & connections. #8 FAST AS FLIGHT comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future. #2 COPACETIC has a great shot in the race given the speed & pace numbers. #4 MARIA’S REVENGE wouldn’t be a huge surprise in the winner’s circle.
Selections: 3-8-2-4
Gulfstream Park Race 8
Post: 3:37 PM ET; Purse: $62,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 10
#3 PROVEN STRATEGIES merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed. #4 JOURNEYMAN looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts. #10 VOW ME NOW comes from top connections that have to be respected. #5 MIRA MISSION is worth a look here given edges in pace numbers & power rating.
Selections: 3-4-10-5
Gulfstream Park Race 9
Post: 4:11 PM ET; Purse: $62,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7
#5 OLYMPIAD is worth a look here given edges in class & power rating. #7 HIGHEST HONORS should be competitive today based on the horse’s speed & form. #3 AMERICAN PRINCE is with a great chance based on the horse’s record at the distance & pace numbers. #4 VINDICTIVE shouldn’t have any issue getting the 8 1/2 furlongs.
Selections: 5-7-3-4
Gulfstream Park Race 10
Sunshine Millions Sprint Analysis provided above.
Selections: 7-2-1-5
Gulfstream Park Race 11
Post: 5:14 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 13
#8 BORDER WAR should be competitive based on the overall breeding which is among the best in the group. #3 DREAM OF A DAY has a great shot in the race given the speed & class shown in previous starts. #11 SIMMS wouldn’t be a huge surprise in the winner’s circle. #5 SKYLANDER is another from bloodlines that should be well served in this race.
Selections: 8-3-11-5
Sunday at Gulfstream
As of the writing of this piece, entries for Sunday’s card have not yet been released. However, Betting News offer free handicapping tools for Gulfstream Park. These tools include handicapping data as well as expert selections that can help solidify all of your Sunday opinions.
