Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mike Welsch handicaps the Thursday, February 5 racing card at Gulfstream Park, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 2.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Champagne Brunch (2nd race)
Second Race
1. Champagne Brunch
2. Downtown Ro
3. Chitchatchitchat
CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH, the day’s best, has been freshened since finishing mid-pack in a super key race at Kentucky Downs on 8/30 from which four of the 10 others in field returned to win next starts. Appears to be training forwardly for the return and figures to get ample pace to run at turning back to five furlongs for the occasion. DOWNTOWN RO hard to fault off solid debut effort behind even money Pletcher first-er now switches to the lawn for the first turn and should handle surface well considering all five of dam’s foals to race have won on grass. CHITCHATCHITCHAT makes her turf debut off series of decent main track trials prepping for her return from a lengthy layoff.
Here are Mike’s thoughts on the other nine races on Thursday’s Gulfstream Park card.
First Race
1. Vino’s Valentine
2. War to Remember
3. Four Beach Friends
VINO’S VALENTINE is always in the hunt for this tag and hopefully can benefit from what has been an outside favoring main track of late if bug boy keeps him in the better footing breaking from what should be an advantageous post. WAR TO REMEMBER the obvious choice on the drop, adding blinkers and with Irad staying put in the saddle although a bit suspicious taking another class drop while making just her second start since June. Expect her to show improved speed with cleaner beginning today. FOUR BEACH FRIENDS stays put off the claim while returning to the main track. Crossed finish line first with same kind two back.
Third Race
1. May Mischief
2. Goodys Girl
3. Blond Jak
MAY MISCHIEF re-claimed by Joseph barn and back for more suitable tag after being over-matched while not getting a clean beginning in most recent try. Best too good for this fairly weak lot. GOODYS GIRL chased ultimate winner start to finish when showing an affinity for the surface in 4yo bow. may prove one to catch in a field lacking a good deal of early speed. BLOND JAK drops to bottom, lures hot rider, another who figures forwardly placed from outset.
Fourth Race
1. R Tun Who
2. Harpy
3. Angelic Quality
R TUN WHO took some money at first asking, broke a step slow from tough post, rushed and checked back to lose best chance in run down backstretch. Gets a favorable outside draw and ample class relief at second asking. HARPY victimized by rough trips in both previous starts against much tougher in New York now comes up tagged for the first time and working well enough to suggest best yet to come at what could be a square price for local bow. ANGELIC QUALITY sure to be over-bet while an obvious choice for potent connections on the drop.
Fifth Race
1. Call the Bullpen
2. Oscar Bound
3. Greatest
CALL THE BULLPEN another showing big improvement this month for red hot Carlos David barn. Needs to only repeat last effort to take another despite the class hike. OSCAR BOUND stretches out, returns to turf, might try to steal this one gate to wire if away clean from the fence. GREATEST was reluctant to load, dropped to fear of field, never seriously menaced when bet to 2-1 vs. same kind last time. Deserves another chance at what figures to be a much more suitable price if on better behavior at the gate.
Sixth Race
1. Whitethorn
2. Absolute Honor
3. Spirit of Hope
WHITETHORN knocking on the door in all three previous starts including most recent on grass when chasing loose on the lead winner over speed-favoring course. Returns to the main track over which she finished a well graded second behind 7-5 American Pearl last fall in Kentucky. ABSOLUTE HONOR has had her races well spaced but did earn high marks going nine furlongs this summer at the Spa. May prove one to catch if staying away from deadly rail if clearing off on lead as expected. SPIRIT OF HOPE likely to get over-bet at first asking being a half to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. Hasn’t missed a beat in a.m. prepping for bow but another who must avoid potential rail trip.
Seventh Race
1. Spinelli
2. My Sweetheart
3. Catalonia
SPINELLI should offer some value in this spot but worth a look off that last try when checked twice along the way including near mid-stretch when seemingly full of run down the lane. Should avoid similar fate drawn outside for rematch with the one-two finishers from that same event. MY SWEETHEART has apparently lured Irad off potential favorite CATALONIA while returning to grass for first time since finishing game third last summer in Bolton Landing at Saratoga. Turned in big Tapeta bullet drill for this. Catalonia had herself a pretty good trip behind dueling leaders, slipped inside to loom boldly at mid-stretch, hung late behind Ifyousaidso under similar conditions last month and an obvious factor back with same kind here.
Eighth Race
1. Believein
2. Scope
3. Struck Gold
Not sure what to do with some of the intriguing first time starters in this lineup but will stick with the experienced ones beginning with BELIEVEIN who ran well at first asking on turf. Held own with stakes mate Alpyland working on grass prior to that outing. Figures forwardly throughout if able to handle switch to Tapeta. SCOPE another going turf to Tapeta and a beaten favorite in each of last two starts but should benefit from his experience edge in this spot. STRUCK GOLD adds blinker for local bow after racing rankly in 2yo finale.
Ninth Race
1. Vladislav
2. Frank’s Art
3. Salvattore Prince
Perhaps the most wide open race on the card. Will take a look at VLADISLAV at the price in a field lacking much in the way of any real speed. Exits sharp 3/8 blowout for new connections off the claim. Returns to preferred surface. Might just try to steal this one gate to wire if away running for Edgard. FRANK’S ART beaten a neck by red hot Battle of Dover who posted second straight win in a field that has subsequently produced pair of next out winners. Perhaps one to fear with repeat of last. SALVATTORE PRINCE beaten 10 of 11 foes despite a less than clean trip to launch his 2026 campaign but a late running sort who could find himself at the mercy of the pace if falling too far back early on.
Tenth Race
1. Baytown Parfait
2. Hot N Lucky
3. Murabeh
Another head-scratcher bringing together a pretty familiar bunch on the turf. BAYTOWN PARFAIT one of only two in here along with Flat Top Box to have won their N3L condition and like the fact he’s returning to perhaps his preferred surface off big try on Tapeta when game second after dueling ultimate winner gate to wire on 12/24. Shaky nod in current form. HOT N LUCKY second best behind in form Double Neat who came out of that race to beat tough $25K starter foes with an 80 Beyer at next asking. Well drawn inside. Hard to ignore. MURABEH narrowly beaten in last two starts at the N3L level. Stays put off claim. Hard to ignore in his present form as well.
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