Gulfstream Park handicapping roundup: Week of March 15

Closer look at turf events

No U.S. track cards more turf races over the winter than Gulfstream Park. And Saturday’s card reflects that trend, with six of the 11 races scheduled for grass, highlighted by the Honey Fox, a Grade 2 at a mile for fillies and mares.

Even coming on the heels of Tampa Bay Downs running the Grade 3 Hillsborough last week on turf – a race that attracted some fillies and mares from south Florida – the Honey Fox drew eight well-matched runners.

Dry conditions are forecast leading up to Saturday, suggesting the Gulfstream grass should be firm and quick, as it has been for much of the meet.
With the Honey Fox being covered at length elsewhere in Daily Racing Form, here’s a look at the five other grass races, along with some picks, statistics, and pedigree information.

◗ Race 3, maiden 3-year-old fillies racing 7 1/2 furlongs

Because only two of the entrants have raced on grass, horseplayers will need to dig into pedigrees and workouts to get a full understanding of this race.

Interestingly, Private Jet, a first-time starter from the Mike Trombetta stable, is a sister to Lookin at Lucky, the 2010 Preakness winner. And though Lookin at Lucky never raced on turf, a Mr. Greeley half-brother named Guts and Glory did, winning his only race on turf.

In terms of those working quickly, first- timer Pink Poppy worked a bullet half-mile around the dogs for Chad Brown at Palm Meadows on turf, hinting at a bright future, and Engaginglee has recorded three straight bullets since a fourth-place finish in her debut on dirt. Two of those came on turf at Palm Meadows.

◗ Race 4, first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles

Sea Queen, beaten a neck in her seasonal bow when second Feb. 8, is the most likely winner, having a fitness edge over numerous comebackers in the lineup. She also showed her class last year in winning a maiden race at Saratoga in July, defeating eventual stakes winners Kitten Kaboodle and Candy Kitty.

◗ Race 6, a first-level optional $25,000 claiming race for older males at 1 1/16 miles

Hey Leroy, who has raced mostly in starter $25,000 allowances this meet, is the “hidden” class here and an overlay if he sticks to his 6-1 morning line.

In racing in these starters, Hey Leroy has competed against horses who have long since cleared the entry-level allowance condition, and in some cases, he raced against stakes winners. That was the case Feb. 14 when he was second to Longhunter, and also Jan. 24 when he was the runner-up behind Mr. Online.

Early this year, Hey Leroy even defeated a sharp stakes winner when he ran down Major Marvel, who last week won the Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados.

◗ Race 9, second-level optional $62,500 claimer for older males at 1 1/16 miles

Rocking Hall, moved from Fair Grounds to Gulfstream and making his first start for trainer Marty Wolfson, has move-up potential in this race after catching conditions unfavorable to him in New Orleans.

Rocking Hall caught yielding ground on the slow-drying turf course at Fair Grounds Nov. 30 and finished fourth, and then on Feb. 7 he finished third there in a race transferred from turf to a fast main track.

This horse wants to run on firm turf, and he should get just that Saturday.

◗ Race 11, maiden 3-year-old fillies racing 7 1/2 furlongs

This race is the split division of race 3.

This race seems the better of the two, with Lawn Party debuting for trainer Todd Pletcher and the Stonestreet gang, and Forensic and Miz Lee making their second starts after promising on-the-board finishes in their turf bows.

Miz Lee offers the most price appeal of the three at 6-1 on the morning line, and should not be discounted despite drawing the outside post. She broke poorly in her debut and managed to rally to be third Jan. 25, beaten only a half-length.