Watchmaker: Gulfstream pick four play for Saturday, March 14

There are all sorts of intriguing multi-race exotic possibilities on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream, but I find the early pick four especially appealing. Besides, if I hit it, it will give me the ammo to go after all those other interesting pick whatevers later in the day.

Race 2 – Distinct Diva, who went too far at too high a class level last time out, cuts back to the class and distance level at which she was easily second two starts back to a filly who advanced from the non-winners-of-three level at Gulfstream on Thursday. She is super logical and an “A” horse, but I’m also using Tricky Woman as a main. Tricky Woman is going turf to dirt, but she handles dirt and could be the speed of the speed. That could be key if turns out that the Gulfstream main track is even more speed favoring than usual.

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I’m also using three backups: Roll It Gal, Roana Daytona, and Keep in Mind. Roll It Gal, back at the right level after being ridiculously overmatched most recently, is interesting off the cut back in distance. Roana Daytona won easily two back in her last start over the track. As for New York shipper Keep in Mind, she is a new face in a field where that isn’t a bad thing, and she’ll be a price.

Race 3 – Although she hit the board in her last four starts, a big plus in this field, My Money Rider is starting to take on the look of a professional maiden. However, her third last time out and her second two back make her a major player and a must-use. Tiz Cha Cha also must be used as she flashed speed against much better in her only two starts, and now drops drastically to a level at which she can make use of that early foot. But I’ll also be using Street Kitty on my main ticket,s even though this will be her first start on dirt. Street Kitty showed flashes of run in all three of her starts against better, and despite being compromised by awful posts in her last two starts.

Midas Queen and Wov are my backups. Midas Queen has started only twice, was an improved third most recently, and gets a positive rider switch. Wov was favored in a similar spot last time, but lost her best shot when she misbehaved before the start, and she has okay back form.

Race 4 – This is the Any Limit Stakes, one of two stakes on the card, and one of the races I used in my Weekend Warrior column. I like Taylor S, whose third most recently in the Forward Gal is even better than it looks on paper. She continued on well after being close to a destructive early pace. Her win two back also puts her right in the mix.

Perchance and Dogwood Trail will both be attempting to remain unbeaten. Perchance, who was odds-on in both of her wins, worked harder than expected to win her last, and I was a little put off by that. But I will use her as a backup along with Dogwood Trail, who might be the main speed, just in case some of the price horses I’ve made “A’s” in other races in this play connect.

Race 5 – I like Looking Cool the best here. He was overmatched last time in the Fred Hooper, but his on-the-board finishes at this level in his prior two starts were very good. I’ll also use Monty Haul and Congenial as mains. Monty Haul might control the pace, while Congenial, who has back form that is plenty good enough, goes first off the claim for a high percentage barn that excels in such situations.

I have three backups in this race, but not the new gelding Vinceremos, who I’ve never been that big a fan of. My backups are Ghareeb, dismal last time out but a big Beyer Figure winner two back; Jonesy Boy, interestingly spotted in his return from a 10-month absence and who has run well fresh; and Dudeman, who was also bad most recently, but was good two, three, and four starts back.

Here’s the play, listed in main/backup format:

Race 2: 1,2/4,5,7
Race 3: 7,9,10/4,5
Race 4: 1/3,7
Race 5: 5,6,7/4,10,11