King: How I'd play Gulfstream on Sunday, March 22

Sunday’s card at Gulfstream has a couple value plays that have this horseplayer intrigued.

The first one comes in race 5 with CANDY’S LADY (#8), who sits at 6-1 odds on the morning line after losing by 44 lengths in her last start.

Why like a horse beaten 44 lengths? It clouds the form, and while the performance was indeed awful, usually the length of defeat is exaggerated in such cases once it becomes clear to the jockey the horse has no chance of victory. A 44-length defeat, or anything of such a large margin, is roughly equivalent to a horse being eased.

I’ve always been somewhat surprised at the number of horses that reverse their form after a race in which they were eased. One would think they would be toss outs, but quite often, they are not. Their trainers solve whatever issue contributed to them running so poorly, and the dismal effort often gives the trainer a chance to drop them in class.

That is the case with Candy’s Lady, who goes from $12,500 non-winners-of-two claiming into a $6,250 claimer for those that haven’t won two races.

Throw in a useful subsequent drill – a half-mile in 50 seconds at Gulfstream Park West, the fastest of six at the distance Mar. 17, and there is more reason to think a form reversal could be in order for Candy’s Lady.

Race 8

The next value play comes in race 8, in which SPYIN FEELIN (#8) makes her first start against winners after a first-out victory Feb. 1 at Gulfstream. Away for more than a month and a half, and therefore with a layoff line showing in her past performances, she may be slightly underbet off the inactivity.

But her appeal rests largely with the fact that there is vulnerability to the favorites, Artemis and Momentary Magic.

The former is graded placed but did so last year against a weak division of 3-year-old fillies in California. Her one start this year resulted in an 11th-place finish on turf, and she now goes back to the dirt.

As for Momentary Magic, she has been prone to settling for pieces over her 10-race career and hasn’t raced since September.

These factors leave the speedy Spyin Feeling seemingly in a position to push her record to 2 for 2.