Free Picks For Gulfstream Park - 7/5/20

Race 8 -- The In The Breeze Stakes (Purse - $60,000)

11 fillies and mares 3-years-old will go a mile on the grass in what should be a high-quality race. I believe there are six horses who could score a win in this one. #4 Isla Road has a 75% WPS percentage, which includes finishing in the top 2 in two of her three stakes, though she is still looking for her first victory since breaking the maiden classification. The 4-year-old filly, who placed second in a stakes race in his only other start at this distance, turns back after a solid return from the layoff in which she finished third – beaten a neck - in a $25,000 optional claimer going a mile and a sixteenth. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo, who has a 19% win percentage and a 46% top 3 finish in stakes races, gets the ride on the speedy Isla Road. #12 Kelsey’s Cross is a multiple graded stakes winner but drew the ultra-tough outside post. Kelsey’s Cross is coming off a victory in the $100,000 Ginger Punch Stakes on June 6, which was her first win since last September and only the second time that the 4-year-old has medaled in her last six outings. The class Kelsey’s Cross has five top 3 finishes in nine stakes races on the turf. #2 Midnight Soiree runs well on the turf and at this distance. The 5-year-old Florida mare has been pretty consistent over her last five races and is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Ginger Punch Stakes. #1 Belle Laura has a lot of class and is coming off a victory over $25,000 optional claimers on June 7. Belle Laura has finished in the money in two of her six career stakes events. #8 Crown and Sugar has a lot of early pace and runs well on the turf where she has a 60% WPS percentage on the turf which includes six wins. #11 Picara should also be considered in exotic bets.

Picks: I like a #4, #12, #2 exacta bet. I also like a trifecta/superfecta bet of #4, #12, #2, #1, #8, #12. In addition, I like a show bet on the #4.

Race 9- Allowance Optional Claiming $60,000 (Purse - $54,500)

Seven 2-year-old runners will go five and one-half furlongs on the dirt. Each of the youngsters already has a victory. While this race also has a lot of intrigues, I like #4 Papetu and #6 Princess Secret the best here. Papetu is coming off an impressive five-length victory where he led most of the way after starting from the far outside post. Trainer Antonio Sano is having his best year handling 2-year-old’s, recording a 35% win percentage, and a 47% WPS percentage. #6 Princess Secret is the lone female in this event. Princess Secret is stretching out after coasting to a four-length victory in her debut. However, she is starting from an outside post rather than the inside post as she did last time. #3 The Ice Beast is also stretching out after claiming victory in his debut that went four-and-one furlongs. #1 Exchange Day and #2 Paladio should be considered in exotic bets.

Picks: I like an exacta bet of #4, #6. I also like a show bet on the #3.

Race 10- Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Stakes ( Purse -$60,000)

11 male runners are slated to go five furlongs on the grass in this stakes race. There are two horses, #9 Pay Any Price and #7 Faction Cat, that really stand out in this one, and ironically they are stablemates as both are trained by Georgia Baxter. But I will take Pay Any Price in this one as he has a field-high 56% win rate with 15 of his 18 victories coming at Gulfstream. The 10-year-old gelding, who holds the track record at this distance, is coming off a third-place finish in a five-furlong race against $62,500 optional claimers as he stumbled out of the gate before tiring down the stretch on May 23, which was his first outing in three months. The two-time event champion (2017 and 2018) has eight victories and 12 top 3 finishes in 16 stake races. Faction Cat returns to Gulfstream Park after posting career-best ESpeeds (115 and 112) in back-to-back events at Tampa Bay, edging out Justaholic for the win in the Turf Dash Stakes the last time out. The 7-year-old Florida gelding has finished in the money in 90.9% of his races on the grass which includes finishing in the top 3 in each of his last eight races on this surface, including six wins. Emisael Jaramillo will direct Faction Cat’s third stakes appearance. #3 Krsto Skye should be in the first couple of flights out of the gate, as he has shown a decent early pace, and runs well on the turf. The 8-year-old Kentucky gelding finished second in his last outing, though he did finish ahead of Pay Any Price, while also posting his highest ESpeed in the last eight outings Krsto Skye has five cashes in his last six starts. #5 Another Miracle is also an option to fill out your ticket though he has not raced since March and this will only be his third time on the track in the past eight months.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #9. I also like an exacta box of #9, #7. I will also take a value show bet on the #3.