Race of the Day

Happy Fountain of Youth Day!  Gulfstream has monster card with eight graded stakes today. The winner of the Fountain of Youth will receive fifty Kentucky Derby points and that should be sufficient to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, especially with the Baffert trainees unable to Run for the Roses.  Trivia question: Who is the only three year old filly to win the Kentucky Oaks, the Black Eyed Susan, and then sweep the Acorn, the Mother Goose, and the Coaching Club American Oaks?    Gulfstream Park Race 9  – The Davona Dale – Grade II  One Mile on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies   Miss…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  3/1/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  2      Race overview  A modest group of 25k 2yof MCL’ers going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s not much here, which means #3 BANANA SPLIT (2-1) should be loose on the stretchout and MSW drop.      Trends  Speed plays on turf, especially when it’s firm, as closers struggle to make up significant ground.       Best Play  #3 BANANA SPLIT (2-1): Speedster and MSW dropper stretches out and is bred to and bottom for the trip, and with no…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/29/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  5      Race overview  A competitive 16k claimer for 3yos at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.       Pace  There’s not much here, so expect a tight group, with a sprint to the finish off the far turn      Trends  The Tapeta routes tend to be a bit more fair than the sprints, with stalker/closers having a fair chance (unless it rains, and then things can really tighten up).       Best Play  #4 DESIGNATED HITTER (3-1): Recent MCL winner added blinkers and stretched…

“PLAY of te DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 2/28/2024 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 2   Race overview A solid group-of-9 4up 12.5k N3Ls going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.   Pace There’s not much here, so expect a tight group, with a sprint to the finish off the far turn Trends The Tapeta routes tend to be a bit more fair than the sprints, with stalker/closers having a fair chance (unless it rains, and then things can really tighten up).   Best Play #8 KARTANO (2-1): Stiff class dropper had a troubled trip on the turf and now is back on Tapeta, where he’s best, and…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/25/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  9      Race overview  A deep and competitive group of 35k N2L for 4up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.       Pace  There’s not much here, so you better have some tactical speed to be close early on.      Trends  Tactical speed, at the very least, plays, as it’s tough to make up significant group on a firm turf course       Best Play  #10 PALACE VIEW (4-1) (turf only): Stalker has the speed to trip out, drops in class, and had…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/24/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  4      Race overview  A very strong MSW for 3yos going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.       Pace  Expect things to be tepid early, as the entire field-of-7 tries this distance for the first time, including a few who have no arly speed at all, which means the ability to lay close early will be big.      Trends  Dirt routes are rare in these parts, but you won’t see them won from the back, so you have to be close early. …

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/23/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  7      Race overview  A modest Florida-bred N1X for 3yos going 7Fs on the main.       Pace  It should be honest enough, as more than a few want to be involved here, and at 7Fs, it’s no guarantee anyone sticks around.      Trends  Tactical speed, at the very least, is needed sprinting on the main, as races rarely fall apart, though, as hinted at above, things can even out a bit more at 7Fs.       Best Play  #5 ROAR READY (8-5): Talented…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau   Date 2/22/2024 Featured track Gulfstream Park Race number 3   Race overview A very evenly-matched Florida AOC for f/ms sprinting 7Fs on the main track.   Pace There’s plenty of it here, and at 7Fs, it can be muchmore difficult to wire when things are contested. Trends Tactical speed, at the very least, is needed sprinting on the main, as races rarely fall apart, though, as hinted at above, things can even out a bit more at 7Fs.   Best Play #5 ATALANTA ALEXANDRA (2-1): Tactical sort middle-moved last time and paid the price, though she was a much-improved 2nd,…

“PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  2/21/2024      Featured track  Gulfstream Park      Race number  7      Race overview  A modest OC/SAL for 3yofs going 5 Fs on Tapeta.       Pace  Things looks a bit muddled here, as more than a few want to be involved early, though none of them are true burners, which means there’s likely to be a tight pack.      Trends  Tactical speed at the very least is needed sprinting on Tapeta, as races rarely fall apart in the lane, and heavy speed routinely lasts.       Best Play  #4 DEVIL AT MIDNIGHT (7-2):…