Free Picks For Gulfstream Park - 7/8/20

Race 3 - $32,000-$30,000 Claiming (Purse -$36,000)

Six 3-year-old male runners are slated to go one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf. This appears to #6 Cardiac Kid’s to lose. Cardiac Kid has pretty good early speed and is slotted between #7 Kanal, who has shown okay early pace, and #5 Indy’s Jewel who doesn’t have much early speed. The Kentucky colt has been fairly consistent and finally broke his maiden in his second attempt after dropping into the maiden claiming circuit at the$25,000 - $20,000 level. Edgar Prado will guide Cardiac Kid, who has run extremely well at this distance as well as at Gulfstream Park. #8 Strong Ending is coming off a career effort with an ESpeed of 95 though he was no match in the lane for Lookin At Roses and finished second, one-and-one-half lengths behind the winner. While consistency is an issue for the Kentucky colt runs well on turf and decently at this distance. #5 Indy’s Jewel is making his third start following a three-month layoff so expect a strong effort. He showed improvement the last time out despite finishing fifth as he fizzled out after making a rail bid against $30,000-$25,000 claimers on June 28. Jockey Angel Arroyo handles Indy’s Jewel’s first foray on the grass. #7 Kunal should also be considered in exotic bets though he is coming off a four-month layoff. If the race gets moved to the main track, I like #3 Blessed Journey and #4 Plato to be major players, including possibly winning the event.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #6. I also like a show bet on the #5 and exacta box bet that includes the #6, #8, #5.

Race 4 - Claiming $6,250 (Purse -$17,000)

This one-mile race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upwards should be a splendid one as I believe that three horses could lay a claim to victory in this one. Do not expect anyone to sprint away in this one, so it sets up nicely for a closer like #2 Upsy Daisy Do. Upsy Daisy Do is looking for two wins in a row after finally breaking her maiden in try #17 as a tremendous close allowed her to nip Crystalina at the wire in a $10,000 maiden claimer her last time out.. Aggressive jockey Christian Torres gets the reigns of the 5-year-old mare, who has cashed in nine of her 14 starts at Gulfstream Park, once again. Torres has seven top 3 finishes in his last seven rides including two victories. #5 Blossom Bow had a good showing after a four-month layoff as she finished second going one and one-sixteenth miles at this level. Blossom Bow’s lone win came at this distance and she is under the direction of trainer Ricko Maragh, whose horses have finished in the money in 50% of her races. #3 Fiamma Mamma also gets a little relief in distance after coming up empty going one mile and one-sixteenth against this level of competition on June 20, with Blossom Bow and Kaufy Futures finishing ahead of the Florida filly. Fiamma Mamma also runs well at this distance and at Gulfstream. #4 Mia’s Bobcat has recorded two straight third-place finishes though she has not raced in over a month. Mia Bobcat is 3-1-0-0 in her first race following at least this long of a layoff.

Picks: I like the #2 win. I also like an exacta box of #2, #5, #3.

Allowance Optional Claiming $25,000 (Purse - $47,000)

This six-furlong filly and mare race should be a good one as all six runners are quality runners. #1 Baccarat Fashion should cross the wire first. The 5-year-old mare has been off since April where she showed no response and finished ninth against $62,500 optional claimers. Trainer Mike Maker has tabbed Edgar Zayas to ride the somewhat classy Baccarat Fashion who has some pretty good early pace and gets the inside post position -- Zayas and Maker has a 35% win rate when working together this year. #5 Bargainaire generally works off the pace and has been running extremely well recently, having posted four straight top 3 finishes as well as eight of nine overall. The 4-year-old filly has two wins at this distance and gets a little relief in that department after finishing second at this level going six-and-one-half furlongs on May 28. #4 J’s Indian Charm also has not run since April and is racing at Gulfstream Park for the first time since 2017. The 6-year-old mare is arguably the fastest horse in the field but the key will be for her to get to the front early. J’s Indian Charm has four wins at this distance. #4 Takecharge Mirella is also an option in exotic bets as she gets weight relief with apprentice jockey Joseph Trejos on board.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #1. I also like an exacta box of #1, #5. Additionally, I like a value show bet on the #4.