Gulfstream's second week of Monday racing features 9 races beginning at 12:20 pm ET. It's a Raibow 6 mandatory payout Monday with $26K in the carryover and a pool expected to reach $400K. The $3 Players Late Pick 3 has a 1 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet, and the Summer Sweep 5 wager matching races from Gulfstream & Parx has a carryover north of $7,000 and 10X 1/ST Rewards Points offered on its wagers. To help you navigate the waters, Gulfstream handicapper Brian Nadeau has his full-card analysis and picks.
Race 1:
The two turf races from 3 ZEVI’S ZONE beat these, so while his lack of early speed isn’t ideal, there’s enough zip signed on to set him up late. The wildcard is 7 PROST, who is in for a tag off a long break and has never tried turf, but he won off works in his debut, which helps alleviate at least some of the worry. Good luck with 5 CAJUN GOLD, who has speed and the best turf races, but doesn’t look the same, and the pick easily beat him two-back too. SELECTIONS: 3-7-5-6
Race 2:
A drop and the ability to settle a bit makes 4 FEAR imposing at this level, especially since he did well to draw outside the speed too. Recent N2L winners 6 VELOCIRAPTOR and 7 BEAUTY BOLT both looked good drawing off, though this is a much tougher group today on the rise. SELECTIONS: 4-6-7-5
Race 3:
The first start on the main with Lasix resulted in a 7-length win from 3 STREET BELLE, and while this is much tougher today, the price will be right, and she meets what could be some vulnerable favorites too. Which leads us to 4 SECANE, who figures to be bet hard for Saffie, while adding Lasix, but she’s been off since March and her form soured badly when last seen too, so let’s try to beat her on top. Let’s do the same with stablemate 2 CANTON, another who will be overbet for Saffie but is slow on paper, with no real upside either. SELECTIONS: 3-4-2-1
Race 4:
You should get fair value to see if 6 PEACETHRUSTRENGTH can improve enough to beat tons tougher than he did in an 8k N2L on Tapeta in December, but note how good—and fast—that turf 2nd was when last seen, which says he may be that much better now. They’re all looking up at 3 LONGBRANCH LOU, but he’s won by a nose in his last two, whereas he would usually win much more easily, so his margin for error is a slim one at false odds. What a brutal loss if you had 7 GIVE ME LIBERTY, who was 3 lengths clear of ‘Lou last time before being nailed, which makes you wonder if he’s regressing today. SELECTIONS: 6-3-7-5
Race 5:
There’s very little to go on with the 2yos, so tab the tote, but 5 THANKS CHARLIE worked 21 1/5 at the sale, backed it up with a bullet 7/11, drew well, and meets a weak favorite, so let’s put him on top. You just can’t lead with 1 STRIKE, who has failed at 1/5, 1/5, and even-money in three starts, and now has to run to the regular finish line too, while already giving it up twice going to the shorter line. David is just 3-for-46 with firsters, so there’s a good chance 2 TOMMY’S MIRACLE needs this. SELECTIONS: 5-1-2-8
Race 6:
It’s Best Bet time with 1 IRONSIDES off a strong and troubled 2nd last time, and with a good post, and recency edge on the (ML) favorite, he looks primed. A November layoff and short price aren’t ideal with 6 ASSERTIVENESS, but he’ll be bet hard for Saffie and the race goes through him, though this is the time to try and beat. First time Barboza means you can expect a big run from 2 PARIS SURPRISE, who will also love getting out of a strong local stakes. SELECTIONS: 1-6-2-5
Race 7:
You have to think big improvement is coming from 2 VANISH now that she’s in with Saffie, who immediately runs her on the dirt for the first time and take blinkers off, which means she could blow up for a barn that is 27% with newcomers. If the dirt isn’t the answer, then 4 ZANY LADY will be tough off that fast 2nd last time, which would be way too much for the rest of these. The gap to said rest, including 8 JAMAICAN DESTINY, is a big one. SELECTIONS: 2-4-8-11
Race 8:
Trying to kick off a Van Winkle late DD with 3 JADES JAY, who should like the cutback to one-turn, has the tactical speed to be close, and shows a few dirt races that could scare these. You have to wonder when 7 BROTHER BRAD is going to stub his toe after so many good—and hard—races of late, though D’Angelo is 22% off-the claim, so a third straight win may be coming. The wildcard is 2 ZOZAN, off since 9/20 but working big for his first for Castro, who has been firing all meet long. SELECTIONS: 3-7-2-6
Race 9:
It’s Longshot time in the finale with 5 SMART STRIKER, who is back on turf for Van Winkle, while showing a few Tampa races that could play here, and noting he should get a hot pace to rally into. Clearly they all have to beat 1 JAYHAWK, who goes for his fourth in a row, though there’s other speed, and he oddly drops, so there are potential questions here. Not sure what you’ll get from 8 QUIZLER, a voided claim two-back before a Tapeta sprint no-show, but at least he’s back routing on turf. SELECTIONS: 5-1-8-7
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