Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mike Welsch handicaps the Thursday, January 29 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: Ashima (9th race)
Ninth Race
1. Ashima
2. Show Off
3. Oshala
ASHIMA was left with too much to do in the Sunshine FM Turf but still ran credibly in defeat and now dropping in against much softer company in this starter allowance spot. Should be back on winning track while re-uniting with Irad for the occasion. SHOW OFF should benefit from all the pace signed on in this field, come running late. Over-matched last time after a couple of solid seconds at this level during the fall. OSHALA another who should benefit from projected pace scenario, ran down Show Off to prove clearly best on 12/5 and getting Egan back in the saddle today.
Here are Mike’s thoughts on the other nine races on Thursday’s Gulfstream Park card.
First Race
1. Nickel C
2. Dr. Jekyll
3. The Town
NICKEL C continues to improve since switched to the lawn. Ran well from tough post while fanning very wide with final bid vs. same kind earlier this month. Re-unites with Tyler. Taken to be along with cleaner sailing. DR. JEKYLL ran like a horse who needed the race stretching out around two turns and trying turf for first time but while not badly beaten after forcing winners pace throughout, finishing just a couple of lengths behind preferred choice last time. Might prove sleeper at a big price with that one under his belt. THE TOWN likely to take plenty of play at the tote with Irad signing back on but did disappoint at 1/2 last month and also a question mark at the short price switching to grass.
Second Race
1. Game Changer Jolie
2. Starship Aspen
3. La Cyber
GAME CHANGER JOLIE has been working extremely well on the Tapeta since her 2025 finale and was taking plenty of action when this race was cancelled due to issue with the surface last week. Might get brave if able to clear off early under Irad on the stretch around two turns. STARSHIP ASPEN drops to the bottom off good showing behind return winner Amelia exiting extended vacation six weeks earlier, should benefit from the outing and did show some ability to handle the Tapeta when debuting last spring. LA CYBER knocking on the door with this kind but has been a beaten favorite in three of last six starts against similar.
Third Race
1. Whirlwind
2. Camm’s Princess
3. Smooth Claret
WHIRLWIND turned in promising debut over the surface last time when game to the end racing on what may have been the deep going near the rail after making perhaps a bit of a premature bid down the backside. Deserves another chance with bottom level conditioned claimers, taken to avenge recent decision with likely favorite CAMM’S PRINCESS. The latter out-finished preferred choice after enjoying perfect trip in pair’s first meeting but hard to ignore in current form. Irad stays. One to fear. SMOOTH CLARET comes off a little sprint tightener, stretches back around two turns, might have honed that speed enough to be prominent factor throughout at a bit of a price.
Fourth Race
1. Lilys Back
2. Souffle On Fire
3. Third Kiss
LILYS BACK and SOUFFLE ON FIRE renew acquaintances after finishing second/third respectively behind Amelia under similar conditions last month, the winner flattering the race coming right back to prove popular winner vs.N2L foes. Should vie for major award with getting around cleanly in the rematch. THIRD KISS takes a big class plunge after opening career with much better both here and in Kentucky. Recent a.m. trials at PM encouraging. Must respect at this price.
Fifth Race
1. Proud American
2. Blazing Bucchero
3. Adios Mate
PROUD AMERICAN steps up a tad off the claim and a one-sided victory to capture his N2L condition and in barn that has been on fire and then some over the past month. Held own with 4 time winner Carentan in recent work at PM. Can score right back despite the class hike. BLAZING BUCCHERO drops, returns to dirt for only the third time in his career although did earn diploma over the surface for twice this tag in his debut. Addition of Irad adds to the allure. ADIOS MATE another jumping up in price off the claim but did show sharp speed with the addition of blinkers in recent gate drill for new connections. Might be worth a look at a fair price with the equipment change.
Sixth Race
1. Dare to Desire
2. Turkish Pistachio
3. Queen of Rock
DARE TO DESIRE likely needed her first start badly coming in off a couple of well spaced 3 furlong works but has continued to show promise in the a.m. while looking like a horse ready to improve at second asking. Outside draw could prove a plus if main track continues to favor horses racing away from the inside. TURKISH PISTACHIO another from David barn, hard to ignore coming off a couple of good efforts with same kind despite some trip issues along the way. Knocking on the door with these. QUEEN OF ROCK may prove best of the new faces. Has not missed a beat in the a.m. in two months. Tab board for further clues.
Seventh Race
1. Indecisiveness
2. Win With Faith
3. Venezuelan Hope
INDECISIVENESS leads a trio of contenders in this spot who chased home 6-5 Uncle’s Gold under similar conditions earlier this month on Tapeta. Switches back to grass for just the second time after outrunning his odds and then some in inner debut. Earns shaky nod in current form. WIN WITH FAITH battled for lead down the stretch, hung a bit at the end and has now chased home preferred choice on two straight occasions. Stretch running is sort hard to leave out of the equation especially considering all the speed signed on in here today. VENEZUELAN HOPE no match for top pair in their first encounter but tossed in for a minor share back on grass.
Eighth Race
1. Hawk
2. Prost
3. Rockies Balboa
HAWK never worse than second outside of stakes company and like the turn back to seven furlongs off a couple of longer tries, especially in a race that projects to see a lively and contested pace. Can be along with clean sailing especially if getting out is better going behind all the speed. PROST well drawn outside. Will toss his try in the In Reality when stretching around two turns with just a single race under his belt. Lone member of the field with a win at the distance. Lots to like. ROCKIES BALBOA tries state bred for first time off popular maiden win in 2-year-old finale. Must respect that 91 Beyer earned against very talented, open company during the fall at Keeneland.
Tenth Race
1. Two Beers by Ten
2. Berlone
3. War Officer
TWO BEERS BY TEN the tepid nod in wide open finale exiting near miss after doing all the dirty work before 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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