Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Scott Ehlers handicaps the Friday, March 6 racing card at Gulfstream Park, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 10.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Mentee (10th race)
Tenth Race
1. Mentee
2. Masseto
3. Asher’s Edge
MENTEE won his debut and also won his turf debut. This colt got figs in the 80’s as a 2YO so how much faster is he as a 4YO? Works are perfect for team Pletcher. Regular rider gets a leg up all while Lasix is added. MASSETO likes to win in general. He hails from a good barn and won’t be that far off the early pace. ASHER’S EDGE got turf figs of 88 and 90 only two and three back. His most recent was too bad to be believed. Irad gets a leg up and is 43% for this barn locally. MATTINGLY exits a key race where 2 of 9 returned to win with figs of 105 and 94 (two more returned to finish 2nd with figs of 87 and 92). This horse has never missed the board on this sod.
Here are Scott’s thoughts on the other nine races on Friday’s Gulfstream Park card.
First Race
1. Chicken Dance
2. Antonino
3. David Pepperman
CHICKEN DANCE puts three races together for the first time. He has improved his Beyer speed figure in all races. He goes second time on this sod and second time going two turns and both hint at improvement. His turf debut was solid at 20-1 and he gets good race flow today. ANTONINO was stuck in the 10 hole last out but still won on this grass going this distance. We like that Egan stays put plus 22% jockey/trainer combo. This colt draws a little better and wants to pass runners. DAVID PEPPERMAN has improved his Beyer in five straight. Who is to say where his short term ceiling is. He gets to save all the early ground and goes for a barn that is 19% with their repeating winners. MADAGASCAR is by a 14% debut turf sire. His dam never tried the grass and this is her first grass foal.
Second Race
1. Alongcomesawoman
2. Boombox Betty
3. Royalties Riches
ALONGCOMESAWOMAN didn’t fire last out but was shipping in and switching barns. This spot makes more sense while second time with this high percentage barn can’t hurt. What we like best is the extra half furlong as this filly seems to favor an elongated sprint. BOOMBOX BETTY has speed and could find the front end where an early breather awaits. She gets in light and that might sharpen her speed that much more. Wire please. ROYALTIES RICHES did beat 9 home to break her maiden and did so in fine fashion. Seven panels off a layoff is a tough gig. Second time here plus second time Lasix all while second off the layoff might help.
Third Race
1. I Love Stone
2. The Other One
3. Street Sue
I LOVE STONE is by a 16% debut sire. Her dam went 12-3-3-3 and earned 118K. Two sibs have yet to win but with limited starts (7-0-1-2 for 27K, 3-0-1-1 for 15K). This filly has a distance Tommy of 436 so this shortened sprint should be ideal. Team Subratie are 2 for 6 in maiden claimers and with a big R.O.I.. THE OTHER ONE tried a tough two turns on the turf in her debut and failed to beat anyone home. Class drop helps and notice that this filly only cost 6K. Team Casse are 26% going special weights to maiden claimers. STREET SUE exits a key race where 2 of 6 returned to win with figs of 83 and 72. This filly has good speed and draws outside main pace foes. MISS JENNA is by a 9% debut sire. Her dam went 2-0-1-0 and earned 6K. Lone sib is 6-1-0-2 and earned 26K.
Fourth Race
1. Mackor
2. Maitre D
3. Valid Sense
MACKOR gets good race flow if the three speed horses stay in. This gelding just prefers a shortened sprint at 7-1-2-4. He has improved his Beyer in two straight and is often a good price. MAITRE D has speed with other speed but does draw outside them. New barn is 30% off the claim. Current form is sharp while recent figs better than all. A fast pace is still worrisome. VALID SENSE ran great 2 and 4 back and maybe, just maybe, that bodes well for today. At times, this colt breaks OK and this would be a good spot for that. If somebody rolls late and lights up the tote then it has to be this colt.
Fifth Race
1. Ababajoni
2. Justin Smiles
3. Bronze Bullet
ABABAJONI has only tried the grass once yet connections want that surface today. He broke last in that turf sprint two back and then ran evenly. He could easily show some speed in this spot. We like the stretch-out more than anything. Both sibs that tried routing are multiple winners doing just that. Here comes a good price. JUSTIN SMILES looked very good two and three back while denied a clean trip last out. This gelding cuts back a full furlong and that is a small plus. BRONZE BULLET tried the grass for the first time off the layoff and was sent off as the favorite. He ran just fine when third, beaten less than two lengths. Let’s see if second time turf can prove the tipping point.
Sixth Race
1. Mario’s Sweet Girl
2. Beautiful Bolt
3. Five Eyes Onmichel
MARIO’S SWEET GIRL won two and four back so maybe that is a pattern. Almost everyone should get a decent trip in this six horse field. This mare adds two furlongs and has an even running style that might work better in an elongated sprint. BEAUTIFUL BOLT looks to be the speed. Her figs are going in the right direction and she adds a full furlong today. FIVE EYES ONMICHEL did win going 6 1/2 panels only two back. She blew the start in her most recent. We always favor the outside for this kind of race.
Seventh Race
1. Black Cherry
2. Catalonia
3. Slay the Day
BLACK CHERRY is by a 10% debut turf sire. Her dam never tried the green. Two of five sibs won on the grass and both won their sod debut. This filly draws the rail again and has some speed. Works are solid and you get team Mott in your corner. What if this filly is just better on the green? CATALONIA has never missed the exacta on this sod. She draws nicely and now puts three races together. SLAY THE DAY is by a 13% debut turf sire. Her dam went 7-1-2-2 and earned 86K on the weeds (won turf debut). This is her first grass foal. Works are rock solid all for a barn that is 27% with their turf sprinters (flat bet profit).
Eighth Race
1. Starship Juliette
2. Mo Rapido
3. Sonic Surge
STARSHIP JULIETTE is by a 14% debut sire. Her dam was un-raced. Two of four sibs won and both beat winners. They earned 98K and 281K. Both are full sisters to this first time starter. Works are well spaced and Irad tags along. MO RAPIDO is by a 11% debut sire. His dam was un-raced. Lone sib is 19-1-5-4 and earned 163K. We spy some fast works here and there. SONIC SURGE exits a key race where 2 of 5 returned to win with figs of 85 and 69. New gelding drops in class for a barn that is 23% with this move.
Ninth Race
1. Giant Teddy
2. Risk Factor
3. Banded Rocket
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