Litfin: Gulfstream pick three play for Saturday, Dec. 20

If the fields remain intact, there will be 2,744 possible pick three combinations involving races 8 through 10 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday – the Tropical Park Derby; an allowance scheduled for turf at 1 7/16 miles; and the Tropical Park Oaks.

We’ll try to pick up some last-minute holiday cash by whittling away 2,699 of those combos, and putting in a $45 ticket taking five horses in the Tropical Park Derby and three each in the allowance and Tropical Park Oaks.

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Eighth race: Using SKY FLIGHT (1), who is 2 for 2 on Lasix; OTHER CHEEK (2), who improved through the fall; IRONICUS (3), a strong finisher and a winner over the course last winter; and the second and third finishers from the Hill Prince Stakes, DADDY’S KID (8) and SMOOTH DADDY (9).

Ninth race: BELISARIUS (1) comes off a sharp try with blinkers added; SCORIA (9) has run well at Gulfstream and has won fresh; JONRAH (13) returned quick dividends winning first off the claim by Chad Brown.

Tenth race: PARTY NOW (2) looks like the controlling speed from a favorable post; DANCING HOUSE (4) seems like a real up-and-comer after posting paired Beyer Figure tops with Lasix added; SANDIVA (14) was a dual group stakes winner overseas, and faces no other graded stakes winners in the field.