Horse racing is in the midst of one of its biggest weeks of the year, with the Belmont Stakes on deck Saturday in the pursuit for the sport’s coveted Triple Crown.
Typically the last of the big three races, the Belmont has been moved ahead of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness this year due to the usual path being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the meantime, we are turning our attention today to Gulfstream Park, which features a jam-packed, 10-race card to kick off its weekly schedule in South Florida.
Here are the highlighted plays at Gulfstream, along with our featured multi-race wagers at Indiana Grand, which started its season this week, and night racing at Evangeline Downs.
Lets take a look at our featured races:
GULFSTREAM PARK
Race 4
Time: 1:34 p.m. ET
I am backing No. 4 Estilo Talentoso (7-5) in this tough $47,000 Maiden Special Weight event for fillies and mares, going a mile on the dirt track.
Jockey Samy Camacho climbs aboard for trainer Juan Arriagada, who is trying everything to help his charge pick up her first victory. Estilo Talentoso has four runner-up efforts and a third entering this race, which seems like the perfect spot for the 3-year-old filly to capture that maiden-breaking score.
Play Estilo Talentoso across the board in your Win-Place-Show wagering and on top of your exotics with No. 7 Ever Smart at 5-2 odds. Throw No. 2 Independent Miss (9-2), No. 3 Sweetology (5-1) and No. 6 Invaluable (15-1) on the back end of the exacta and trifecta wagers.
The bets:
$5 Win/Place/Show: No. 4 Estilo Talentoso (7-5) — $15 Ticket
$2 exacta wager: 4/7 over 2/3/4/7 — $24 Ticket
$1.50 trifecta wager: 4/7 over 2/3/4/7 over 2/3/4/6/7— $27 Ticket
Race 7
Time: 3:09 p.m. ET
This might be the toughest race to handicap on the entire card, with 10 horses slated to run in this 5 1/2-furlong sprint on the dirt.
I am giving the slight edge to No. 10 Ma Meatloaf (2-1), who goes out for trainer Todd Pletcher. Jockey Edgard Zayas is scheduled to be in the irons for Ma Meatloaf, who ran poorly in the slop as the favorite in her most recent appearance at Gulfstream. I am going to toss that performance and chalk it to the conditions and expect her to pick up the win against this bunch.
Use her in your Win-Place-Show wagering and on top of your exotics with No. 5 Take Charge Again (4-1), who is trained by Jane Cibelli. Tack on No. 2 Palace Two Step (5-1), No. 3 Note To Selfie (10-1), No. 4 Sizzling Roma (9-2) and No. 6 Marching In (12-1) underneath in your exacta and trifecta plays.
The bets:
$7 Win/Place/Show: No. 10 Ma Meatloaf (2-1) — $21 Ticket
$3 exacta wager: 5/10 over 2/4/5/10 — $18 Ticket
$2 trifecta wager: 5/10 over 2/5/10 over 2/3/4/5/6/10 — $32 Ticket
Race 9
Time: 4:13 p.m. ET
My top selection is No. 8 Tiz Approved (5-1), who ships in from Tampa Bay Downs for this race and gets Camacho in the saddle.
Trainer Darien Rodriguez is stepping up his 4-year-old gelding in class and stretching him out in distance after three nice wins in the western part of the state.
I am playing Tiz Approved across the board and boxing him in an exacta with No. 1 Ice Tea (7-2), No. 3 Indimaaj (3-1) and No. 6 Quenane at 4-1 odds. Use all four horses in your trifecta, along with No. 4 Expensive Style at 8-1 odds.
The bets:
$4 Win/Place/Show: No. 8 Tiz Approved (5-1) — $12 Ticket
$2 exacta box wager: 1/3/6/8 — $24 Ticket
$1 trifecta wager: 3/8 over 1/3/6/8 over 1/3/4/6/8 — $18 Ticket
Favorite Multi-Race Wagers at Gulfstream Park
- Daily Double (Races 4 and 5): 2,4,7 / 1,3,4,5,6 ($2 Daily Double = $30 Ticket)
- Daily Double (Races 9 and 10): 1,3,4,5,6,8 / 5,7 ($3 Daily Double = $36 Ticket)
- Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10): 6,8,9,10 / 1,3,4,6,8 / 5,6,7 ($0.50 Pick 3 = $30 Ticket)
BONUS PLAYS
Favorite Multi-Race Wagers at Indiana Grand
- Pick 3 (Races 5-6-7): 1,2,5,7 / 6,7 / 2,5,8,9,12,14 ($0.50 Pick 3 = $24 Ticket)
- Daily Double (Races 6 and 7): 7 / 1,2,4,5,8,9,10,11,12,14 ($2.50 Daily Double = $25 Ticket)
- Daily Double (Races 8 and 9): 4,8 / 1,6,7,8,10,11 ($2 Daily Double = $24 Ticket)
Favorite Multi-Race Wagers at Evangeline Downs
- Daily Double (Races 1 and 2): 3,5,7 / 1,3,5,7,8 ($2 Daily Double = $30 Ticket)
- Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6): 2,3,4,5 / 1,4,6,7,9 / 2,3,4,8 ($0.50 Pick 3 = $40 Ticket)
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