By Joe Quillen
Quills Picks Winners – Thursday 3/21/24 – Gulfstream Park Race 9
After a successful trip to Tampa Bay Downs, we head down I-75 like we seem to do on Thursdays for a day at Gulfstream Park. We will be looking at their finale, race nine as nine horses will race on the turf going seven and a half furlongs. Post time for the Thursday finale is approximately 5:10 pm Eastern time.
Favored in this race is the 2 English Bee (2/1 morning line) who had all kinds of issues in his first race back after a five-month layoff. He was fractious behind the gate and was steadied early once the gate opened. If you think he can stay calm and not be bumped around at the start of the race, then he will have a chance.
The 1 My Sea Cottage (3/1 ML) draws the rail for this race and has a chance to go gate to wire today. But he might be dueling for the lead with the 5 Stat (4/1 ML) who also went get to wire in a race with similar conditions to today’s optional claimer. If these two duel up front most of the way, it will scream for a closer to win this race.
The 4 J P Hellish (6/1 ML) had traffic troubled after the start just like the favorite, but he got room in the stretch to tip out to try to close. I would expect the same type of trip today, but without the trouble at the beginning of the race.
The 9 Burnin Turf (10/1 ML) draws the outside in this race going a mile. He will try to get closer to the rail here as he won’t be on the lead, but will be a few lengths back.
In the end, I’m going to go with a longer shot here in this race with the 9 Burnin Turf. I’m calling this 9-4-2-5, and my play is $20 to win on the 9. Good luck everyone!
Follow Joe on Twitter/Instagram/Threads @JoeQuills. Check out the Bleacher Brothers Show from 8 to 10 pm Eastern Time on the Tony Bruno Sports Network app! Also check Joe’s sports stream podcast on Twitch every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 pm ET, and his YouTube channel where you can catch the show on demand.