Illman: Gulfstream pick three play for Saturday, March 21

Saturday’s card at Gulfstream is a challenging one. I’m going to concentrate on a pick three wager using a couple of horses listed at juicy odds on the morning line.

Race 7

The Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes features a heavy favorite in Merry Meadow (2). The 5-year-old mare has been on an absolute tear, winning her last three starts including two graded events at this meeting. Despite her gigantic advantage on paper, I’ll merely use her as a backup on my Ticketmaker bet.

Although certainly impressive winning the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie by open lengths on Valentine’s Day, she didn’t face a strong group in that race and will hook up with tougher competition here. Also, it took her until midstretch of the Hurricane Bertie before she made her final lead change and that is very unlike Merry Meadow. Perhaps I’m just nitpicking, or perhaps she’s heading for a regression. I won’t take the risk at even-money to find out.

:: Build your pick three ticket with DRF TicketMaker

I believe Classic Point (4) will run a big one for Jimmy Jerkens. The 6-year-old came to hand in New York last fall with the addition of blinkers and looked very good in a game victory over a troubled Princess Violet in the Grade 3 Go For Wand Handicap at Aqueduct on Nov. 28.

Four horses emerged from that race with stakes-placed efforts, including Princess Violet’s 97-Beyer run in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap. The layoff is a concern, but she classes up very well with this field and shouldn’t be too far behind Merry Meadow when the real racing begins.

Caveman: 2, 4
Ticketmaker: A – 4; B – 2

Race 8

The key to this race is whether you believe that Todd Pletcher has another talented first-time starter in Dia de Encanta (2). A $220,000 yearling purchase by Harlan’s Holiday from the family of Buzz My Bell (dam of Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone), Dia de Encanta will take money based on her connections (Javier Castellano is named to ride).

Still, something doesn’t seem completely right seeing her kick off her career in a turf sprint. Pletcher has run only four 3-year-old debut runners in five-furlong turf dashes over the past five years. Only one of them hit the board. This isn’t a Pletcher move at all and I don’t want to take the plunge at short odds.

I’ll concentrate on Jamaalaree (4), a filly racing for trainer Jimmy Toner. A New York-bred, Jamaalaree debuted in an off-the-turf race against males for Wesley Ward at Saratoga. After showing brief speed, she faltered and finished fourth behind Good Luck Gus, a colt that went on to win two stakes and over $300,000. She’s been away for a long time, but shows up against fillies with some speed. I’m banking that she’ll be better on turf than on dirt.

I’ll also play Get Air Lex (5), who was compromised by severe traffic trouble on March 1. In that race, her short comment line reads “bump st., inside rally.” It’s extremely uncharitable.

After breaking a beat slowly, Get Air Lex moved up along the inside and was steadied entering the turn. Halfway around the bend, she checked very hard and lost momentum. Then, Get Air Lex rallied on the rail to get third. It was a solid effort and Get Air Lex should be closer to the lead with an alert break on Saturday.

Caveman: 4, 5
Ticketmaker: A – 4, 5

Race 9

Canadian Flyer (1) is the play stretching out and switching surfaces. He’s a full brother to Grade 1 dirt sprint winner Hilda’s Passion, but the dam won on turf. Thus, there is class and grass in the pedigree. He's trained by Bill Mott, whose horses generally improve after a race, and Canadian Flyer faced a promising 85-Beyer winner on dirt last month. I’m expecting him to be tighter for this spot. It also doesn’t appear as if Canadian Flyer is facing a stellar group and he should save valuable ground after breaking from the inside post under John Velazquez. I’ll also consider Twenty Gauge (8), who was shuffled back in the early part of a similar event on Feb. 21. This will be his third start of the form cycle. Trainer Dale Romans gave Twenty Gauge a sharp work five days ago.

Caveman: 1, 8
Ticketmaker: A - 1, 8