Free Selections / Gulfstream Park / 2-9-2014

by Ed Meyer

posted on February 9, 2014 in Blogroll, Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Nothing like a super Sunday of racing in Hallandale, Florida. Every weekend will bring us closer to having  our handicapping questions answered. If you’re wondering about the countdown, it stands at – 83 days and 15 hours until the Kentucky Derby. With that in mind, it’s time to start building a bankroll as it is never to too soon to start thinking about winning ! – You’re in the right place, and Winning Ponies is ready to keep the E-Z Win tally growing all the way to the winner’s circle. At the time of this entry, the data has rewarded the players with $768,089. – So what are you waiting for ?

 

Gulfstream Park

The forecast calls for 80 degrees and partly cloudy.

 

Race #2 – O.C. $62,500 – 1 mile – 1:07 pm ET

#2 – Dewey Square (5-1) – Javier Castellano (29%) gets the nod for Todd Pletcher (31%). They have been rolling in 2014 at a (35%) clip. This son of Bernadini has been away from the races for 7 months. He comes in from the Dale Romans barn, and Pletcher scores (27%) with new runners in his care. He has been getting solid works at Palm Meadows, and looks to be in the right company today.

 

Race #3 – Claiming $30,000 – 1 1/16 on the turf – 1:35 pm ET

#6 – Hothersal (5-1) – J.J. Castellano and Pletcher team up here, and they have a son of Smart Strike who is a horse-for-the-course going 3/4 ITM. They cut back to a distance that may fit better as he is 5/6 ITM at this route of ground. He usually stays near the front of the pack, but the shorter distance may allow for a more versatile runner to get a good trip.

 

Race #4 – The (G-3) Hurricane Bertie – 6 1/2f – 2:03 pm ET

#1 – Groupie Doll (6-5) – Rajiv Maragh is the pilot for Buff Bradley, and they have done well with this daughter of Bowman’s Band going 4/4 ITM  over the GP oval. She has been on vacation the last two months, and faced off against the boys in the (G-1) Cigar Mile. She drops back in against the gals, and is a distance specialist going 3/3 at 6 1/2 panels. The rail post is winning (22%), and Maragh can get the best from her every time he gets in the saddle. Race #2 begins the pick-four, and this runner can be considered as a single in the multi-race gimmick.

 

Race #9 – Mdn Sp Wt – 1 1/8 on the turf – 4:31 pm ET

#6 – Seeking Her Glory (3-1) – Castellano up for the Pletcher barn once again, and this daughter of Giant’s Causeway has been knocking on the door. She is 2/4 ITM on the sod, and some race have been eventful with trouble lines. The barn wins (19%) with turfers, and (28%) with maidens special weight runners. Castellano is tough to beat at anytime, but on the turf he scores (22%) of the time. They have been winning (35%) as team, and making her second start off the layoff may be the answer. This meet, the team of J.J. and Pletcher have been on-fire with: 79 starts – with 28 / 16 / 9 for an R.O.I. of ($2.02).

 

Race #12 – The (G-1) Donn Handicap – 1 1/8 – 6:01 pm ET

#3 – Revolutionary (5-1) – Castellano and Pletcher hook up once again for a day which has the appearances of a huge win. This son of War Pass is 1/1 at GP, and 8/9 ITM lifetime. If you look at his pp’s, he hasn’t done too many things wrong. He has a strong prep over the track with a fast closing effort after a poor start. The barn has him cranked up with a bullet work at Palm Meadows after his last win, and his resume looks like a whose-who of racing. If the fractions are honest, he can come rolling like train downhill at a square price.

 

These plays can be a good starting place for a great day of racing. Always defer back to the E-Z Win Forms for a detailed analysis of how the race will be shaping up. There are easy to read color coded tiers that are good for the everyday player, and the brand new gambler. Each runner will be scored with a Last Race Rating, and a Composite Rating which will show how they have been shaping up the last three races. If the event is on the turf, they will be show a Turf Class Rating to see how they match up against the rest of the runners on the sod. The handicapping icons will keep you noted of the changes for the runner, and there are full past performances that have all of the detailed information for the connections. The E-Z Win Forms have been rolling this year, and they are just getting started. Take a look at the testimonials from players just like you who have made their way into the winner’s circle. Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies!!