Check out our race-by-race verdicts and nap selection for Thursday's meeting at Gulfstream Park.
Race 1
Calentita has arrived from the west coast and into the care of Saffie Joseph. She’s not raced since August but has had a few workouts around here and should be ready to do herself justice. Princesa Crystal placed twice here earlier in the year but LASKA probably won’t get many better chances to break her maiden and gets the nod. Though only placed once so far, most of her form is at a much higher level.
Race 2
WATER WIZARD finished ahead of Pazyarmonia over 6f here last time and Sheknowsthedrill was only fourth when Angel Medina’s filly finished runner-up to Stamina Princess over 7f earlier. This intermediate distance could finally see her get her head in front where it matters. Cabrina was a huge outsider over a furlong shorter on her debut at the start of the month but made good late headway into fourth and will know more today. Trinni Sunshine placed a couple of times on the West course here in the autumn but the form was only modest.
Race 3
Having a first try over 5f, Hechizada could be overpriced as she showed promise over 6f on debut and there was equal encouragement in her last run, though that was over a mile. New York Commander should have benefited from a recent debut but Awesome Evil is regressing. Make A Mint has claims on her latest third over track and trip but AWESOME LIGHT would not need to be anything special to make a winning start having trialled well this spring.
Race 4
Stormy Boss is interesting but she will have stamina to prove and this is quite competitive. Samoa wasn’t winning out of turn over track and trip in February but she was a massive disappointment next time when finishing behind Kaufy Futures and Looking for More. Only out of the frame once so far, Time To Two Step made a winning start over a mile last time but PAYNTER FEST can make a winning start for Victor Barboza in this lower grade.
Race 5
A decent handicapper when trained by Karl Burke, VALDOLOBO has thrived since joining Brendan Walsh and trying his luck on the other side of the Atlantic. He will need to improve again to complete the hat-trick but is capable of doing so. Tricky Magician won here in January but has finished behind Willing To Speed either side of that success so John Kimmel’s colt definitely goes on the shortlist as he also appears to have the beating of Dermot. Carbon Data is having a first run since August so the consistent Eight Ain’t Enough may be the pick of the remainder.
Race 6
Roman Empire should do better back on the main track for this but Luis Saez deserts him for the ride on UNTITLED. The latter has the strongest form on offer having found only one too good in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct last month and Mark Casse’s charge looks the one to beat at this level. No Getting Over Me has been competing in stakes races at Tampa without success but makes most appeal of the remainder including claiming winner Winking At Thedude while First And Three finished ahead of Gray Beau and Undaunted when runner-up in this grade last time.
Race 7
This is hard to call given several will only race if this switches to the main track including Phat Man and Quenane while the likes of Dr. Edgar and Morocco have a wide draw to overcome. Gemonteer has struggled in Graded contests since landing a double at the end of last year and Driven By Thunder has failed to figure in stakes races having been beaten by GRAND JOURNEY over track and trip back in August. The latter failed to figure drawn out wide here last time but has decent claims on the best of last year’s winning form and gets a speculative vote.
Race 8
Money Never Sleeps ran her best race so far for current connections when third in allowance company here having formerly been trained by Todd Pletcher. The latter runs TOPO GRIGIO (NAP) in this and the Bodemeister filly is expected to show further progress having landed a maiden race over a mile here last month. Bird Map and Leo's Diamond also won maiden races here recently though over 6f while Lil Miss Hot Mess beat Addison in one of these events over the same trip and Kimura picked-up a claimer last time.
Race 9
OPRY improves with every start and went wire to wire in an allowance race over track and trip last time. There looks more to come from him representing the meets current leading trainer. Temple is a stakes winner though came out second best here last month. He has every chance in this while Rijeka and Arthur Kitt have the form to figure but both have been drawn on the outside with the latter having his first outing since last summer. Bird's Eye View is another returning to action with the previous form to get involved.
Race 10
Most of these are old rivals and Yako beat several of today’s opposition when scoring here last month. But he’s drawn out wide today and has subsequently finished behind Bahama Kitten and Trilby over track and trip when the latter pair filled the places. RETRO STREET was behind Yako last time but was drawn on the outside on that occasion and failed to get a clear run. He gets another chance with Bob Hess’s yard in flying form. Sweet Story was expected to finish closer from a more favourable draw behind Bahama Kitten last time but found little in the homestretch.
