Free Picks For Gulfstream Parks - 6/12/20

Race 2- Maiden Special Weight (Purse $66,000)

This field of 10, with two also eligibles, 2-year-old’s is quite an interesting mix as it includes both first-time starters and horses that have raced previously. The race is set for five-furlongs on the turf. #2 Espia is one of four runners to have a start under his belt as the Kentucky colt finished third at this level a couple of weeks ago as a result of a strong close. Trainer Antonio Sano has a 29% win percentage along with a 57% WPS percentage with 2-year-old’s this year. Espia, who is debuting on the turf, also has trained well recently. #5 Murray’s Bar could very well be the class of the field but he has yet to race, so it is hard to tell. The Irish colt is coming off a few spectacular training efforts on the turf at Palm Meadows training. Trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Mario Pino has a 100% success rate this year. #8 Gabrielle Sunshine is another horse that has already debuted as he shook off trouble out of the gate to finish fourth in a four-and-one-half furlong race on the dirt. Aggressive jockey Paco Lopez who won two of his seven starts while also scoring a third-place finish at Gulfstream on Wednesday. #4 Little Nesso, the only filly in the race, is my wildcard here as she will only carry 108 pounds. Little Nesso also has trained well at both three and four-furlong trials.

Picks: Believing that the #2 will go off a good price, I will make a show bet on him. I also like an exacta box of #2, #5, #8.

Race 8 - Allowance Optional Claiming (Purse -$48,000)

This $62,500 optional claimer is slated to have eight 4-year-olds and older horses go one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf. This race should be fantastic as several competitors are quite similar though #3 Grand Journey stands out as the frontrunner. Grand Journey is coming off a career-best ESpeed score of 108 as he closed well to finish fourth versus $50,000 starter allowance runners going a mile on the turf. The gifted 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway has won five races on the surface and placed second twice, which includes once at this distance in a stakes race. #5 High Noon Rider is making a big jump in competition after posting back-to-back victories versus $20,000 starter optional claimers going a mile on the turf. High Noon Rider, who has compiled an ESpeed of 106 or better in each of his last two outings, like the turf and has fared well at this distance. #1 Big Agenda has been markedly consistent during his 16 race career and has been trending upward over the last five outings, which includes registering an ESpeed of 104 in a $50,000 Starter Allowance race (April 23). While the five-year-old gelding has not collected a top 3 finish in 2020, he does have a 75% success rate during his career. Plus, Big Agenda gets to be on the rail. Additionally, I like the speedy #4 Thunder Ride, who owns a field-best average early pace figure of 96, as well as the swift #10 Bird’s Eye View who gets the outside post. If the race gets moved to the main track, I will consider #6 Overdeliver.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #3. I also like a show bet on the #5. Additionally, I like a exacta box of #3, #5, #1, #4. For a trifecta/superfecta bet I would include the #10 with the other four.

Race 10 -- Maiden Special Weight ( Purse -$47,000)

12 fillies are set to go a short five-furlongs on the turf. This race is set up to be an excellent battle to the wire though there could be some disparity between the horses that have recorded at least one start and those that haven’t. I really like two horses, #7 She’s Just Quality and #12 Fuddled. However, I will go with She’s Just Quality to break her maiden. The 3-year-old Kentucky filly is making her first start for trainer Diane Morici after finishing second in a $50,000 five-furlong turf maiden claiming event on April 2. Multiple graded stakes-winning jockey Luca Pancini gets the ride. Fuddled, who gets the outside post, finished second at this level and distance. Trainer Saffie A. Joseph, whose barn has a 54% WPS percentage this year, has tabbed Emisael Jaramillo to direct the 4-year-old. #10 Mudslide Wicked is the most experienced and successful of the runners having finished in the money in eight of her 11 starts. This includes recording a top 3 finish in three of four races in 2020 with the last two outings being Maiden Special Weight events. Mudslide Wicked, who is coming off a three-month layoff for the first time in her career, has had decent workouts. I also like #5 Meadow Beauty and #5 Princess Coro to be competitive. As for the first time starters, #1 Motraca and #2GT’s Blue Squell appear to be the best.

Picks: I like an exacta box #7, #12. I also like a show bet on the #7. Additionally, I like a trifecta #7, #12, #5, #10.