US Horse Racing Tips: Two Grade 1’s at Gulfstream the focus for Saturday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend to provide his best bets from across the pond, with his attention focused on Gulfstream Park.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

21:54 Gulfstream Park - Program Trading @ SP

Quite a few chances here but clear-cut favourite Program Trading (2) looks the most likely winner. He is a lightly raced six-year-old who's career has been blighted with training setbacks. He almost reeled in a progressive horse on a roll in a Grade 1 at Keeneland in October. His Breeders’ Cup Mile run can be ignored as he was blocked and steadied. He is arguably better at this nine-furlong distance than shorter. The worse he has finished after a lay off was second, beaten a neck (with three victories). That suggests an absence since the first week in November won’t be an issue.

Trainer Graham Motion is one of a few trainers double-handed. His Test Score (1) is the only newly turned four year old in this line up. He mixed it with the best of his generation in turf stakes last year.

His best effort was winning The Grade 1 Belmont Derby. He may have won another at that level with a cleaner passage at Del Mar in late November. His stablemate One Stripe (4) is interesting. The South African dual Grade 1 winner finally put it all together on his third start Stateside. He beat nothing of note but did it in a manner of a horse to follow. Gavin Lerena who rode him to success at Kenilworth ships in to renew the partnership.

Cugino (10) comes off two big efforts. He won a Grade 2 at Aqueduct before running second in a Grade 3 over course and distance. The winner is much improved and has a winning streak going. He’s a place chance at least but did get a perfect trip last time saving ground. That may be tougher from his post today. It will be no surprise if the third Beach Gold (3) who was hung wide gets closer to him. He may be one to have a small interest at a big price each way.

Chasing the Crown (9) ran below form in The Grade 3 Cugino (10) and Beach Gold (3) were placed in. It is worth bearing in mind how well he ran to be third in this race last year. There were a number of hard luck stories that day including Fort Washington (12). He won three times since including The Grade 1 Arlington Million. If the late runner hadn’t drawn so badly, he would be the best alternative to the selection.

There are a contingent of California invaders in here. As a rule, turf stakes in that state are a little inferior to that in New York, Kentucky and the winter in Gulfstream. The best of them may be the speedy Cabo Spirit (8). He made all to beat the win shy Astronomer (11) in a Grade 3 at Santa Anita in December. He’s dangerous with the lead on his own.

Major Dude (7) ended a long. losing run when facing overmatched rivals at Aqueduct in October. He has ran some of his best races on this turf track.

22:39 Gulfstream Park - Tappan Street @ SP

The best two three-year-olds from 2025 Sovereignty and Journalism are staying in training. They may be challenged in Grade 1’s down the line by a pair of stablemates who had to miss The Triple Crown races. Disco Time (1) is a perfect five-for-five in his career. His last two victories in September and November stamped him a horse to be reckoned with. He won stakes in Illinois and New York by an aggregate of 15 lengths.

The opposition was far inferior to this field but the speed figure he ran suggests he’s a Grade 1 winner waiting to happen. He’s been forwardly placed in all but one of his starts. He did come from almost last to win a Grade 3 at The Fair Grounds last January so is hardly one-dimensional.

Disco Time (1) was 6/5 to beat four rivals last time. His backers may not get much bigger odds to beat three times more horses and far more quality. His stablemate Tappan Street (7) is even less exposed.

He beat subsequent Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty in The Grade 1 Florida Derby over course and distance in March. Like Disco Time (1), he had a setback and missed The Triple Cown races. It can be argued that Sovereignty improved a ton after that race. That can be backed up with an underwhelming comeback victory here last month. There is a chance his trainer Brad Cox had him undercooked with this race in mind. In the hope that he was, he may take the big step forward he needs to win this.

Now seven years old, the best days of White Abarrio (11) could be behind him. The 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner did run some contending races last term. He has not ran since August but has fired fresh before. He’s a horse for course at Gulfstream. He’s eight-from-10 here and two-from-14 everywhere else. He won this race last year by six lengths. When he has ran big in the past, he’s been well bet. Maybe check the market before post time before siding with him or tossing him out.

There are a pair of talented California based horses in this line up. The most accomplished is 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano (3). He ran well in his first two starts of a limited campaign last year. It is easy to forgive his last when trying to defend his title. He was in tight early and had to press a hot pace while wide.

The worry with him is being involved in fast early fractions with a few others. That could also be the case with fellow invader Madaket Road (6). His very best form has come over seven furlongs and a mile. He did have company on the front end when a fading fourth to Tappan Street (7) in last year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby over course and distance.

Skippylongstocking (5) will be running in this race for the fourth time. His best effort in it came when a well held third to stablemate White Abarrio (11). He wins more than his share of stakes but not so far at The Grade 1 level. He did edge out Poster (8) in a Grade 3 here last month. The runner-up is unexposed on dirt and may have improvement to come. The late runner may sit handier now racing in blinkers first time. A speed duel up front and he could make the frame at a big price. That is also the case with the versatile Banishing (4) and deep closer Brotha Keny (12).

Captain Cook (9) has races that make him competitive. Although he has won over nine furlongs, that has been when on or close to easy fractions. That is unlikely here with the likes of The California shippers and Mika (10) in this line up. That newly turned four-year-old is much improved but will have to work hard to make the lead here.