By Joe Quillen
Saturday 1/6/24 – Gulfstream Park Race 10
Let’s head down to Gulfstream for today’s tenth race on the race. This race is the $100,000 Limehouse Stakes with seven three-year-old horses going six furlongs on the main track. Post time for the penultimate race on the 11-race Gulfstream Park card is approximately 4:30 pm Eastern Time.
The morning line favorite is the 2 Valiant Force (7/5 ML). He’s back from a two-month freshening and changed hands after closing to finish second last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. He’s training well on the dirt at Gulfstream, including a bullet, meaning he was the fastest workout for the day at a set distance, on December 22. He’s second time running in North America, but my concern is he is first time dirt. I’m going to try to beat him here today.
I’m going to try to beat the favorite here with the 1 Sir Flash (8/1 ML). He’s got the rail in this one and he ran well in the Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs last week. Don’t be surprised if he steals this race at a nice price.
Note that when this was written, the 4 Cuban Thunder has been scratched. We are currently down to six horses. My pick is the 1 Sir Flash, and my play is $20 to win on the 1 here in the 10th here at Gulfstream.
Racing across the country…
The Jerome is a Kentucky Derby Prep race on Saturday at Aqueduct with an early post. The favorite Drum Roll Please is the choice here though is not part of my QPW picks.
Bob Baffert’s Muth, who should be a Kentucky Derby contender, but needs to be moved to another barn to accrue points in the Kentucky Derby points standings due to Churchill Downs’ ban on Baffert, returns in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes going 7 furlongs.
Check back in tomorrow as we will head to Santa Anita Park for the Santa Ynez, and for more surprises, and hopefully more winners. Good luck everyone!
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