GulfStream Park 2012
Gulfstream Park is host to a phenomenal day of racing on Saturday. Headlined by the return of Shackelford, Ruler On Ice, the emergence of Trickmeister, and the dangerous Flat Out, making the Donn the race of the year so far. The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap follows the Donn, another field that is loaded with talent, the race features Silver Medallion winner of two in a row, Boisterous, who is always dangerous especially on the cut back, and the always consistent Smart Bid. The Hutchenson features the talented Ever So Lucky who towers over the field talent wise but there are questions on whether or not he will run.
The Hutcheson, a 7 furlong race on the main track is all about Ever So Lucky, if he runs the race he is supposed to he is head and shoulders better than the rest. His only one turn race was phenomenal, and the cut back in distance first, off the layoff should benefit him. This field does not provide a standout past Ever So Lucky. ll Villano may be the next best shot. He ran a respectable race to Alpha who returned to the win the Withers Stakes last weekend. The cut back in distance may benefit him as well. ll Villano is quick; he will be pressing the pace if not on it. The rest of the field is taking a major step up in class. Thunder Moccasin will be the other major threat to Ever So Lucky. In his first and only start he beat a good group of maidens, this is a step up in class, that on Saturday he may find difficult. Dale Romans trains two entered in the race and I favor Tarpy’s Goal over Quick Wit. Tarpy’s Goal ran very well last time out and I expect him to be a factor. Selections
1. Ever So Lucky
2. ll Villano
3. Tarpy’s Goal
The Donn Handicap has the potential to be a key race for the rest of the year in the older division. The race starts with Preakness Winner Shackelford, who returns for the first time since his tenacious effort in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. Shackelford, aside from the Travers flop, shows up every time. His last try at 1 mile and 1/8 on the Gulfstream surface he got nailed at the wire in the Florida Derby. Shackelford will be on the pace, he will be fresh and I think he will run a big race first off the bench. I do not think he will win, but he is as gritty as they come and he will be in with a big shot at the eighth pole. Ruler on Ice also makes his first start since the Breeders Cup. Ruler on Ice ran a very credible race in the Classic picking up the pieces late to finish third. My problem with Ruler on Ice is that he always seems to pass tired horses to end up finishing in the money. I think against a field as talented as this Ruler On Ice may be up against it. The distance may actually be a little too short for the gelding whose biggest win came In the Belmont Stakes. Rosie Napravnik picks up the mount, and no one has been riding better than her, but even Rosie will not get Ruler on Ice to the winner’s circle Saturday. Next comes Flat Out. His turf experiment last time was an absolute disaster. The big question with Flat Out is can he duplicate his performances in New York to other tracks. I think Flat Out may even be better at one turn, something that has only been explored at Belmont. Hopefully he will be considered for races such as the Metropolitan Mile down the road. Until I see him run a credible race outside of New York, I cannot see Flat Out being a real factor in this race. The race turns to the Richard Dutrow Jr. pair Trickmeister and Redeemed, Trickmeister being the more highly touted of the two. Trickmeister has done nothing wrong in his short career, as he is easily undefeated, but soundness problems have caused him to run sparingly. He will see a tougher field Saturday than he has ever seen before, and we will learn a lot about Trickmeister very shortly. Redeemed is a solid racehorse but I am not sure if he is up to the task. He is consistent so he may be there. My selection in the Donn is Sangaree, which is a little bit of a reach. Sangaree has yet to break through at the highest level but I think Saturday is his day. His last race was very good, and his two turn race against Rule at Saratoga was really strong. I think with the perfect trip he could inherit the lead late. Mission Impazible is always a threat but he never seems to get there, the pace should be hot and he will be a part of that, and I expect him to fade late. The rest of the field includes Soaring Empire, who does not want two turns, Hymn Book who is a cut below this field, and Where’s Sterling who like Hymn Book, is up against it class wise.
Selections-
1. Sangaree
2. Shackelford
3. Trickmeister
The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap is an evenly matched race, and it starts with Silver Medallion. Silver Medallion’s last two races were very impressive. He will be flying late, and should get pace to run at. The question regarding Silver Medallion is whether or not he is good enough to win this race, although he has been beating a few of these. One of the horses Silver Medallion has beaten twice in a row is Hollinger, Hollinger is consistent but does not find the winner circle often. He will need a very large effort to turn the tables on Silver Medallion. I do not see it happening. I believe Big Blue Kitten is a major player in this race. Big Blue Kitten’s only two losses were his debut, and his last start which was his first start off a layoff. In between those two races Big Blue Kitten was five for five including a grade 2 victory at Saratoga. His return to the races was encouraging, and I am looking for him to run a huge race Saturday. Yummy With Butter is a very solid grass horse, he will be on or near the lead, but I do not think he is good enough to win this race. Boisterous will receive a lot of play Saturday, and for good reason. Boisterous has won two graded races in a row, and could improve with the cut back in distance. He has tried grade 1 company before, and has been unsuccessful, but Saturday may be his day. Yankee Fortune is intriguing because this will be his third start off the layoff. His last race was good, Little Mike who defeated him came back to win. Yankee Fortune could be a serious player to finish in the money. Get Stormy is always good, aside from his Breeders Cup performances Get Stormy is always a contender. He almost won this race last year, and is proven at the distance. He should get a great trip either on the lead or sitting right off Yummy With Butter. I think he may need this race though but look to him to run very well for trainer Thomas Bush. Kindergarden Kid is a good horse but simply not good enough to win the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. Smart Bid is dangerous. Smart Bid will get a picture perfect trip. He will sit right off Get Stormy and Yummy With Butter and could inherit the lead late. Smart Bid was a nose away from winning this race last year and a fresh Smart Bid could produce big things Saturday. The last horse in the race is Al Khali who is a solid horse but I think he wants more distance. Making selections in this race was very difficult because all the horses are so even but here they are.
1. Big Blue Kitten
2. Smart Bid
3. Yankee Fortune
4. Get Stormy
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