Gulfstream Park handicapping roundup: Week of March 8

Intriguing cast Saturday

On a Saturday when racing at Tampa Bay Downs has the spotlight in Florida, don’t overlook a quality Gulfstream card featuring the 2014 debuts of Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice in the Gulfstream Park Handicap and Fair Grounds Oaks winner Unlimited Budget in an allowance.

The Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile on the main track could give fans a view of some potential Met Mile competitors. Besides Palace Malice, there is Itsmyluckyday, the Preakness runner-up who was brilliant at a mile in winning the Gulfstream Park Derby last year, plus Golden Ticket and Brujo de Olleros, who finished second and third in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Last but not least, there is Falling Sky, who just won the Gulfstream Park Sprint at seven furlongs in a romp.

Although it can be a good overall practice to bet against comebackers in races like this one, knowing that a horse like Palace Malice is obviously being prepped for bigger tests ahead, don’t expect him to return short. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, is unreal off the bench at Gulfstream.

According to DRF Formulator, Pletcher is 11 for 23 over the last 90 days at Gulfstream with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more. Most of those returned in allowances, not stakes, but they weren’t of the class of Palace Malice, either. Given Pletcher’s history, bettors shouldn’t be too quick to bet against Unlimited Budget in her comeback race, either. She is the class of the 10th race, though seven furlongs is shorter than her optimal distance.

Good group of maidens

One never knows when an emerging star will come from a maiden race at Gulfstream, and the seventh race Saturday has the makings of a good maiden heat. A number of big-time barns have runners, including a couple with some standout pedigrees.

First-timer Zahadoom is by Bernardini and a half to Grade 1 winner and $2.7 million earner Ron the Greek, and Souperfast is a half to 2010 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo and is by a fine sire in Broken Vow.

The richest sales horse in the race is Sassicaia, who sold for $1.6 million as a 2-year-old in 2013. He ran third in his only start and might have the most upside.

Recapping last week

A number of races for 3-year-olds were contested last week in which the top competitors seemingly have the potential to compete at the highest stakes levels.

Palm Beach Stakes winner Gala Award looks like a prime candidate for the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland next month. He’s a turf horse, the type many trainers like to test on Polytrack there. Similarly, Room Service, who won the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride, would seem to be a candidate for the Ashland.

Two allowance winners to follow: Anchor Down, who won a seven-furlong race in a swift 1:21.67, and In Tune, a 1 1/16-mile winner over a stakes-quality field that included the Grade 1-placed Rosalind.

Anchor Down, a half to Test Stakes winner Sweet Lulu by Tapit, is still green, but there is no disputing his talent. He seemed to run in spurts March 1 and was idling when clear in the final sixteenth when he had the race comfortably won. Anchor Down isn’t speed-crazy and appears capable of stretching out to two turns, though his famous sibling obviously was at her best in sprints.

Also keep an eye on Myositis Dan, who briefly threatened Anchor Down before being outfinished, finishing second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. He already has won on Keeneland’s Polytrack, making him a Blue Grass or Lexington Stakes possibility.

As for In Tune, don’t be surprised to see her go to New York or Louisiana to avoid a confrontation with stablemate Onlyforyou in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Both have prominent, up-close racing styles.

Spot, the winner of the Swale Stakes, did not make a favorable impression. He capitalized on a fast pace in rallying to victory, and his only principal rival, No Nay Never, was returning from a layoff and running on dirt for the first time. Spot is a play-against type next time out, particularly if he is stretched out.