Mr. Ed’s Gulfstream Best Bets
GULFSTREAM PARK BEST BETS: Saturday’s annual stakes-rich 13-race card at Gulfstream Park presents horseplayers numerous opportunities to test their handicapping and money management skills, from the $3 million World Cup Invitational for seasoned older horses to maiden special weight events featuring young stars of tomorrow. It’s days like these that stir Mr. Ed from his winter of discontent slumber and get his racing fan juices flowing again.
TRACKING MR. ED: He posted a pair of winning Exactas at Gulfstream last Saturday for $15.40 in Race 8 and $79.00 in Race 9 for a total return of $94.40 on $102 of action. Better days ahead.
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT: The brothers Ortiz (Eclipse winner Irad and Jose) and veteran Paco Lopez lead the jockey standings. Look for Oisin Murphy, Frankie Dettori and Flavien Prat to visit Winner’s Circle sometime today. Upstart Saffie Joseph Jr. leads all trainers, while Chad Brown’s big barn is ice cold. With nine entries today, Brown is way overdue. Look for a multiple-win day.
TODAY AT THE RACES: First post at Gulfstream Park is 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT for the 13-race program. A field of 12 will go to the post in the featured Pegasus World Cup Invitational at 5:40 p.m. ET/2:40 p.m. PT … With fields full of world-class thoroughbreds, Mr. Ed plays Win and Exacta box tickets on each of the seven stakes.
Race 6 (1:33 p.m. ET/10:33 a.m. PT)
G3 LA PREVOYANTE STAKES, fillies & mares, 4YOs & up at 1 ½-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #6 SISTER OTOOLE (5-1 morning line) for excellent turf conditioner Graham Motion, who has three winners at the meet. This mare runs well fresh and should enjoy added distance. Oisin Murphy rides. What’s not to like?
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $10 to Win on 6, $2 Exacta Box: 1,3,6 ($22)
Race 7 (2:04 p.m. ET/11:04 a.m. PT)
$100K HANDICAP, 4YO & up at 1-mile & 70 yards on Tapita
My money is on price-play #4 DREAMS OF TOMORROW (8-1 morning line) for McGaughey barn. Seasoned 7YO and has been knocking at the door vs. tough fields, posting solid speed figures. Johnny Velazquez rides for the first time. Dreams do come true.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $10 to Win on 4, $2 Exacta Box: 1,4,8. ($22)
Race 8 (2:41 p.m. ET/11:41 p.m. PT)
G3 WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT STAKES, 4YO & up at 1 ½ -mile on turf
The #7 VERSTAPPEN (9-2 morning line) is my selection for the powerful Brendan Walsh-Frankie Dettori combo. The rested, ready gelding drops in class.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $10 to Win on 7, $2 Exacta Box: 3,7,10. ($22)
Race 9 (3:13 p.m. ET/12:13 p.m. PT)
G2 $200K INSIDE INFORMATION STAKES for fillies & mares, 4YO & up at 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #10 OLIVIA DARLING (4-1 morning line) for solid trainer Jorge Delgado. The expensive daughter of Palace sports a pair of sharp drills, indicating improvement. Irad Ortiz returns to the saddle. If she breaks on top, look for wire. Oh, my darling.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $10 to Win on 10, $3 Exacta box: 1,3,10. ($28)
Race 10 (3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. PT)
G2 $500K TAA PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL FOR fillies & mares 4YO & Up at 1 1/16-mile on turf
I like #7 FLUFFY SOCKS (9-2 morning line) for Chad Brown’s barn, which is due to regain winning ways. The super consistent mare (22-5-9-3) drops in class following an excellent Place in G1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz returns to the saddle. Socks it to others.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $20 to Win on 7, $3 Exacta box: 6,7,9. ($38)
Race 11 (4:20 p.m. ET/1:20 p.m. PT)
G3 $150K FRED W. HOOPER STAKES at a mile for 4YO & up
Mr. Ed is betting on undervalued #11 TUMBARUMBA (8-1 morning line) to spring an upset. Brian Lynch’s barn is red hot, and the return of Luis Saez to the saddle adds to the appeal. A pair of fast works indicate the gelding is ready to fire a best effort.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $20 to Win on 11, $2 Exacta box: 3,8,11. ($32)
Race 12 (4:55 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT)
G1 $1 million PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL at 1 ½-mile for 4YO & up
Lone filly #9 WARM HEART (9-5 morning line), making her farewell appearance, is my popular choice. The globetrotting gal stands out in a deep field of 12. She earned her U.S. racing stripes with a 105 speed figure when Placing in BC Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Ryan Moore rides for Aidan O’Brien barn. Her heart is hot.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $20 to Win on #9, $3 Exacta box: 3,6,9. ($38)
Race 13 (5:40 p.m. ET/2:40 p.m. PT)
G1 $3 million PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL at 1 ⅛-mile for 4YO & up
THE CONTENDERS: #2 O’Connor (8-1 morning line); #4 Hoist the Gold (12-1); #7 National Treasure (9-5); #8 First Mission, and #9 Grand Aspen (8-1).
Mr. Ed likes #7 NATIONAL TREASURE to deliver a winning punch for Baffert and Prat. He was my VSiN.com choice to capture the Preakness and didn’t disappoint. Lone G1 winner in the field. A series of sharp works points to maximum effort off the bench.
GULFSTREAM BEST BETS: $40 to Win on #7 NATIONAL TREASURE and $5 Exacta box: 4,7,8. ($70
TOTAL WAGERS: $272
WHAT TEAMS DOES MR. ED (11-9)* LIKE ON SUNDAY?
CHIEFS +4 over Ravens
LIONS +7 over 49ers
*against the spread
