Illman: How I'd play Gulfstream on Sunday, Dec. 28

I see two solid betting opportunities on Sunday's card at Gulfstream.

Race 4

The fourth is a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies and I will try to beat the morning-line favorite LOTS OF CHOCOLATE (3), a chalk who has lots going for her. For example:

A) She's a full sister to the Florida Derby winner Dialed In.

B) The second dam is Eliza, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

C) She owns the best last Beyer Speed Figure.

D) She'll make the second start off a three-month layoff for a red-hot barn.

Don't get me wrong, Lots of Chocolate certainly can win, and I'll use her in multiple-race wagers along with my top pick. I just didn't like the way she folded in the stretch last time after opening up a clear lead. Perhaps she moved too soon into a fast pace, and she might have been short off the layoff. I'm of the opinion, however, that she should have held on better. At a short price, she's worth trying to beat on the win end.

I will bet MY SWEET GIRL (4). A half-sister to the Grade 2 turf-route winner Caroline Thomas out of the Grade 1 turf-route winner Bit of Whimsy, it’s possible that her future is on the grass. But it's worth noting that her sire, Bernardini, doesn't have good numbers with turf performers. Perhaps My Sweet Girl can run on dirt after all, and her two main-track races to date haven't been bad.

In her career debut, she ended up four wide over a sloppy track in a race that produced four next-out winners. Last time out, she battled on the lead before faltering along the rail. She adds Lasix for this assignment, and that makes me believe she bled after that early pace dispute.

My Sweet Girl has a versatile running style, and I'm gambling that Lasix will move her way up at something close to her 6-1 morning line. I also will use her with Lots of Chocolate and LITTLE JENNIE (1) in exotics. Little Jennie rallied against a speed-favoring track in her debut but is stuck down inside.

Race 9

While My Sweet Girl is bred for turf and running on dirt, my top selection in the ninth race, BALLYLEE (3), is racing on turf with a dirt pedigree. Both of her first two dams won the United Arab Emirates Oaks on dirt at Nad Al Sheba.

Ballylee won her career debut over the Aqueduct inner track, but she floundered in subsequent main-track races. Although her turf debut at Saratoga was nothing special, she showed some improvement Sept. 12 at Belmont. Ballylee raced in and among horses most of the way, was stuck in behind rivals turning for home, and finished evenly in a heat that featured three next-out winners. This field doesn’t seem as tough, and Ballylee has the tactical speed to find a good spot under Luis Saez. She’s 9-2 on the morning line, and that sounds about right considering she has to deal with a three-month layoff.

In exotic wagers, I’ll also use IRISH SCORE (7) and HOLIDAY STROLL (8). Irish Score has yet to run back to her turf debut last year at 2, but Graham Motion has wonderful numbers with this kind of horse. Over the past year, Motion is 10-4-1-2 with a $5.49 ROI with turf routers returning from 61- to 180-day layoffs at Gulfstream.

In other races

LASSOFTHEMOHICANS (3) looms a short-priced winner of the third race. The beaten favorite in all three starts in Kentucky, the Indian Charlie filly ran well in a very fast race last time out and gets one more chance. DARING DUCHESS (2) and SWEET SUCCESS (7) are candidates to round out the exotics.

INDIAN BRUT (2) returned from a lengthy layoff with Lasix, showed improved early speed, and earned a big figure beating maidens in New York. Today’s sixth race is a tougher spot from a class and pace perspective, but Javier Castellano may get him off the rail on the backstretch in order to chase the speedy MONTANA COWBOY (6) from the outside. I have a feeling we haven’t seen Indian Brut’s best just yet. Montana Cowboy is sharp, but seven furlongs might be pushing it for him. DANGEROUS BREW (11) is in form, should be a price, and is usable in exotics.

The eighth race is fascinating simply because DARK COVE (2) is returning from an 18-month layoff for a claiming tag despite having won three consecutive graded stakes races. The old Dark Cove would eat these for lunch. One has to wonder if, at the age of 7, Dark Cove now is simply old Dark Cove. He’s extremely tough to bet if he’s the favorite given the layoff and class drop. He becomes slightly more interesting at bigger odds. Horses like SHOCK LEADER (5) and ROMPIN REID (6) are worth considering if you don’t believe in Dark Cove.