Gulfstream: DRF Plus Handicapping Report for February 8, 2014

Race 1

Closer Looks >>

Race 2

Closer Looks >>

Race 3

Closer Looks >>

Race 4

Closer Looks >>

Race 5

Closer Looks >>

Race 6

Spot Play

SEA QUEEN (#1, 6-1) unseen since impressive two turn debut score on the turf up at Spa, a race which yielded two future stake winners; should return running. - Chuck Kuehhas

Closer Looks >>

Race 7

Spot Play

BAY OF PLENTY (#2, 4-1) makes second start for McLaughlin, a long time trainer strength; will play to win at 3-1 minimum and exactas and trifectas over #5 LEGEND and #10 RING WEEKEND. - Chuck Kuehhas

Closer Looks >>

Race 8

Closer Looks >>

Race 9

Live Longshot

PROFETIZA (#7, 12-1) makes her turf debut here but and she seems to have landed in a good spot, as she could be the controlling speed; dangerous if able to shake loose, as her works suggest she's ready. -Kenny Peck

Closer Looks >>

Race 10

Suwannee River Stakes by Byron King

Although Hall of Famer Bill Mott’s European transfers typically perform better once they have started a few times for him, RIPOSTE still rates on top in the Suwannee River based on – what the British would say – “cracking” good form. Her works on dirt at Payson have been encouraging leading up to her first start of 2014; at her best on firm ground. ABACO stretches out to her favorite 1 1/8-mile distance after being hung wide and finishing fourth in the Marshua’s River going a sixteenth shorter; being a deep closer wide trips are not out of the ordinary, though; appears the classiest of the U.S. runners. PARRANDA in good form, having won three of her last four, though the wins came vs. Florida-breds; might have the speed to make the front in what seems a paceless affair, giving her a tactical advantage. Of the rest only CAROLINE THOMAS seems worthy of more than a passing glance. She closed out last year with a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October, but hasn’t raced since.

Spot Play

SAPPHIRE BLUE (#10, 4-1) comes off a good second in the slop in a race taken off the turf at Fair Grounds, and is now shipped to Gulfstream, where races more dependably stay on the grass; she broke her maiden on the grass at Belmont last fall and starts for a winning trainer/jockey combo. – Byron King

Spot Play

BAND OF JOY (#6, 4-1) was a beaten odds-on favorite in that last one but he had his share of trouble and he still nearly pulled it off; given a clean trip he can atone, as his previous turf Beyers are plenty good enough to win this. -Kenny Peck

Vulnerable Favorite

TIE DYE (#3, 3-1) is a candidate to hit the board but a play against in the win pool, having just a 1 for 14 record; this filly has been in position to win numerous races, only to come up empty late. – Byron King

Closer Looks >>

Race 11

Gulfstream Park Sprint by Kenny Peck

This very deep edition of the Gulfstream Park Sprint drew a field of 11 but it is, surprisingly, not long on pure speed. That's probably the reason why SINGANOTHERSONG (#10) is getting so much love from public handicappers, as he does seem capable of shaking loose and controlling the tempo.

Given the attention he's getting, however, SINGANOTHERSONG is not likely to be 5-1, the price quoted on the Morning Line, and if he's much lower than that he may be an underlay, since he's meeting a strong field and this is not his best distance. This move from six to seven furlongs is not to be taken lightly, and it's a big reason why I feel like FORT LOUDON (#8), who was 2nd to SINGANOTHERSONG in the Mr Prospector, will move way up today.

FORT LOUDON was no threat in the Sunshine Millions Sprint last time out but a slow start cost him, leaving him with too much to do. Positioning is a big part of his game, and once he lost that he was really up against it. Today's race flow figures to work to the advantage of those horses with some early zip, and with a clean break FORT LOUDON will be involved early. His proven ability at this distance, and the expected price, make him a horse that's easy to like.

LAUGH TRACK (#1), the 5/2 favorite on the Morning Line, is the one to fear late. He's been unraced since late November, when he was off the board following some trouble in the Cigar Mile, but he runs well when a little fresher, as evidenced by the fact that he posted career best figures the last two times he returned from breaks. He comes from off the pace but, despite the closing effort in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, he has the ability to stay close early on. That will be a plus here, if the pace is controlled, and given a clean inside trip there's no reason to think he can't win this. The main concern is the expected price.

JACKSON BEND (#2) fits, as usual. He rallied into a mild pace when 2nd in the Hal's Hope last time, and he now returns to his favorite distance. Race flow is the main concern for this 7-year-old but if he gets some help up front he's always eligible to make the last run, as he has posted Beyers good enough to win this in the past.

BRUJO DE OLLEROS (#6) ran well for the show in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile despite running into trouble and against the grain of the racetrack, which was favoring speed. He is proven at this distance and he has respectable Beyers, making him a threat to run then all down late. Like JACKSON BEND, though, he'll spot position to the speeds.

CATRON (#9) is a close 2nd choice on the ML despite the fact that he spots a wealth of experience to his rivals, with only two starts under his belt. He's also never tried seven furlongs, and he hasn't faced a field of this caliber. He does have Pletcher in his corner but if he's as low as that 3-1 price that's quoted in the program he's certainly one to try to beat.

THE PLAY: Betting FORT LOUDON to win, and using him in exotics with SINGANOTHERSONG and LAUGH TRACK. -Kenny Peck

Closer Looks >>

Race 12

Closer Looks >>