US Horse Racing Tips: Five to follow at Gulfstream

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend to provide his best bets from across the pond, and his eyes are fixated on the action at Gulfstream.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

19:15 Gulfstream Park (Race 5) – The Kitten's Joy Stakes – Alpyland (2) @ SP

The penny has suddenly dropped with Alpyland (2). He’s rattled up a hat-trick, showing improved form despite going up in class each time. He beat Knoty Knicks (7) by a nose in a conditions event here in December.

Earlier this month, he had that runner further adrift when winning a stake. He’s had wide posts and far from ideal trips in all his victories. Now drawn near the inside, jockey John Velezquez may be able to save some ground.

The selection will have to be at his best as some of his rivals have playable form or are improving. Turf Star (6) ran second in a Grade 2 at Keeneland in October. He was far from disgraced in The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after that. He gets significant class relief for his three year old debut.

His trainer Graham Motion is in fine form at this meet. So too is Brian Lynch. He has the dangerous looking Thousandsticks (5) in this line up. In a conditions event, he made it two from two on The Gulfstream turf course.

He set decent fractions and still managed to beat Knoty Knicks (7) by almost two lengths. If he makes the lead on his own, he could wire this field.             

Glorious Boy (4) has a couple of lengths to find with Alpyland (2) from last time. He probably needs a hot pace to chase down to win this. That could happen if the likes of the comebacking Redland Rebels (8) run with Thousandsticks (5) early on.

He did look good breaking his maiden by a wide margin in the summer. Khozalite (1) has been away less. He won a state bred stake on dirt in October. The rail drawn runner did break his maiden on the turf.       

20:45 Gulfstream Park (Race 8) – The Swale Stakes – Solitude Dude (6) @ SP

Saffie Joseph trains half the six runners entered here. Whether they all will run is another matter. His first string appears to be Solitude Dude (6). He followed up a wide margin maiden victory here on debut with another open length score in a stake at Tampa.

His stablemate Langvad (2) was a distant third. He runs as if another furlong won’t be an issue. He’s speedy but did stalk a hot pace last time. His outside draw gives jockey Irad Ortiz tactical options.        

Epic Summer (3) looked destined for stakes events after a clear-cut victory of a maiden at Aqueduct on debut. The runner up franked the form, winning by almost six lengths next time. Epic Summer (3) was fancied for a stake here second time but faded badly after attending the pace.

He was used up in a speed duel and a mile may have been too far, at least at this stage of his career. Some encouraging workouts since suggest he may rebound. He is worth considering along with Todd Pletcher’s Class President (1).

The rail drawn runner won well on debut here late last month. The runner up was another debutant but the third had decent form going into that maiden. He could improve second time out and should get pace to chase down.       

Edgard Zayas rode both Solitude Dude (6) and Hammond (4) to win stakes last time. It may not may to pay too much attention that he is on the last named. Saffie Joseph regularly uses Irad Ortiz when he is available. The speed figure he ran when winning in November is inferior to his stablemate. That said, he is progressing with racing.        

The comebacking Diciassette (5) may slip under the radar a little. He won his first two career starts including a stake here. He’s not raced since probably not staying an extended mile in a Grade at Keeneland in October. He faced a tough task there facing juvenile champion Ted Noffey.

21:45 Gulfstream Park (Race 10) – The Forward Gal (Grade 3) - Sneaky Good (5) @ SP

Mythical (4) won back to back stakes in the summer including a Grade 3 at Saratoga. She has made short work of state breds since returning to Florida. The better of two local victories was a twelve length romp over course and distance.

The competition is much tougher here and she has not raced since November. She did win on career debut so is proven fresh. Without question she is the standard setter.

Mythical (4) was a precocious juvenile. Some of the later maturing fillies may be able to catch her up. Trainer Brad Cox has a couple of possibilities. Jockey bookings suggest On Time Girl (6) is the first string. She has only lost once in four career starts.

She’s been freshened up since a clear-cut victory at Churchill. Her stablemate Sneaky Good (5) only made her career debut in October. She has won both her starts. The field she beat in a stake at Tampa last month wasn’t the greatest. She did win it well and runs as if she will improve stepping up to seven furlongs.             

Saffie Joseph is another trainer double-handed. His Secane (3) ran well in two stakes since winning on debut. Tessellate (2) comes off back to back stakes victories in Florida. She’s too sharp to ignore but her winning rider does appear to desert her for Mythical (4).     

The remaining three fillies are not out of this. The lightly raced Music Burst (1) comes off a couple of fine efforts in Kentucky. Imperatrice (8) improved off her debut to break her maiden here. Hollen Drive (7) comes off a clear-cut victory in a conditions event here

22:15 Gulfstream Park (Race 11) – The Sweetest Chant Stakes – Sister Troienne (8) @ SP

Whichever way you look at this, Sister Troienne (8) is the gal to beat. She has won all four starts since her debut (on dirt). Here in November, she won a stake on Tapeta by three lengths from Day to Day (5). She bettered that returning to the turf in a stake at the start of the month.

Under regular rider Mario Gutierrez, she made it back to back stakes victories. She has tactical speed in a race where it may pay to be near the lead.    

The lightly raced Spirit Doll (11) thrashed a stakes field when trying the turf for the first time here in November. She was due to face Sister Troienne (8) earlier this month but was scratched. Lack of workouts lately is a worry. She and Aggressive Lime (10) are the biggest dangerous on paper to the likely favourite.

Brad Cox’s filly has ran well in all three career starts. She was a clear-cut winner of a conditions event at Churchill in November.

Storm's Wake (6) and Bert's Knoty Girl (7) finished behind Sister Troienne (8) last time. More speed to chase down would suit the pair. Brat Pack (3) may get the jump on them. She more than confirmed her debut promise when breaking her maiden over course and distance. She’s really well bred.

Her dam won graded stakes on the turf. Surprise Ending (2) is even more unexposed. She was weak in the market when upsetting a maidens here on debut.   

One Sweet Girl (1) has a bit to find on form but no trainer is in better form at Gulfstream than hers.

22:45 Gulfstream Park (Race 12) – The Holy Bull (Grade 3) – Incredibolt (1) @ SP

Gulfstream’s Kentucky Derby trail starts with this race. Unfortunately, due to travel issues California invader Buetane (6) won’t take part. It still is an interesting and quality looking renewal.

The pair with the highest speed figures are Nearly (7) and Cannoneer (5). The first named followed up a nine length maiden win with a five length score in a conditions event here. The winning time was fast but he has prove himself over further.

It’s hard to put anyone off him too much. Likewise Cannoneer (5). He left his debut form behind, wiring a field of maidens at Churchill by seven lengths. Visually and on the clock, he was very impressive. There is a good chance he makes the lead without Irad Ortiz having to work to hard. He looks the runner to catch and beat.

Bravaro (8) has won both his starts in New York. The latest was a state bred stakes victory. He is well worth his place in this line up. So too is Incredibolt (1). He improved off a maiden win to take a Grade 3 at Churchill. That was a pretty decent field he beat. He doesn’t have the fancy speed figures of Nearly (7) and Cannoneer (5) but is progressing with racing. With a draw where he should save some ground, he may be the play at the odds here. 

Project Ace (3) and Global Aviator (4) are last time out maiden breakers. The last named did well to come from well off the pace on what was his only start to date. He is bred to improve for more ground.