Gulfstream Park 17:30 – Dillon Rocks @ 13/8
Dillon Rocks looks primed and ready to break his maiden tag now stepped up in trip on his first run for trainer Jane Cibelli. Having plied his trade on the New York circuit in expensive $60-80k maiden special weights contests, he makes his second start off a break in this $25k maiden on the turf course at just over a mile.
Having been beaten by Winning Factor and Rags for Britches last time out at this track over 7½ furlongs, there should be enough value for the selection to turn things around now stepped up to just over one mile, especially given the pace make-up in the race.
He should get a soft lead.
The trainer has a 27 per cent strike rate with similarly campaigned horses.
Gulfstream Park 18:31 – Maturin @ 7/2
We swap to the mile dirt track where a lot of these have been mixing surfaces throughout their careers. Preference here goes to the consistent Maturin for Rodolfo Garcia who was a 1½ length winner of a $12.5k maiden last time over the same course and distance.
He faces stiff opposition in the form of Steadily for the red-hot trainer Victor Barboza. However, given this is the lowest grade Maturin has been in and how he appears to thrive on racing, I can see him improving again from his last start.
That should be enough against these exposed types.
Gulfstream Park 20:36 – Youshouldbesolucky @ 2/1
We’re back on turf for a competitive $16k claimer over a mile as Sir Seamus and Youshouldbesolucky face off again. Preference goes to the latter, who ran from gate nine last time where there’s a short run to the first turn and he was always too wide and on the turn the whole way.
With the criminally fast fractions set by Sir Seamus (22 secs x 2f, 44.2 secs x 4f), he could never get into his rhythm and I can see him being overlooked in the market.
Sir Seamus changed tactics last time out sensing a fast pace and was well held. With a couple of impressive 48 second, four furlong workouts – Youshouldbesolucky can put that last run behind him and go very close at what should be a fair price.
Gulfstream Park 21:07 – Shes All Woman @ 11/8
A $16k optional claimer over 6f on the dirt track looks a straight-up match between Flora Fantasy and Shes All Woman.
The former came out on top by ¾ of a length last time out when the pair faced each other over the same course and distance. Flora Fantasy didn’t break well that day and was a shade lucky that there was a very strong pace duel up front that allowed him to pick up the pieces.
Shes All Woman broke slightly better, was much closer to the strong pace and looked the winner turning for home, but just got collared in the final strides. With a less strong pace forecast tonight, Shes All Woman is value for a few extra lengths which should be enough to take this.
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