While competition remains halted at many racetracks around the country, Gulfstream Park is still going strong. On Saturday they host a newly written 3-year-old Stakes Race-the $75,000 dollar Unbridled Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
It is the feature race of the day and it drew an interesting field of seven horses, including familiar names from the Kentucky Derby trail.
1. NECKER ISLAND [12-1] Trainer: Stanley Hough. Jockey: Dylan Davis. After some promising races last fall, he looked weak against better horses in the local Swale Stakes (G3) and Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. He ran a very mild 5th in both of those Graded Stakes races. On the plus side, he faces an easier field here. He does well in the slop, so if the track is wet, upgrade him. But look elsewhere for the Winner. 2.
2. AMERICANUS [6-1] Trainer: Mark Hennig. Jockey: Edgar Zayas. As with #1, this one looks like a mild talent at best. Following a dismal 8th place finish in the Nashua Stakes (G3), he ran a decent 2nd in a local Allowance optional claimer and then Won an Allowance on February 22nd. He does not own a three digit Speed Figure, and lacks two-turn route experience.
3. DR POST [8-5] Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. This is an interesting runner from the Pletcher barn. He has tactical speed earning a 103 Speed Figure his last time out. The big question is whether he can route? He gets stamina from QUALITY ROAD, but his momma was a sprinter. Regardless, there is high potential based on his lone Win, and connections.
4. RELENTLESS DANCER [6-1] Trainer: Michael Maker. Jockey: Chris Landeros. After consecutive failures in two-turn routes, the connections are trying him again in another 1 1/16-mile race. In his first route attempt in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) he faded to 4th by 18 ¾ lengths. He then tried the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and faded to 4th again, this time by seven lengths after setting the early pace. He could last longer in this spot against a weaker ungraded Stakes field, but expect him to get mowed down yet again.
5. SOUTH BEND [4-1] Trainer: Stanley Hough. Jockey: Rajiv Maragh. If nothing else, at least this colt shows good experience at the distance. Two starts ago, he closed for a strong third in the Palm Beach Stakes (G3) after settling nine lengths off a slow pace. That nice closing effort came on turf. However, he does have successful races on dirt given he Won his first three career races on it last fall, including the one-mile Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. With some pace here, we can see him closing strong late in the going.
6. SOROS [15-1] Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. In three starts, he has failed to have a Speed Figure of 90 or better. He Won the local Smooth Air Stakes last November against a much weaker group than these. In his return start in a local March 27th Allowance optional claimer he could only manage to close for fifth, 7 ¼ lengths behind the Winner.
7. ATTACHMENT RATE [3-1] Trainer: Dale Romans. Jockey: Luis Saez. He could only manage 3rd in the Gotham Stakes (G3). He did encounter some trouble and still earned a 113 Speed Figure. If it rains, it should be noted he broke his Maiden by 6 ¼ lengths over the slop.
Conclusion: For the Win spot, the race comes down to #3, #5, or #7. DR POST will go off as the odds on favorite, and rightfully so. But at the Daily Racing Blog we seek Value, so we’ll look elsewhere with SOUTH BEND and ATTACHMENT RATE.
The Play: With a field of only seven, even the pay-outs on the exotic wagers will be a bit short. So while we don’t always recommend hitting the All Button, this is one of those times. Our wager will be both a Trifecta, and Superfecta Key using both the #5 and #7 with ALL. With the hope that a longer odds horse can make it into the top three.
But certainly use the #3-5-7 in your late Pick 4 and Pick 5.
Best of luck no matter how you play it.
