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The Pegasus World Cup Bankroll Builder continues Thursday for 1/ST BET and Xpressbet players. Bet $25 on the Gulfstream Park card and receive a $5 wagering credit to be deposited prior to the Jan. 24 huge day of racing in South Florida. The PWC Bankroll Builder will be offered each racing day through Jan. 23, giving 10 opportunities for players to earn up to $50 in credits. To help you along the way, Gulfstream Park track handicapper Ron Nicoletti has his Thursday full-card picks.
RACE 1: 2 FORZA AZZURRI is dropping to the $25,000 level on the turf with Lasix added after the useful special weight debut going long on the Tapeta. Trainer Brian Lynch, 29% with maidens making their second start, has Mario Gutierrez named to ride. 7 SCIENCE ROCKETS will be treated with Lasix after coming off the bench to stalk the pace and weaken when fourth at this level and distance. The voided claim last out shows a pair of solid workouts in preparation for this assignment. 8 GANADOR is stretching out after failing to take a positive step forward when Lasix and blinkers were added for his recent outing at 7 1/2 furlongs. I have the colt penciled in for another minor award.
SELECTIONS: 2-7-8
RACE 2: 1 GOLDIE GLORY returns to her best surface thus far and cuts back to a sprint after showing speed and fading vs $17,500 maidens going long on the Tapeta. Amador Sanchez has Hector Berrios named to ride. 7 TOASTOFTHESTONES drops and gets Lasix hoping both adjustments helps spark a rebound performance. The daughter of Bustin Stones couldn’t find an easier spot to return to the races. 2 BISQUETTA makes her career debut vs a field that conjures up more questions than answers. Ron Coy has Jose Morelos up.
SELECTIONS; 1-7-2
RACE 3: 1 ZOLENE plummets to the $17,500 level with Lasix added after the stalk and fade performance vs $75,000 optional claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta during November. Jose D’Angelo has Irad Ortiz Jr named to ride this shaky proposition. 4 SILICIUM (FR) is another taking a major dropdown in class after debuting locally and showing some early interest before fading vs $75,000 optional claimers going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Trainer William Walden, 20% with the surface switch, adds blinkers for the turnback. 2 SOBIECH is debuting locally with Lasix and blinkers after setting the pace and fading vs $25,000 maidens going seven furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta. Trainer Kevin Attard has Tyler Gaffalione atop this pace threat at five furlongs.
SELECTIONS: 1-4-2
RACE 4: 3 EVIL EMPIRE is dropping back to the $25,000 level after rallying to finish second again when jumped up to the $35,000 level last out. Trainer Mike Lerman has Micha Husbands trying to cure the current case of seconditis. 4 DEUXIEME CHANCE will be outfitted with blinkers after setting the pace and weakening late when fourth behind the top choice last out. Trainer Dave Braddy is 1 for 4 with first-time shades. 8 REDHOTNOTBOTHERED, another from Mike Lerman, is debuting locally after facing open maiden special weight competition with consistency at Finger Lakes. The barn is 14% with new additions to the shedrow.
SELECTIONS: 3-4-8
RACE 5: 4 AMELIA is facing winners at the $8,000 level after drawing clear to defeat $17,500 maidens going a mile on the turf. Trainer Jorge Delgado, 22% with the surface switch, has David Egan going for two in a row. 1 NO TIME TO WAIT is stretching out slightly after surrendering a late lead when finishing second – in front of a pair of next-out winners – vs this level of competition going a mile and seventy yards on Tapeta. Jose D’Angelo has Edgard Zayas managing the tough inside post. 5 POCKET PAIR is hoping to find a little more for the stretch drive after rallying to finish a well meant second at this level and distance. Beau Chapman and Miguel Vazquez are 23% together.
SELECTIONS: 4-1-5
RACE 6: 8 RUNNING ON TIME is dropping to the $35,000 level after showing a fondness for the turf when he set the pace and was nailed at the wire when beaten a neck vs $50,000 maiden optional claimers. Jose D’Angelo adds second time Lasix and Irad. 2 OFF THE DECK is turning back to 7 1/2 furlongs with Lasix after debuting locally for trainer Jimmy Toner and coming within a neck of breaking his maiden at a mile. Jorge Ruiz rides. 6 AU NATUREL moves to the Dave Fawkes barn via the claim after showing some late interest when rallying to finish third vs $25,000 maidens at the distance. The barn, 36% with new claims, has Tyler Gaffalione named to reel in the speed.
SELECTIONS: 8-2-6
RACE 7: 6 OMO TEN GIRL moves to the Kent Sweezey barn via the claim and cuts back to five furlongs after dueling for the lead and weakening to finish third behind hard knocking Misprint going 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta. The new connections tab Jose Morelos to ride the mare, who is 13 for 15 in the money on the all-weather surface. 8 CHLOE’S TOY makes the second start since the claim by Sam Wilensky and wears blinkers, after stalking the pace and finishing third vs this familiar competition going 5 1/2 furlongs last out. Irad Ortiz Jr is in the saddle. 2 CHAINA, a five-time winner on the local Tapeta, moves to the Pedro Garcia Jr barn and returns to the all-weather surface after hitting the board in 1 of 2 races on the dirt. Junior Alvarado rides.
SELECTIONS: 6-8-2
RACE 8: 7 MISH, a 10-time winner, with eight local victories, returns looking to reignite the horse for course status after the poor showing at Tampa. Facing $35,000 conditioned claimers with Irad in the saddle certainly adds to the appeal. 8 SPEAK EASY drops to the $35,000 level and turns back to 6 1/2 furlongs after failing to handle Pegasus bound Tappen Street in a $62,500 optional claimer going a mile. Junior Alvarado rides for Gustavo Delgado. 3 TO THE EASTSIDE is stepping up to face winners in the first start since drawing clear to defeat $25,000 maidens and get a hefty 80 Beyer for his effort. Trainer Andrea Puckett has John Velazquez atop this intriguing possibility.
SELECTIONS: 7-8-3
RACE 9: 3 NIC’S STYLE makes the third start of her current form cycle after returning locally and finishing second to classy Ms. Bucchero in the Sugar Swirl. The daughter of Uncaptured, trained by Bill Mott, looks like a ‘single’ in the Rainbow 6. 2 SHE’S MY LADY LUCK is cutting back to six furlongs after following a victory at a mile with a distant second place finish going seven-eighths of a mile vs $62,500 optional claimers last out.. She’ll be playing catching me if you can. 6 LYNN’S MILKY WAY, a winner of 3 of 4 sprints locally, will try to notch another after defeating $25,000 optional claimers at the distance by a measured neck last out. Irad gets the return call for trainer Luis Ramirez.
SELECTIONS: 3-2-6
RACE 10: 7 TELLNOTALES is turning back to a mile with blinkers added after debuting locally for George Weaver and failing to show speed on course that had been favoring front running types. Expect more early interest with both the shades added and a course that’s kinder to stalk/closers lately. 5 DI CAPRI, a half-sister to Grade 1 stakes-placed Filo Di Arianna, who won going long on the grass, stretches out after stalking the pace and weakening when going five furlongs on the Tapeta last out. Trainer Mark Casse names John Velazquez, who will ration her speed from on or with the pace. 3 BIG MAGIC (IRE) should be primed and ready to offer more after breaking slowly and finishing a closing fourth in her local debut for trainer Tony Dutrow. Javier Castellano gets the call when Johnny V moves to Di Capri.
SELECTIONS: 7-5-3
BEST BET: RACE 9 – 3 NIC’S STYLE
LONGSHOT: RACE 10 – 7 TELLNOTALES
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