McGee: How I'd play Gulfstream for Sunday, Feb. 15
Races 1-3
Going to start off with essentially a cold early double … marked up into a pick three part-wheel. BELLAMY CHIEF (1) should be tough to catch in race 1 when fresh for Ralph Nicks; the other faves (2, 3, 8) all have done better work on other surfaces and look very beatable on dirt. In race 2, LEVERAGED LOAN (7) can rebound from the Jan. 24 bounce in first try for Mike Pino; looms large throughout. Race 3 demands a scatter-shot approach; I will trim the ticket by refusing to use the 2 while hoping the Todd Pletcher favorite, ESCONDIDO (7), gets outrun by one of the longer prices.
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Early pick three ticket:
Race 1 – 1
Race 2 – 7
Race 3 – 1, 3, 4, 7, 9
Race 4
Most newcomers trained by Ian Wilkes need a race, which might well have been the case with SIERRA SQUALL (7); stable has a $3.04 return on investment with second-timers; outer post should afford a nice stalk-and-see journey. Will tie her up in various tricks.
Race 6
Shug McGaughey shows nice numbers with second-timers and mid-range layoff types, so the well-drawn gray filly, TAPITRY (2), will be the key play here.
Race 8
MY FOUR REWARDS (7) and DIANA’S DAISY (11) both could capitalize in a race full of speed. Will use together in vertical boxes and across in multi-wagers.
Race 9
CASHMERE CAT (7) seems to find a fairly soft spot for Dale Romans, who has regrouped the colt and expects him to be a forward factor throughout. One of the main plays of the day.
Race 10
Alan Goldberg, trainer of TARNISHED (2), has had a quietly good meet; could continue here with a filly who will be well-prepped for a return. Will tie her up with CHARLIE A (11), whose trainer, Michelle Nihei, is far better than her meet oh-fer implies.
Race 11
Will lean outside here with one of the Wesley Ward fillies, MOONSHINE SIPPER (11), along with a longer-priced one, BORINQUENEER (12). Should also slip a turn-back filly, PARKER RIDGE (6), into the mix.