Gierkink: Gulfstream Park early pick five for Sunday, Feb. 24

The opening leg of the early pick five contains the wake-up prospect PRINCESS DANIELA (2), who’s moving out to a mile with the pedigree of a router. She won’t have to break a track record to beat this modest group of $12,500 maidens, and I will key her before spreading out the rest of the way.

The second leg, a $12,500 maiden dash, has several wild cards worth using: the fast-working first-timer JUDITHS OK (1), the dropping second-time starter OGRE’S CAT (3), first-time gelding SHANGHAI GO GO (5), and another dropper, ARTYOUGLAD (7), who worked a B- on the DRF Clocker Report the other day.

There are only two runners with good recent form in the third, favorites NICKIE’S PAPA (3) and DAS DA ONE (4).

The favored FULL SWING (6) is the one to fear most in the fourth, but he burned lots of money before winning his maiden in his last race. Others with a chance in the optional starter are the unbeaten BELLO PORTE (3), who got mixed reviews for her last two works, and RUN FOR PEACE (4), who deserves one more chance on the grass.

The fifth, a $35,000 maiden route on the grass, seems wide open. Going deep with the hanging favorite CHILLED MILK (1), first-timer MATCHA (3), the improving TIZ MY RIGHT (6), YOU PEOPLE (7) with blinkers on, and a dropper from the maiden special ranks, TRIESTE (8).

Pick five: 2 / 1,3,5,7 / 3,4 / 3,4,6 / 1,3,6,7,8