The holidays are over and it's time to get back to the track...or maybe just the couch and the laptop.
A big day of racing at Gulfstream today with several graded sprint stakes. Some quick thoughts on today's action:
-Gulfstream kicks off the day with a 5 furlong, MdSpWt, turf sprint featuring a bunch of horses that have never tried the lawn. The outside horse, Assorted Colors, has been running well on the lawn and at the distance and represents decent value at 4/1 on the ML.
-The fourth at Gulfstream doesn't have a lick of early speed in the entries which could lead to a somewhat chaotic result; if you can't figure out the pace it's difficult to pinpoint the winner. The interesting entry in this race is the 4 - Kerouac, a first time starter out of Rock Hard Ten. I'm not sure this colt will have the early speed required to steal this race and I'm even less certain if he's really ready to win now (I feel like I want to give Rock Hard Ten offspring a little time to develop, just like the sire). On the plus side, this is a one mile race which should benefit Kerouac.
-I love Westover Wildcat in the 5th race, especially if he goes off anywhere near his 6/1 morning line. This colt hasn't really run a bad race in his entire career and his only "disappointing" race was a 5th in the G1-Hopeful at Saratoga this summer. That was at 7f while he'll be back at what looks to be a more suited 6f affair today. He'll also get a little bit of class relief as compared to the Hopeful.
-The Gulfstream Turf Sprint looks to be a typical bust-your-ass-all-the-way-to-the-wire turf sprint with a crowded field of 10 horses. The 8 - Hockeythehayman is your likely post time favorite with his sparkling 4-4 lifetime record with wins at Keeneland and Del Mar in his record, however, I'm a little leery of this colt due to layoff and class questions. Instead I will probably go with a pretty big price and look towards the 3 - Big Push, who sits at 10-1 on the ML. He draws inside and has displayed good tactical speed in his previous efforts. If he can break well and avoid getting squeezed I think he'll have a good chance at finding the line first.
-Want to talk about a wide-open field? Just take a look at the G3-Old Hat, the 9th race at Gulfstream today. Eleven three year old fillies going six furlongs and almost every single one of them wants the lead. Just another day trying to handicap a graded sprint stake, right? I landed on the New York bred, Cuff Me (#5), but I'm going to keep and eye on the filly just to her outside, 6-Dances With Ashley. The 6 might be in a little better spot than the 5 given her ability to sit right off the pace. Plus the 6 should offer more value on the board. Initially I was looking at the 1 - My Jen but I have reservations about post position and the less than stellar speed figures as compared to the rest of the field.
-It's only a six horse field but I think the 6th at Fair Grounds offers a potentially nice value play. The 4 - Sea Gaze will be the likely favorite but it's the 6 - Big Polk a Dot at 9/2 on the ML that I think has the best chance to win. It's a small field without a lot of pace and if the 6 can get free and clear early (which I think he can), he should be able to control the race all the way around the track.
-The 9th at Tampa Bay presents on of the best names of the day along with an peculiar entry. The race is a six furlong MdSpWt for three year olds with a full field of twelve that includes a Ghostzapper first time starter by the name of Who We Gunna Call (#6). Now, besides the lovely name play off of the movie Ghostbusters, the 6 has only one published work and is trained by a relatively obscure trainer that is hitting at 80% when combined with today's jockey (4-for-5). This colt was pegged at 5/1 on the ML.
And speaking of names, here are some possible alternative names for Who We Gunna Call?
A big day of racing at Gulfstream today with several graded sprint stakes. Some quick thoughts on today's action:
-Gulfstream kicks off the day with a 5 furlong, MdSpWt, turf sprint featuring a bunch of horses that have never tried the lawn. The outside horse, Assorted Colors, has been running well on the lawn and at the distance and represents decent value at 4/1 on the ML.
-The fourth at Gulfstream doesn't have a lick of early speed in the entries which could lead to a somewhat chaotic result; if you can't figure out the pace it's difficult to pinpoint the winner. The interesting entry in this race is the 4 - Kerouac, a first time starter out of Rock Hard Ten. I'm not sure this colt will have the early speed required to steal this race and I'm even less certain if he's really ready to win now (I feel like I want to give Rock Hard Ten offspring a little time to develop, just like the sire). On the plus side, this is a one mile race which should benefit Kerouac.
-I love Westover Wildcat in the 5th race, especially if he goes off anywhere near his 6/1 morning line. This colt hasn't really run a bad race in his entire career and his only "disappointing" race was a 5th in the G1-Hopeful at Saratoga this summer. That was at 7f while he'll be back at what looks to be a more suited 6f affair today. He'll also get a little bit of class relief as compared to the Hopeful.
-The Gulfstream Turf Sprint looks to be a typical bust-your-ass-all-the-way-to-the-wire turf sprint with a crowded field of 10 horses. The 8 - Hockeythehayman is your likely post time favorite with his sparkling 4-4 lifetime record with wins at Keeneland and Del Mar in his record, however, I'm a little leery of this colt due to layoff and class questions. Instead I will probably go with a pretty big price and look towards the 3 - Big Push, who sits at 10-1 on the ML. He draws inside and has displayed good tactical speed in his previous efforts. If he can break well and avoid getting squeezed I think he'll have a good chance at finding the line first.
-Want to talk about a wide-open field? Just take a look at the G3-Old Hat, the 9th race at Gulfstream today. Eleven three year old fillies going six furlongs and almost every single one of them wants the lead. Just another day trying to handicap a graded sprint stake, right? I landed on the New York bred, Cuff Me (#5), but I'm going to keep and eye on the filly just to her outside, 6-Dances With Ashley. The 6 might be in a little better spot than the 5 given her ability to sit right off the pace. Plus the 6 should offer more value on the board. Initially I was looking at the 1 - My Jen but I have reservations about post position and the less than stellar speed figures as compared to the rest of the field.
-It's only a six horse field but I think the 6th at Fair Grounds offers a potentially nice value play. The 4 - Sea Gaze will be the likely favorite but it's the 6 - Big Polk a Dot at 9/2 on the ML that I think has the best chance to win. It's a small field without a lot of pace and if the 6 can get free and clear early (which I think he can), he should be able to control the race all the way around the track.
-The 9th at Tampa Bay presents on of the best names of the day along with an peculiar entry. The race is a six furlong MdSpWt for three year olds with a full field of twelve that includes a Ghostzapper first time starter by the name of Who We Gunna Call (#6). Now, besides the lovely name play off of the movie Ghostbusters, the 6 has only one published work and is trained by a relatively obscure trainer that is hitting at 80% when combined with today's jockey (4-for-5). This colt was pegged at 5/1 on the ML.
And speaking of names, here are some possible alternative names for Who We Gunna Call?
- Backoffmanimascientist
- Ecto 1
- Venkman
- Slimer
- The Key Master
Happy Wagering!