McGee: How I'd play Gulfstream on Sunday, Dec. 14

I’ll start by playing against morning-line favorite SUZY’SPRIDEOFPARIS (it’s Maker off) in race 1 and using pricier 2-year-old fillies such as 1, 3, 6, 7 … GABY’S KITTEN going first-time tag might be a good “under” play in trifectas and supers.

Will go horizontal (bet-3) with those top plays in race 1 by using a handful of contenders in race 2, including longshot LEVKOS PIRGOS (third start off a layoff, and watch out for this Rafael Hernandez all meet), and leaning most heavily on the Ralph Nicks firster GRAM in race 3 (but also using lesser increments on a few others).

In race 5, MARCH REWARD will be the key of the day. Castellano takes the mount for Romans, which is a huge clue, and you can absolutely throw out that one post-claim attempt (slop) in light of the regrouping he has undergone. Playing him with confidence every which way.

In race 6, suspecting PERFECT FLUTE might be bet well below her 10-1 morning line for a number of reasons (Johnny V., bullet works, Juddmonte), but she’s bred for more distance and draws a tricky post. Will go against by leaning mostly on second-timer DISTINTA (Castellano, nice speed first out), whose trainer, Gustavo Delgado, will be worth following throughout the meet as an antidote to the more glamourous New York-type trainers. Also will sprinkle in 2, 5, 6.

In race 8, I’m definitely against morning-line favorite STALLWALKIN’ DUDE, whose Beyers and connections will make him overplayed. He’s probably the best horse, but going long and on the turf? No thanks. Will rely instead on KING OF BAY (7) and BLARP (9), both of whom took quite a while to break their maidens but are finally coming along.

Race 10 is one of those typical Gulfstream card-enders, and I’ll give the Kimmel barn the best chance with beaten Aqueduct favorite COEXIST (1), who could get a sneaky-good inside stalking trip under that Hernandez guy, while also relying on MARGIN (5), whose trainer, Mike Pino, is one of the most underrated conditioners around. Will be ending the multiple-race bets with both, and if not alive for enough, will hook them together in supers with a handful of sprinkles (9, 10, 11, 13).