Gulfstream Park Picks for Saturday, March 28:
HORSING AROUND ON FLORIDA DERBY DAY! As the Kentucky Derby draws near, there are several major prep contests today, highlighted by the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Mr. Ed’s top three picks for the Arkansas Derby appear as a BONUS BET at the conclusion of this column as he opts to devote this space and handicapping efforts to the excellent Florida Derby Day race card. Going into today’s 14-race program at Gulfstream Park, the leading trainers at the meet are: Saffie Joseph, Jr. with 43 Wins, Mark Casse with 31 and Carlos David with 29. As for jockeys: Irad Ortiz, Jr. is the leader of the pack with 82 Wins, followed by Tyler Gaffalione with 65 and Edgard Zayas with 53. Looking at the excellent Gulfstream program, AKA Mr. Ed’s Florida Chalk Festival, the following are his exclusive VSiN selections.
Mr. Ed’s Selections for Gulfstream Park, Saturday (3/28)
Race 1 (11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT) — $25K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 4YOs & Up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed has a DD worth considering: #4 ASHLEY’S ARCHER (9-2 morning line) for savvy trainer Mark Casse and veteran jockey Javier Castellano returning to the turf, and #5 FAVORABLE SCENARIO (2-1) for the superior team of Chad Brown and Flavien Prat.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,5/4,7. ($20)
Race 2 (11:59 a.m. ET/8:59 a.m. PT) — $84K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3YOs going a mile on the dirt
I like a pair to complete the DD: #4 BRIDGESONG (5-2 morning line), trained by Phil Bauer and ridden by Joel Rosario, and #7 OVECHKIN (7-1), trained by Mark Hennig and ridden by Edgard Zayas. Time for either to step into the Winner’s Circle.
Race 4 (12:57 p.m. ET/9:57 a.m. PT) — $175K APPLETON STAKES for 4YOs & Up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s betting on two of three: #4 CARSON’S RUN (9-2 morning line) for Miguel Clement with big rider change to Joel Rosario; #7 SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (9-5) with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle for Chad Brown, and #9 BEACH GOLD (4-1) for the team of Biancone and Prat. Two for the money.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 4,7,9. ($30)
Race 5 (1:26 p.m. ET/10:26 a.m. PT) — $86K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 4YOs & Up going 6½ furlongs
CHALK ALERT: #10 THOUGHT CONTROL (7-2 morning line), lightly raced, expensive son of Gun Runner, looks like a lock, especially with huge rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. I’m thinking wire-to-wire.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($10)
Race 7 (2:26 p.m. ET /11:26 a.m. PT) — $175K G3 GHOSTZAPPER STAKES for 4YOs & Up going 1 1/16-mile
What’s not to like about #2 GRANDE (1-1 morning line)? Slow-developing son of Curlin is horse-for-course (3 for 3). He may be chalk, but I’m sticking with him. Pletcher trains for Repole as Johnny V. returns to the saddle. Three-way partnership made on the backstretch.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $20 to Win, ($20)
Race 8 (2:56 p.m. ET/12:56 p.m. PT) — $175K ORCHID STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up going 1½-mile over the turf
Mr. Ed bets #7 BELLEZZA (8-5 morning line), Irish-import for Miguel Clement with Flavien Prat up, will best this weak bunch at the wire.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 10 (4:06 p.m. ET/1:06 p.m. PT) — $175K SANIBEL ISLAND for 3YO fillies going 7½ furlongs on the grass
I’ll take a shot with #8 LAIGINA (8-1 morning line), who ran respectable fourth in last. Turnback and rider switch should do the trick for Biancone and Rosario.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 11 (4:40 p.m. ET/1:40 p.m. PT) — $0.50 Pick 4
R11: 3,4,9
R12:; 3,6,10
R13: 1,7
R14: 2,4,6,8 ($36)
*In the event of a scratch, the post-time favorite is the substitute pick.
Race 14 (6:42 p.m. ET/3:42 p.m. PT) — $1 MILLION G1 FLORIDA DERBY for 3YOs going 1⅛-mile
My pick is #4 COMMANDMENT (5-2 morning line) for the super trainer-jockey combo of Cox and Prat. Expensive colt rides into Derby on three-race win streak. Nothing here to stop him now. I’ll use #2 CHIEF WALLABEE (2-1), #6 NEARLY (3-1) over and under. Mr. Ed’s 11th commandment: Thou shall WIN the Derby.
GULFSTREAM PARK SELECTION: $20 to Win & $5 Exacta Box of 4/2,6. ($40)
TOTAL WAGERS: $196
OAKLAWN PARK BONUS BET
Race 9 G2 ARKANSAS DERBY (7:48 p.m. ET/4:48 p.m. PT) $1.5M for 3YOs going 1 1/8 mile
Mr. Ed’s Selections:
WIN: #2 SILENT TACTIC (5-2)
PLACE: #6 RENEGADE (3-2)
SHOW: #3 BLACKOUT TIME (6-1)
