Racing at Gulfstream Park.
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Thursday’s Race Recap from Aqueduct:
(All odds US)
Replays for yesterday’s races from Aqueduct can be found here:
Aqueduct:
Race 1: 2nd@ 1.25/1
Race 3: 7th@ 5.20/1
Race 5: 7th@ 15.50/1
Race 8: 2nd@ 2.30/1
In our first race of the day, Wicked Happy stalked the pace like we thought she might, she took the lead like we thought she might but she got overhauled by Boss Cara which we didn’t think would happen. Dylan Davis out-rode Eric Cancel there as Cancel seemed to fall asleep once he took the lead. Trainer Mitch Friedman is on quite a roll! In Race 3 we went with Synonymous who was racing on turf against higher quality runners and was making her first start on dirt. That experiment was a failed one, unfortunately, as she checked in 7th. In Race 5, Jack’s American Pie passed tired horses in the lane without really impacting the top runner and in the final race of the day, Devious Banker stalked the pace but wasn’t able to run down Convertible Freeze in the lane and had to settle for second place.
I like two races at Aqueduct for Friday and one at Gulfstream. Once again we’re expecting a fast main track there with chilly conditions at Aqueduct and fast and firm conditions beneath beautiful, sunny skies at Gulfstream. Let’s get this show on the road…
Friday picks for Aqueduct:
Race 5: Tweaqued - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 8/1)
Maiden claiming fillies go six furlongs here and none of the runners who have raced inspire much confidence. Tweaqued is an interesting first time starter/ she’s out of the mare Saarlight who herself lost by a neck on debut before breaking her maiden in a stakes race in her next start and winning by 10 lengths in her third start. Of this one’s brothers and sisters who have raced, they average a speed figure in the mid 50’s on debut and that would likely be good enough to win this. Trainer Bobby Ribaudo isn’t known for winning with first time starters but this one has a FAST workout from the gate buried in her workout report and Trevor McCarthy has ridden some good ones for this barn. Upset special.
Race 9: Scotty - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 30/1)
Bombs away to end the day with Scotty who will assuredly be overlooked in today’s finale. Low profile connections paired with seemingly poor recent form look like a recipe for long odds. Upon closer inspection though he may be better than that first glance indicates. Scotty broke his maiden on the Aqueduct surface last winter in the fourth start of his career at this mile distance after two failed turf attempts (a surface he’s never handled well and his Tomlinson is low despite Flintshire being his sire). After showing some promise on dirt he was claimed for his current connections and eventually registered the field’s top speed figure for dirt at this distance. If we toss his turf races (a surface he doesn’t do well with) and toss his sloppy track races and sprints we are left with a runner who obviously excels at a mile on dirt. The last time he ran on a fast main track at a mile he registered the field’s top speed figure. Lots of things to like for a 30/1 shot.
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Friday pick for Gulfstream Park:
Race 8: Group Hug - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 3/1)
Turf claimers go a mile here and this is a group of runners who have disappointed lately for the most part. With plenty of early pace signed on, Group Hug should have the run of the race from off the pace beneath Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Mike Maker who excels in turf races. His last few races have been on dirt and today he drops to the lowest level of his career. I think he gets the job done at 3/1.
Good luck to everyone playing Friday’s races from Aqueduct!