Gulfstream Selections – Florida Derby

Big WinningsSunday is just a few days away and it is never too early to get your plans together. I like two plays on the Gulfstream card, it may be worth a few shekels.

Gulfstream Park

It is the Florida Derby, and that signals to horse players all over, that the big dance is about 5 weeks away in Louisville. So, without further delay. Let us start the capping.

Race #10 -The  Florida Derby – 1  1/8 – $1,000,000

Eight go post ward in this big event, and you could pick any in here. But, since we don’t play them all, lets find out just who looks worth a nice play.

There should be a very solid pace, and this should set up my play. #7 – Dialed In (2-1) Julien Leparoux and Nick Zito hook up. Zito knows just how to bring them up and ready, and if you saw that last race, you would have filed it in the  “solid workout” folder. Beaten favorite last out, and this will be the third off the shelf. Both efforts get me excited to wager. The 3/4 time last out was dawdling, and 1:13.4 is not easy to run into. This race should produce salty fractions at the 3/4, and he should roll on nicely. 2/2 ITM at Gulfstream is good news, and I am sold on the bullet workout at Palm Meadows. I would use him over #1 Soldat (9-5) who has run on slop, turf, and dirt. He gets an acid test today, and won’t be alone near the lead. Also, a player could be #6 Stay Thirsty (8-1).

Race #11 – O.C. $80,000 – 1 1/8 Turf

This is my bag of hammers play. I will keep throwing them until I run out.  #11 Guys Reward (4-1). Leparoux is up for Dale Romans. He never seems to get there for a million reasons, and draws the outside post. But, love has no reason and he really appeals to me. Julien has the ability to find the best on the green, and gets another 1/16th of a mile to play. To some, it would look like another closer who may come up short. But if you go back and see, he won at this distance at Keeneland on the poly track. I know, this is the turf, and it is a whole new game. This price will get me even for the last two close efforts, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it rise as the windows close. Win or lose, right or wrong. Take a stand. I will take mine here, and I will hope for a great closing effort to make big balloons.

Best of luck !!