Turf Sprinting
The Gulfstream Park Championship meet as it is called does not lack for two things: turf sprints and tapeta races. Turf sprints I like, tapeta I have not yet embraced. With the recent announcement Belmont Park will be adding a synthetic track if the renovation takes place I may have to adjust. It seems the synthetic tracks are making a comeback.
Two turf sprint stakes will be run at Gulfstream on Saturday. It is Florida so there is always that possibility they will move to the tapeta but as of now it looks good for the grass.
Jose Ortiz will be tough on the lead in the Texas Glitter aboard favorite Dr Oseran for Christophe Clement. I prefer Jose when he is on the lead or right up close as I think he does some of his best riding on the front. That said I will take a shot to beat him in here.
Golden Nugget catches the eye. Brendan Walsh shipped in to run this son of Mendelssohn on the grass at Gulfstream and he responded with a stalking win. That made the colt one for one on the grass and I think this improving horse can make it two for two despite the jump into a stake. He should get a similar type of trip, and now we know what surface he seems to prefer. His works over the lawn at Palm Meadows look excellent after the win and the 12-1 morning line in this field looks awfully generous.
In the 10th race three-year old fillies will get their shot at five furlongs on the grass.
This race drew 12 fillies and looks wide open. There appears to be a decent amount of pace on paper. Sassy Nature is one for one on the grass after coming in from California and looks like the speed of the race but with plenty of stalkers and some pressure. Castellano looks like he stuck with three for three Bedtime Story leaving Just a Care open for Paco Lopez. I land here. This filly is bred for nothing but grass and returned off the bench as a first time three-year old to break her maiden right here from off the pace but with an early move. I think Paco fits her well and she can go forward again. If she improves even a bit, she becomes dangerous in here and I think that is quite possible.
If we can get both these three-year olds home fastest it could make for a profitable and fun day and that is why we are here. Enjoy the races!
