The racing week at Gulfstream Park concludes this afternoon with a nine-race card that gets started at 12:20 PM eastern. The card is headlined by a trio of allowance races over the back half of the day. Here are a few horses I will be building my Sunday around in Hallandale Beach.
Race 6:
This non-winners of two event at one-mile over the grass lacks runners with legitimate early speed. This should give the pace advantage to #1 Bal de Mar. The daughter of Brazilian champion Bal a Bali makes her third start off the claim for trainer Barry Croft. Croft claimed the 4YO filly out of a similar condition in early October. She has competed over the all-weather in 11 of her 15 starts, but did race over the grass back on October 25 when she set the pace from her outside draw at this same level before yielding late to finish third. She very well could lack the stamina to seal the deal late once again, but hopefully the inside draw and a softer first half-mile can lead her to the winner’s circle for the second time in her career.
Play: #1 Bal de Mar (6-1 ML)
Race 8:
This first-level allowance at 7.5-furlongs over the Gulfstream lawn goes through #2 Zo Zucchera. The daughter of Collected has won 5 of 16 to start her career, including 3 of 5 over this course. The issue is she is going to be a short price. Plus, she lacks early speed in a race where that could seriously hinder her chances. I prefer #5 Turino. The Kantharos filly moves back to the sod for Saffie Joseph Jr. after a stalk and fade a couple of weeks ago over the all-weather. Two-back in her lone turf start of 2025, she was off a bit slow and was keen early costing her any real chance. That was off a near two-year layoff, so I am forgiving that she was unable to relax in the early stages. With the lack of speed signed on, Turino should find herself in a perfect stalking position early, allowing her to get the jump on Zo Zucchera. Hopefully, she has what it takes to hold on late under jockey Micah Husbands.
Play: #5 Turino (3-1 ML)
Race 9:
The Sunday card concludes with this first-level allowance at one-mile over the main track where #8 Accelerize is likely to be a heavy favorite. The son of Omaha Beach debuted at Tampa Bay Downs in early March and won for fun against a full field of MSW foes. After the start, Accelerize was moved into Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher’s barn where he was given time until November 16 when he returned in a first-level allowance event here at Gulfstream Park as the prohibitive 3-5-favorite. Accelerize did not embarrass himself off the bench that day putting away the other speed easily before tiring late, but his effort does make a short price difficult to swallow this afternoon. I will try to beat him with #3 Captain Danny. The Mendelssohn colt has not raced since the Fourth of July for trainer Victor Barboza Jr, but has been working regularly in preparation for his return. He should be fit and could get overlooked against a group he fits quite well against. I will take a swing on the Dona Licha Stables runner assuming he is 9-2-or higher.
Play: #3 Captain Danny (5-1 ML)
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