Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Scott Ehlers handicaps the Friday, January 30 racing card at Gulfstream Park, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 9.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Tululo (9th race)
Ninth Race
1. Tululo
2. Muffin Music
3. Golden Beach
TULULO was 8th at the 1/8th pole but won her debut nonetheless. There is something you don’t see everyday. What if this filly is more mature now? Tampa works are outstanding. Irad gives it a go and that says everything. MUFFIN MUSIC beat over half the field home in her debut and that was after breaking 10th. Her next two starts were actually better. Works are just right and you get team Ward in your corner. Oh, the last race came back when 2 of 10 returned to win with figs of 69 and 64. GOLDEN BEACH did run OK in only synth start three back. Breaking 9th of 10 did not help matters last out yet this horse only lost by 1 3/4 lengths. Rider stays put and this filly draws better.
Here are Scott’s thoughts on the other nine races on Friday’s Gulfstream Park card.
First Race
1. Bint Mischief
2. Come On Poppi
3. Rainbow Lane
BINT MISCHIEF is bred to love two turns on the turf with grass and distance Tommies of 386/392. This filly has speed, draws fine, and picks up Egan so a good trip is more likely than not. One level class hike helps the price. COME ON POPPI has beaten over half the field home in all four of her starts. She puts races together and draws inside but today’s pace is only average. Let’s see if this added half furlong can prove the tipping point. RAINBOW LANE did run OK two back when going two turns on the synth. This filly did little last out but it was her first start on the grass. This filly is bred to like the green so one more chance at big odds is the best we can do.
Second Race
1. Lamcaro
2. Excuses
3. El Muheet
LAMCARO puts three races together and gets a decent pace to chase. The last time that this guy put that many races together he broke his maiden at 7/2 (see three back). It would be nice if all the other speeds stayed in. EXCUSES did run second the only time that he tried five furlongs. What if this guy is actually better when sprinting? His distance Tomlinson of 378 hints at it. New barn is 9% off the claim. EL MUHEET switched things up in his most recent when trying sprinting for the first time. He lost by a neck at 9/2. Now he puts four races together while trying one turn for only the second time.
Third Race
1. Cant Stop Munnings
2. Noble Sky
3. Step Slow
CANT STOP MUNNINGS got Beyers of 74 and 78 in two of his first three starts going this tricky seven panels. Recent route tries are solid if able to discount most recent but his return to this distance is what we like best. Team Lynch are 35% going to turf to dirt and 18% going route to sprint. For a seven horse field, race flow is OK. NOBLE SKY is the one to beat and that is that. His recent 86 Beyer towers over this field. He has some speed to help the trip and picks up Saez in the process. STEP SLOW was just that in his debut yet still ran well. His second start was also solid. Added furlong is the X factor. TWICE ENTICED is by a 10% debut sire. His dam went 25-5-5-4 and earned 76K. Of 4 sibs to race, 3 won and all 3 beat winners (73K, 287K, and 97K).
Fourth Race
1. Losmastix
2. Van Cleef
3. Starr of Jericho
LOSMASTIX was buried on the rail in his debut where he…checks notes…broke last. He still ran evenly and is more likely than not to improve second time racing. Works are sharp and this colt draws tons better all while picking up Zayas. VAN CLEEF is stuck on the rail so ugh. Breaking last in his debut did not help matters. One of two sibs is a multiple winner of 41K. The blinkers go ON as Egan stays put (riding quietly well by the way). STARR OF JERICHO exits a key race where 2 of 9 returned to win with figs of 67 and 52. New barn gives a leg up to Maragh who is 21% for team Klesaris. Works are quite good.
Fifth Race
1. Nacho Problem
2. Kate the Smate
3. Dolce Vino
NACHO PROBLEM puts three races together and figures as good a trip as anyone. Team Cox are 31% off the claim and of course we like that this filly has a recent work. Irad lands here which rounds out the appeal. KATE THE SMATE is a new turf horse. Her tactical speed and rail draw go nicely for a stalking trip. Team Dibona are 2 for 5 with their turf sprinters. DOLCE VINO often breaks OK but that wasn’t the case last out when 7th of 8 from the gate. This filly still ran evenly even though it was her first race here. Second time everything has to help along with a better start. FERMI is by a 0 for 11 debut turf sire. Her dam went 1-0-0-0 on the grass. Lone sibling never tried the sod. ROGUE RUNNER exits a key race where 2 of 5 returned to win with figs of 69 and 61.
Sixth Race
1. It’s Only Words
2. Smart Jenny
3. Girvin Star
IT’S ONLY WORDS ran a solid second (at 7-1) when last seen trying this distance and it was only two back. She gets a faster pace today. This mare loves this dirt and has yet to miss the show dough going this far. Morelos returns and this mare just responds well to him. SMART JENNY can pass runners, just ran a Beyer top, and now puts three races together. Vasquez gets a leg up and is 19% for team Sweezey. GIRVIN STAR will try and be the speed of the speed. She draws outside main pace foes which helps. This mare gets in light and perhaps that helps sharpen her early zip.
Seventh Race
1. Elenique
2. Lion Lake
3. Mia Familia
ELENIQUE ran great in her first two starts yet team Biancone want more real-estate. We have the utmost trust in this barn. The blinkers come OFF and that is a 43% move for them and fits with the stretch-out. Sire fee was only $7,500 yet this filly sold for 140K. What if we haven’t seen her best? A forward approach is more likely than not. LION LAKE did beat over half the field home in her debut and that was going a mile at Kentucky Downs while stuck in the 12 hole. Her next two starts are even better. A beaten favorite in two straight doesn’t change the fact that this filly won’t be a maiden for much longer. MIA FAMILIA was stuck in the 11 hole in her debut yet still ran great all while going two turns on the turf. It is a bit of bad luck to draw outside again. Works are just right. Team D’Angelo are 21% with first Lasix runners. We would have picked this filly higher if not for this post.
Eighth Race
1. Tshiebwe
2. Blast Radius
3. Dune Road
TSHIEBWE has a versatile running style that we always welcome. This gelding loves seven panels where he has yet to miss the exacta in three starts. Race flow is average and Morelos stays put all while form cycle hints at better. BLAST RADIUS got Beyers of 78, 79, and 78 the last three times that he tried this distance. Irad gets a leg up and is 43% for this barn locally. DUNE ROAD out ran his odds in every start since returning. He draws outside and keeps regular jock. This guy doesn’t need a fast pace to hit the board or better.
Tenth Race
1. Calypso Moon
2. Fraudster
3. Bashful Baby
CALYPSO MOON broke last in her debut but still beat half the field home. Team Plesa are 38% with first Lasix runners and 3 for 6 in turf sprints. Race comment from debut will scare some as we don’t often read, “collapsed, walked off”. This filly has worked three times since so we bet everything will work out. Said race comment will help the price today. FRAUDSTER ran a solid second only two back and that was her only turf sprint. She was right there in her Florida debut last out and should move forward with a local race under her belt. Team Pletcher are 24% going route to sprint. BASHFUL BABY has improved her Beyer in every start. One of these days this horse is going to break better but can still win with her usual. That bullet drill is hard to miss and we bet Alvarado is a good fit for this 3YO. dropping nose bob to even money Double Neat on New Years Day. BERLONE exits same event, finished fourth despite wide run turning for home. In good form since returning locally for the winter. WAR OFFICER back to South Fla. and over a course she earned career best Beyer this distance during the spring. From one potent barn to another for the occasion. Might run them all down at his best.
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