Saturday’s Gulfstream Park Stakes Analysis
February 8th, 2013Selections by Jude T. Feld
Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park offers some exciting stakes action and interesting wagering opportunities. At the request of several Horse Racing Radio Network listeners, I am posting my analysis. As usual, pay attention to the weather, as these selections are made for “fast and firm.” Best of luck!
GP 8th Race – Kitten’s Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1)
On paper, this race boils down to the three marquee horses: Point of Entry, Unbridled Command and Animal Kingdom. One of them should be posing for pictures after this race. There is a real paucity of early speed entered here. Salto, with the addition of jockey Joe Bravo is the most likely pacesetter. That bodes well for POINT OF ENTRY, who should get a nifty stalking trip right behind him. The Shug McGaughey trainee has a lot of class should resume his winning ways Saturday. ANIMAL KINGDOM is prepping for his engagement in the Dubai World Cup (G1) next month. His owner, Barry Irwin, has publicly stated that this is a conditioning race, so we should curb our enthusiasm for him at the windows. UNBRIDLED COMMAND has developed into a top colt for trainer Tom Bush. He just turned four-years-old and that forces him to run against tougher older foes. He should be flying late and could get up in time with a good trip and a move forward.
GP 9th Race – Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (G3)
Off since July, Travelin Man should be fresh and it seems like Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will have to send him from his inside post position. Big Grandpa has the most speed and is drawn outside, so a quick pace duel could ensue. In that scenario, BAHAMIAN SQUALL should get a cozy spot to stalk the duelers. He ran a big race in the Sunshine Millions Sprint and doesn’t need much improvement to send trainer David Fawkes to the winners’ circle. CLOSE IT OUT is capable of big finishes and might be the, “closer to fear,†in this spot. His recent Brisnet speed figures certainly fit with best in the field.
GP 10th Race – Suwannee River (G3)
This a very strong Grade 3 event and a real handicapping puzzle. LEADING ASTRAY endeared herself to me last year when I was on her bandwagon in the Hatoof Stakes on Arlington Million day and bet her back in the Pucker Up (G3) at a whopping 8-1. It is doubtful she will be close to that price Saturday afternoon after her troubled third-place finish in the Marshua’s River (G3) over this course last month. The Chris Block trainee continues to work well and she looks like the filly to beat. KYA ONE hails from the powerful Chad Brown stable. Wisely handled, she has had a little time off after her My Charmer (G3) score at Calder, her second start after being imported from France. Granted, this is her first race of 2013, but she has solid Euro form and her trainer excels with layoff types. ROMACACA loves the Gulfstream green but a mile and an eighth has proven to be her Waterloo on more than one occasion. She will take them as far as she can, and that could be all the way to the wire, if her new jockey Luis Saez is allowed soft early fractions.
GP 11th race – Donn Handicap (G1)
Old age has yet to hinder millionaire POOL PLAY. The Mark Casse-trained son of Silver Deputy won the Stephen Foster (G1) at age six, the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) at age seven and might just add the Donn (G1) to his resume at eight. His prep in the Hal’s Hope (G3) around one turn should have him primed and ready for a top effort and his sharp blowout for this race indicates he’s ready to rumble. Multi-millionaire FLAT OUT wears down his competition when he wins and might not find the usually speed-favoring Gulfstream Park strip to his liking. He also does his best racing at an eighth of a mile longer than today’s distance. That being said, he is reliable for a solid effort in his first race of the year and cannot be left out of exactas and trifectas. Local star CSABA has yet to win a Grade 1 but he’s been tearing up easier competition. He should have a perfect journey right behind the early speedsters and get first run on the closers – a nice spot to be in.
