Gierkink: How I'll play Gulfstream on Sunday, Feb. 26

The ninth race kicks off the late Pick 5 on this expanded 13-race card. In this $30,000 conditioned sprint, I will key the favored GRAND NENE (8), who came up empty in a recent turf experiment. His previous form was excellent, and trainer Jane Cibelli is 2 for 9 (22 percent) with turf/dirt runners competing second-time off the claim over the past five years ($1.04 ROI). Her go-to rider, the very capable Nik Juarez, retains the mount.

The 10th, a $16,000 grass route, can be pared down to RED PARASOL (1), MAID ON A MISSION (2), THINKING OF MOM (3) and longshot ALILACTION (8), who’s getting a rider upgrade to Corey Lanerie.

Just six horses were entered in the 11th, a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on the main track. Due to the abrupt run to the first turn, the edge goes to LOOKIN FOR A KISS (1), NIIGON’S EDGE (2) and possible pacemaker MAGNIFIER (3), who’s stretching out following a long layoff. FACE OF WINNER (4) is hard to ignore on the drop under a hot Jose Ortiz, who won four races here Thursday.

Another single in the 12th, JUST HOWARD (1), who picks up Ortiz off a good second in a nine-furlong maiden special, which was his turf debut. The son of English Channel and an Alphabet Soup mare is bred to be a late bloomer, and shouldn’t mind going to 1 3/16 miles in his second start with Lasix.

Many of the 12 runners in the nightcap, a $25,000 maiden route on the grass, are in dreadful form. The winner should be among the following: CHASING THE DREAM (3), LEOPARD CAT (5), MILO DIAMOND (7), DUROCHER (9) and AUSTON’S HAT TRICK (11).

PICK 5
(RACES 9-13): 8/1,2,3,8/1,2,3,4/1/3,5,7,9,11