Hammersly: Gulfstream pick three for Sunday, Dec. 7

A mid-card pick three (races 5-7) presents some big fields, meaning some price opportunities may be present – though things look fairly formful in the kickoff leg.

Race 5

YES BLUE (#4) dueled and stayed on well to be a good second, seven lengths clear of third, in her last run here Nov. 22. She’s the likely favorite as she’s headed the right way and takes a slight dip in value. NO ONE IS LIKE ME (#15) has exhibited fine speed in her only two outings. She weakened a bit in each, but those came vs. more expensive, so she drops, gets blinkers, and worked smartly recently.

PAMPAN (#12) has shown ability and may benefit from having her value cut in half for this. TURNED BACK TWICE (#13) brings some smart local works into her debut for a trainer who’s quite capable first time out (17 percent).

A’s) 4, 15
B’s) 12
C’s) 13

Race 6

LONESOME STREET (#7) looked super in blasting $12,500 foes here Nov. 15. That was his first start in 10 months, so he can improve. It’s also a big thumbs-up that Navarro not only saw fit to claim him (a stupendous 40 percent off a claim) but brings him back with a more-than-mandatory class hike. FAN BASE (#3) has won three straight and four of his last five. Those last three all came on this course, and his speed and versatility should ensure another good trip.

AIR SQUADRON (#12) tumbles in class and lures Leparoux. A return to his summer form makes him scary. OPEN OUTCRY (#11) comes here hot to the touch, having won five straight at Parx (four) and the Meadowlands. GOSSIP COLUMN (#8) is a potential bomb as he drops after facing some tough New York-breds. His last win came here Aug. 8. POCO MAN (#14) found stakes foes too much here Nov. 8, but he won two of his three prior starts, all on this course.

A’s) 3, 7
B’s) 11, 12
C’s) 8, 14

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Race 7

ITSAKNOCKOUT (#7) debuts for Pletcher, who, of course, is well known for his debut-win prowess (24 percent). He cost a pretty penny ($350,000) and has worked smartly. OLD MOUNTAIN LANE (#9) gives Pletcher two big looks at this. This expensive son of War Front ($520,000) chased the pace and stayed on decently for third in his Keeneland debut Oct. 12. He’s worked strongly since. If you can beat those two, however, you have a chance to ruin a lot of tickets.

SHAMAN GHOST (#13) was slow into stride in his sprint debut on Woodbine Polytrack on Oct. 19 but kept to his task to pass a few and run fourth. He’s worked well since and can improve off that run and with the move to this longer trip. EXPRESS JET (#8) comes off two solid outings over this track. THE SON WIND (#3) dueled and finished second in his only start, and while no match for a runaway winner (beaten 8 3/4 lengths), he still finished far clear of the rest (five lengths). HOARDER (#6) lagged back and never mustered a run in his Keeneland debut Oct. 3, but he’s been freshened and worked well since. STAR’S RIDE (#1) is a potential buster as the son of champion Street Sense can benefit from his debut outing at Churchill on Oct. 26 and has worked well since for Zito (16 percent the second time out).

A’s) 7, 9
B’s) 8, 13
C’s) 1, 3, 6