Great Sunday for Gulfstream

It's a glorious Sunday for a Gulfstream Park Turf race.  With Christmas only fourteen days away don't forget to decorate your pine tree, palm tree, or cactus with at least one horse related ornament to bring in good luck in the coming year.

Gulfstream Park Race 10 {South Beach~7 1/2 furlongs~Turf~3 year old Up~fillies/mares~Stakes}
A huge field of fourteen will line up for this annual race.  This is a great group of gals, many of which we like and have proven their mettle in previous races.  The race may mirror an Euro Turf contest, particularly with a mad rush to the finish.  There will be come terrific speed in this almost one mile distance which could set up nicely for a horse coming off the pace or closing swiftly.

#8 Thai Haku [IRE] (Leparoux / C. Brown) looks ready for success in her one mile specialty.  She is coming off a longer route and has put in a tremendous workout tab of four superb works.  She holds the second highest (tie) speed number at this distance and appears to love this length of grass.
$1 WIN / SHOW.

#6 Askbut I Won'ttell (Maragh / Block) will challenge with the second highest (tie) last out speed number and one vigorous workout.  It helps that she is coming off a longer route.  She also holds the second highest speed number over the Gulfstream grass.
$1 PLACE / SHOW.

#12 Aquitaine (Bravo / Matz) could be sitting on a good race with the fifth highest speed number at the distance, a decent race over a yielding Laurel Park course which was a longer route, and two fantastic bullet works.  We toss a bronze horseshoe to this runner.
$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#5 Crying Lightening [IRE] (Trujillo / Toner) has to be considered with a strong performance in a race overseas last out.  She is sporting a three race progression and two robust workouts.  We can imagine her grabbing a piece of the purse pie in this one.

#3 Trip for A.J. (Fuller / Milton Wolfson) should put in her typical strong performance, but has run thirteen races this year without a break.  Among this group she does share the second highest last out speed number, a three race progression, and one endurance workout.  Could be a major speed factor.

#4 Speak Easy Gal (Castellano / Marty Wolfson) looks ready to challenge the group on the front end sharing the second highest speed number at the distance and putting in two excellent workouts.  If the speed is controlled she could find herself among the purse holders.

10 CENT Superfecta

#8 Thai Haku [IRE] / #6 Askbut I Won'ttell / #12 Aquitaine / #5 Crying Lightening [IRE], #3 Trip for A.J., #4 Speak Easy Gal.



Stakes Saturday Results
Gulfstream Park R10.  Sugar Swirl-G3.  Our first pick, Pomeroy's Pistol, won (1st) for show money of $2.20.  our second pick, Third Chance, finished 6th.
Superfecta went 1-2-6-4.

Hollywood Park R9.  Hollywood Starlet-G1. Our first pick, Killer Graces, won (1st) for show money of $7.40.  Our second pick, Charm the Maker, finished 2nd for show money of $3.60.
Superfecta went 4-2-3-1.

Bankroll jumps to $16.20.

Stakes Saturday Sugar

Warm and sunny climes are best for winter racing.  How about a little sugar on this Stakes Saturday?  Today we take a peek at two wonderful graded stakes races.  One at magnificent Gulfstream Park and one at venerable Hollywood Park.  Capture the warmth.

Gulfstream Park Race 10 {Sugar Swirl~G3~6 furlongs~3 year old~fillies/mares~Stakes}
An equally matched group of eight will make their way to the gate.  Tons of speedy types in this race which could make it a very fast race.

#1 Pomeroy's Pistol (Castellano / Tarant) could have the edge with a ground saving tracking attack.  She holds the highest last out speed number at a longer sprint and has put in one fluid workout.  She is a lover of the Gulfstream track.
$2 SHOW.

#8 Third Chance (Santana / Divito) will challenge with a nice pressing run.  She has the second highest last out speed number, a two race progression, and two efficient workouts.  Looks ready to run impressively.
$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#4 Catch A Thief (P. Lopez / Hills) should be in the mix with the third highest (tie) last out speed number, a two race progression, and three robust workouts.  She holds great tactical speed which can be used to great effect in this one.

#6 Strike The Moon (Prado / Trombetta) will be in the hunt with the fourth highest last out speed number at a longer sprint and three superb, peaking workouts.  She could also track the leaders ready to jump right in the stretch.

10 CENT Superfecta

#1 Pomeroy's Pistol / #8 Third Chance / #4 Catch A Thief / #6 Strike the Moon.


Hollywood Park Race 9 {Hollywood Starlet~G1~1 1/16 mile~2 year old~fillies~Stakes}
Unlike the Sugar Swirl, this race has no speed.  It should make for a very strateegically run event.  With a small field of six, expect them to bunched up nicely ready to close at the turn.

#4 Killer Graces (Talamo / Hollendorfer) has a minute edge with the second highest last out speed number, a two race progression, and two fine workouts.  She is 100% in the money in four races over the Hollywood track.
$2 SHOW.

#2 Charm the Maker (Gomez / McAnally) will mount a significant challenge with the highest last out speed number and four super strong, peaking workouts.  She has a win over the Hollywood cushion track.  Would be no surprise for her to notch another one.
$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#1 Weemissfrankie (Bejarano / Eurton) should be in the race from start to finish.  She has the fourth highest last out speed number and two solid workouts.  She also has the highest speed number at the distance.  She could also be victorious.

#3 Lady Pecan (M. Garcia / Baffert) could surprise with the third highest (tie) last out speed number, a three race progression, and three superb workouts.  She could sit and strike at the top of the lane.

10 CENT Superfecta

#4 Killer Graces / #2 Charm the Maker / #1 Weemissfrankie / #3 Lady Pecan.



Friday's Results
Gulfstream R9.  Our first pick, Game Fair, won (1st) for show money of $2.80.  Our second pick, Donate, finished 10th.
Superfecta went 2-6-4-5.
Bankroll slips to $11.20

Racing in Warm Sunny Places

This second Saturday of January we look at two Stakes races.  Luckily they are in the warm sunny climates of Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.

Gulfstream Race 6 {Sugar Swirl~G3~6 furlongs~4 year old Up~fillies/mares~Stakes}
There are five or six in the race that could come away with a victory.  Bold Union (Bravo / Breen) and Thunder's Dove (J. Velazquez / Zito) will be the speed of the group working hard to hold on for the win.  Bold Union seems to have a tad more speed and may pull it off.  She has the highest speed numbers across the board, is 86% in the money had this distance, a good last out speed number and a couple of decent workouts in advance of the race.  Thunder's Dove also has decent speed numbers, solid last out speed number and two strong workouts.  Tar Heel Mom (Lezcano / Hough) will join these two gals near the front end.  Another one that can be considered a specialist at this distance with solid speed numbers across the board.  D'wild Ride (Castellano / Orseno) and Warbling (Leparoux / Kenneally) will also be significant factors in this race. D'wild Ride is 100% in the money at this 6 furlong distance and covered the Gulfstream track with fortitude.  Warbling has only two career races, but won both of them. She has four strong workouts in preparation and will be closing fast.  Let's play Gulfstream.

$2 SHOW:  #1 Bold Union
10 CENT Superfecta:  #1 Bold Union / #2 D'wild Ride / #4 Tar Heel Mom / #8 Thunder's Dove, #3 Warbling

Santa Anita Race 8 {San Pasqual Handicap~G2~1 1/16 mile~4 year old Up}
This race has some top talent going to the gate.  Furthest Land (Gomez / Maker) should win this race.  With solid speed numbers across the board and the best work out tab going in, Furthest Land should be able to find the winners circle.  His top competition will be Bold Chieftan (R. Baze / Morey).  Bold Chieftan is 100% in the money at this distance and has done a nice set of peaking workouts.  He is in great condition and will challenge.  Cherokee Artist (Bejarano / Motion), Now Now Now (Talamo / Biancone), and Neko Bay (Smith / Shirreffs) all have had terrific workouts.  Each has fabulous speed numbers across the board.  It is conceivable that they could also pull off a victory.  Let's play Santa Anita.

$2 WIN / SHOW:  #7 Furthest Land
10 CENT Superfecta:  #7 Furthest Land / #2 Bold Chieftain / #1 Cherokee Artist / #3 Now Now Now, #5 Neko Bay



















Friday's Results
Gulfstream R8. Our pick, Colors Flying, finished 3rd for $4.40 in show money.  Superfecta went 9-6-8-5.
Turfway R10.  Our pick, Sweet Gladys, scratched.  No Superfecta due to scratches.
Bankroll improves to $7.90.