Free Picks For Gulfstream Park - 5/30/20

By Daniel Benjamin

Race 1 - Maiden Claiming (Purse -$35,000)

This $50,000- $40,000 maiden claiming race will see as many as 16, as there are four also eligibles, runners go one mile on the turf. I really like the #15 Holy Meister here against a pretty tough field. Holy Meister is dropping down to claiming class for the first time after being unable break his maiden following six attempts in the Special Weight Class. Holy Meister registered a personal best ESpeed rating of 99 finishing third the last time out on April 18, marking the fifth time that he has medaled. Expect Emisael Jaramillo to get the speedy four-year-old gelding, who will have blinkers on, out front early. #16 Mystery Bank didn’t have enough down the stretch to hold on to first career victory in a Special Weight meet where he ended up third on April 25. The three-year-old colt, who will have Paco Lopez on board, has scored in each of his last three events -- which includes a third-place finish in a $50,000 -$40,000 claiming event two starts back. #14 Maverick Kitten had his two-race streak of finishing in the top-2 snapped in his first start after a two-month layoff where he finished fifth at the $65,000-$60,000 level. #6 Scanno, who last raced May 16, along with #11 Battalion and #13 Ratify should be considered as part of exotic bets. PS, if the race gets moved to the main track, #14 Sneer should get serious consideration.

Picks: I like the #15 to win here. I also like an exacta/trifecta/ superfecta box of #15, #16, #14, #6, #13, #11.If some of the also-eligible horses don’t run, I like a value show bet on the #11.

Race 3- Claiming (Purse - $18,000)

This one-mile race will consist of just seven female runners. I believe this is a four-horse race. #5 Nowitna is stepping up and stretching out after being nosed out at the wire in a six-furlong race against $6,250 claimers on May 7. Emisael Jaramillo gets a third attempt to snap the five-year-old mare’ eight-race winless streak. #2 Grace’s Drama had her two-race streak of finishing in the top-2 come to an end as she weakened down the stretch at the same level and distance on April 19. The six-year-old mare is a six-time winner in mile meets and has won a field high eight races at Gulfstream where Grace’s Drama has also registered a 66.6% WPS percentage. ‘Plus, the Florida-bred horse has finished third in each of the last two instances that she has had at least a month layoff. #4 Nothins Free attempts to reach the podium for the fifth time in her last six attempts -- she has finished in the top 3 at Gulfstream 17 out of 29 starts (58.6%) gets Mario Fuentes in the saddle. #1 Tropicality is dropping in class and returns to the main track, after showing some early interest and fading versus $12,500 claimers going a one-turn mile on the turf. Tropicality has finished in the top 3 on dirt race in 33% of her races, which includes the last time the five-year-old mare made a similar surface switch where she defeated $8,000 3-lifetime’ claimers on the dirt. I also like #7 Durlyn as a value pick in exotic bets.

Picks: I like an exacta/ trifecta box of #5, #2, #4, #1. I also like a show bet on the #7.

Race 5 - $8,000- $7,000 Claiming (Purse - $18,000)

This six-furlong race for fillies and mares should be very competitive. #4 Baby Ice is situated perfectly in this meet, dropping in class after facing tougher competition in a pair of sprints, which included finishing 3rd two starts ago against$10,000-$8,000 claimers. The six-year-old mare, who has Christian Torres in the saddle, had her five-race streak o finishing in the top 3 snapped in her last outing and has a career WPS percentage of 50. #1 Suz gets the rail position once again and has a lot of early speed. However, Suz was outdueled by Salsa Rita, who is also is in this race, in a $6,250 claimer the last time out. If Paco Lopez can get Suz, who has added blinkers, out in front early, she could run away with the victory but that hasn’t happened since last March. #7 Royally Cool should be able to bounce back after struggling in her first start following a three-month layoff against $16,000 claimers in a five-furlong race.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #4 if she is no worse than 2-to-1. I also like an exacta/trifecta box bet of #4, #1, #7.