Hammersly: How I'd play Gulfstream on Saturday, Jan. 3

A trio of runners could prove pivotal for your in-race and multi-race wagers.

Race 5

MORE FRONT is bred to love turf, being by top turf sire War Front. He also cost $400,000 at auction, so there surely are some expectations here. His debut on turf Nov. 8 at Gulfstream Park West, was encouraging as despite a slow start, he made a threatening move into the lane before flattening out a bit to finish fourth. He can benefit from that experience, and trainer Christophe Clement is superb second time out (24 percent).

He can be used in race with TIZ TOWN, who showed good speed in a turf route Nov. 29 at Churchill, finishing third, and who is royally bred, being by the Horse of the Year Tiznow and out of Grade 1 winner Bird Town; CLIFFS OF DOVER, a son of the grass champion English Channel who was a decent fourth in his debut routing on yielding turf Nov. 23 at Aqueduct; LONE TRADER, a first-timer by the strong grass sire More Than Ready who comes here off a bullet grass work at Palm Meadows; and BRAVO CHARLIE, who showed speed before running second on dirt Nov. 29 at Churchill and, being by Exchange Rate, may well love the turf, which he tries for the first time.

Race 7

NIGHT PROWLER really impressed beating maidens on turf Oct. 17 at Belmont. He then was an unlucky third in the Pulpit on turf Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park West as he got away slowly to be far back, pitched out very, very wide turning for home, but still nearly won as he ran on strongly for third, beaten just a head. This is no easy spot, but he looks like a comer for Chad Brown, and the presence of CROWN THE KITTEN, who figures to go favored, can keep his price more than palatable.

He can be hooked up in the exotics with the aforementioned Crown the Kitten, who was regarded so highly that he was part of the group of Wesley Ward runners to ship to Ascot last June and who returned to romp in two turf races at Kentucky Downs and Retama; SMOKEM KITTEN, who like the favorite is by turf champion and superb turf sire Kitten’s Joy and who dazzled in his turf debut here Dec. 6, winning in a romp; WAYWARD KITTEN, another son of Kitten’s Joy who has done nothing wrong in three starts, all on grass, and has shown versatility; and STORMY WAYLLEN, who is a nose shy of being unbeaten in three starts, all on grass, and who's been freshened since a powerful win Sept. 28 at Arlington.

Race 10

MAWTHOOQ looked absolutely smashing romping by 10 1/2 lengths over maidens in the slop Nov. 26 at Aqueduct. Don’t assume he’s just a slop specialist, either. He’s by Distorted Humor, who produced the likes of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. This guy cost $850,000 at auction, so you know there are some expectations here, and usually when trainer Kiaran McLaughlin gets his runners on the right track, they tend to stay there.

He can be linked with A. ROD AGAIN, the winner of a very good maiden route Nov. 6 at Churchill and who has worked well here since; BLUEGRASS SINGER, a game third (beaten just a neck) in a sprint stakes Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park West and romping winner at this distance here Dec. 17; BROTHER BOBO, who rallied smartly for second (just ahead of Bluegrass Singer) in that aforementioned sprint stakes Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park West; and JUAN AND BINA, who dueled and stayed on well to be a clear second (by 6 1/2 lengths) in the Smooth Air at Gulfstream Park West when beaten by Mr. Jordan, who was easily the best 2-year-old male at that meet.