We have stakes action down at Gulfstream Park today, and we will take a look at the final four races on their card today. Three of the four featured races will be on the turf this afternoon.
Gulfstream Park Race 8 – Janus Stakes
The first race we will look at is the Janus Stakes and we have 12 horses going five furlongs on the turf.
Favored in this race is the 10 Arzak (2/1 morning line). He finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Spring at Del Mar, but he only missed by a length and a half. He appears to be a five-and-a-half-furlong turf specialist, but he will still be closing here.
The 4 Reef Runner (10/1 ML) loves the five-furlong distance, having won twice on synthetic and twice on the turf. He did get bumped around last time out, but closed well despite being on the wrong lead.
The 2 Xy Speed (8/1 ML) may go for the lead but I would not be surprised if he is stalking as well. He stalked last time out and won an optional claiming race at Gulfstream.
The 11 Coppola (6/1 ML) may be on the outside, but he could be right off the leaders here. He has been yielding at the end of five and a half furlong races, but today, he’s going half a furlong less.
Joe’s Race 8 Pick
There is plenty of speed in this race from the 3 Whenigettoheaven (15/1 ML), the 5 Yes I Am Free (8/1 ML), the 7 That’s Right (10/1 ML) and the 9 Smithwick’s Spice (30/1 ML). This race sets up perfectly for the favorite Arzak. Let’s call this 10-11-4-2 with a $20 win wager on the 10.
Gulfstream Race 9 – Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (Grade 3)
We have eight horses entered for the next card on the card. The Harlan’s Holiday Stakes goes a mile and a sixteenth in the lone dirt face that we will feature today.
The 2 Tumbarumba (8/5 ML) is favored in the Harlan’s Holiday. He comes in after last racing in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. There was trouble in his last race, as he did get bumped in deep stretch which may explain the lengths lost in the final two calls. He will be near the front if not on the lead. But he will have a challenge from the horse to his left from when the gate opens.
That horse is the 1 Tuscan Sky (5/2 ML) draws the rail for this race and will be gunning for the lead right to the inside of the morning line favorite. If the two inside horses go to the front like I expect, it may get things up nicely for the stalkers and closers.
One such closer is the 6 Steal Sunshine (4/1 ML). He won first race off of a five-month layoff here at Gulfstream. This five-year-old goes from the one-turn mile today’s two turn race. He did win the Gulfstream Mile last March over the morning line favorite. Could he defeat him again?
The 7 Rocket Can (10/1 ML) lost any change at the start of the race acting up in the gate. He can close but he hasn’t faced graded stakes company since he raced in the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Joe’s Race 9 Pick
Things set up nicely for Steal Sunshine here. Tumbarumba and Tuscan Sky could he dueling up front, and could end up having more fuel to the fire with the 4 Digital Ops (10/1 ML) winning both of his races on the front end.
I’ll take Steal Sunshine to win here with Rocket Can getting on the board here. I’ll call this 6-7-2-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 6.
Gulfstream Race 10 – Fort Lauderdale Stakes (Grade 2)
We have nine entered for the Fort Lauderdale Stakes as this field will go a mile and an eighth on the turf course.
Favored in the Fort Lauderdale is the 5 Win for the Money (5/2 ML). He tired in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. This gelding can close, but I am wondering if 9 furlongs is too much for him. He looks like a mile turf horse to me.
The 1 Cash Equity (9/2 ML) is another closer who was last seen at the beginning of November at Churchill. He closed well despite finishing fourth in the River City there. He did have a string of nice races from June to September on the turf going mostly a mile on the turf and could return to that form today.
The 8 Fort Washington (8/1 ML) has performed well at Monmouth and the NYRA circuit this summer and fall. Ends up here at Gulfstream looking to continue that trend today. He will be closing as well.
The 2 Grand Sonata (3/1 ML) looks to bounce back after a lackluster performance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. But he did have some traffic trouble in that race, so there may be a built in excuse for that performance. He shortens up for this race and could be flying at the end.
Joe’s Race 10 Pick
Cash Equity is knocking on the door to win a race here, but I think Grand Sonata bounces back in his return from the Breeders’ Cup. I’ll call this 2-1-8-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Gulfstream Race 11 – Suwanee River Stakes (Grade 3)
We close out the card with the Suwanee River Stakes. Fillies and mares will go one mile on the turf course today.
The 1 Ocean Club is the lukewarm 4/1 morning line favorite here in this field of 12 fillies and mares. She went gate-to-wire three months ago in the Noble Damsel at Aqueduct. She returns looking to regain that form along the rail here today.
The 11 Breath Away (5/1 ML) consistently closed at Aqueduct and Saratoga over the last few months including just getting caught in November. She runs well at both today’s distance as well as on the Gulfstream turf. She will be a filly that will be closing here.
The 7 Be Your Best (6/1 ML) won gate-to-wire in the Long Island at Aqueduct last month. She has won at distances like today’s from off the pace so I would not be surprised if she is stalking the pace if not further back.
The 9 Golden Hostess (8/1 ML) finished well in each of her first two races in America after beginning her career in South Africa. She has not run well going this far in South Africa, but she has run well as the races have gotten longer she since debuted in the USA.
Joe’s Race 11 Pick
We are going to have a longshot gunning for the lead in the 5 Swoonatra who has gone for the lead in 15 of her last 16 races. The problem is that she is not around near the end.
This race sets up for both Be Your Best and Breath Away. I’ll take the 11 hear to close out today’s card. I’ll call this race 11-7-9-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 11. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!