Thursday’s Picks from Gulfstream Park & Fair Grounds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

12 minute read

I have been whining about the temperatures dropping down into the 40’s here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, but things are much worse north of here.

New York is getting hit by more than a foot of snow, which puts Thursday’s card at Aqueduct in danger of being cancelled.

After handicapping the forecast, I decided we would head off for warmer weather this afternoon. My Best Plays Report for Thursday includes my eight strongest plays from Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park.

Racing in the Big Apple might be a question for Friday as well, but there will be other action including five stakes at Remington Park including the $200,000 Remington Springboard Mile, which is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.

I will break down the race in tomorrow’s column.

There is one other Derby points race this week, the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Saturday.

If you are in the northeast of the U.S. stay safe and stay warm and I feel your pain. I might have to don long pants here in Florida the next few days.

You can stream the action today by using the TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a 50% deposit match up to $250 .

To purchase my Best Plays Report for Thursday click here .

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Aqueduct Reports daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday. 

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 5 ANALYSIS (2:36 P.M. ET)

Race 5 Md $35,000

• #6 Ghostlyprince   5-2
• #9 Kathern's Joy   4-1
• #8 Golovkin   2-1
• #7 Raulito   15-1

Analysis: Ghostlyprince dropped in for a tag last out for the first time in his third career start and just missed in a game effort, beaten a neck. The colt tracked the early pace, took over the lead and got run down late. He has improved with each outing and looks as if he found a good spot here. The $100,000 Keeneland purchase is out of a Ghostzapper mare that has dropped one other foal to ace, turf stakes winner Biddy Duke ($280,322).

Kathern's Joy dueled for the early lead and could not go with the winner late in a runner up finish in the slop for the Ward barn. The gelding was claimed out of the race by the Lander barn that is 3 for 5 (with a +ROI) first off the claim and since taking out his trainer's license has won with 10 of 23 starters overall. Paco sticks on this gelding with the blinkers coming off. He does not have a real strong turf pedigree, by Creative Cause out of an Exchange Rate mare that has dropped two other foals to race with no winners to date. Hard to knock anything this barn sends out. 

FAIR GROUNDS RACE 6 ANALYSIS (3:25 P.M. CT)

Race 6 Md Sp Wt

• #11 Red Hot Babe   5-1
• #6 Chewy Chewy Good   4-1
• #10 Mariposa d'Oro   5-1
• #1 Street Missy   9-2

Analysis: Red Hot Babe stalked the early pace and tired to finish seventh in his debut on the main track at Churchill Downs at 12-1 for Catalano show usually does not have them fully cranked first out. The barn is 16% winners with second out maidens. This guy should take to turf. She is out of the G1 turf winner Room Service ($571,565), this her first foal to race. She has worked sharply since her debut and should show more in her second career outing here.

Chewy Chewy Good makes her first start on turf here for the Sharp barn. She has three starts under her belt, last out tracking the early pace and weakening to finish seventh going 6 1/2 on dirt at Keeneland. The winner and third place finisher both won next out, the winner Movie Moxie beating Alw-1 company on Churchill Downs on Nov. 11.  She adds blinkers here for Sharp who is 18% winner overall in turf sprints. She is out of an Any Given Saturday mare that has dropped one other foal to race, a dirt winner.

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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