Late pick four adds spice to Gulfstream card
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The late pick four on Thursday at Gulfstream Park features four interesting races, beginning with a $40,000 optional maiden claimer in race 5 at 2:38 p.m.
Race 5: Sterling Harmony should be favored in the five-furlong dash on Tapeta. The 4-year-old son of Orb is coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes at the same level and distance for trainer Steven Dwoskin, who is having a strong meet. Sterling Harmony, who owns the best Beyer Speed Figures, could be sitting on a big effort in his third start as an older horse.
The Scott Acker-trained Beganingreenpoint showed a lot of potential in his debut as he broke a step slow and appeared to be locked and loaded on the turn, but was stuck behind horses. He finished well once jockey Leonel Reyes moved him outside.
First-time starter Eightninego has strong win-early breeding on his dam’s side and could fire first time for trainer Rohan Crichton.
Race 6: Grade 2 winner Bemma’s Boy will appreciate the class relief and will likely be favored in the first-level allowance race/$35,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/8 miles on turf.
Trained by Mike Maker, Bemma’s Boy did not fire in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on March 4, but he has been working nicely in the interim and holds a class edge over his seven rivals.
Megacity, trained by Elizabeth Dobles, looks like the one they will have to run down.
Glider went very wide around both turns when he finished fourth in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option for trainer Mark Casse on March 25.
Race 7: Valiant Avenger looks like the one to beat in a first-level allowance race/$20,000 optional claimer for Florida-breds going a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta.
Trained by Ralph Nicks, Valiant Avenger finished second as the 4-5 favorite in a first-level allowance race for Florida-breds in his last start April 23, but after breaking from the outside post in the eight-horse field he could not have gone any wider around the first turn. The winner, Merlin, also freaked in his first start as an older horse.
Smart Striker will appreciate being back on Tapeta after finishing fifth in his initial start on turf in a $50,000 claimer for nonwinners of two. The 3-year-old son of Connect has been working fast for trainer Terri Pompay, who claimed him on behalf of My Purple Haze Stables.
Apocalypso showed some potential as a 2-year-old and could be dangerous while making his second start as a sophomore for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Race 8: Happy Runner and Big Martini should be enough in this $40,000 optional maiden claimer for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the main track.
Happy Runner is coming off a solid effort in a key maiden-special going 1 1/16 miles on turf for trainer Joe Orseno. The son of Runhappy should be okay with the cutback in distance and surface switch.
Big Martini could take a big step forward following an encouraging debut for Crichton.
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