Thursday's Picks from Gulfstream Park & Fair Grounds

Aqueduct is blanketed in snow today and racing was canceled so we will take a trip out to Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park this afternoon.

The weather has been lousy in New Orleans the past few days and we likely will be off the turf today so I concentrated on the main track races. We were off the turf yesterday at Gulfstream Park, but I am hoping we are back on grass this afternoon.

Many of you are probably snowed in facing frigid temperature and it is no different here on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is going to hit 60 degrees today but the last two nights we were down in the 20’s.

Spring cannot get here quick enough and the countdown to the first Saturday of May continues. We are just over two months away from the Kentucky Derby (G1) and warmer weather.

It should be warm enough on Saturday where a field of 14 will go in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). Among the runners are U.S. based Go Knicks, Charlatan, Tacitus, Sleepy Eyes Todd and Max Player.

I will have more on the race in Saturday’s column. I purchased a few shares in BLX Thoroughbreds last year so I will have a rooting interest with Max Player. The first place check is worth $10 million.

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 .  In addition, AmWager is offering up to a $500 bonus for new horseplayers.

My Best Plays Report for Thursday includes my eight strongest plays from Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds.

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 4 ANALYSIS (2:37 P.M. ET)

Race 4 Md $25,000

• #6 Brynbella   5-2
• #7 My Desdemona   4-1
• #2 Map Em Up   5-1
• #1 Khosea   9-2               

Analysis: Brynbella exits a $35,000 maiden claimer where she was bumped coming out of the gate, stalked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late in a fourth place finish. The winner Por Que No came back to $35,000 starter optional claimers in her next start and two others exited that race to win next out. The runner up is Munnyfor Ro who I like in today's seventh race versus tougher. This Pletcher trainee looks primed to graduate here in this spot taking on $25,000 foes. She is by Flintshire and the first foal to race out of a Archarcharch mare.

My Desdemona return off a four month break here and is dropping in for a tag. Last out she chased the early pace and weakened to finish fourth in her first trip on turf going 7 1/2 at Delaware Park. The Matz barn is 9% winners with runners coming back off a 61–180-day layoff. Decent works and this gal is out of a Kris S. mare that has dropped five winners and three have won on turf. Looks like a good spot for her return with the class relief. 

FAIR GROUNDS RACE 5 ANALYSIS (2:56 P.M. CT)

Race 5 Clm $5,000N2X

• #8 Orb's Soul   4-1
• #4 Cold Hearted Wench   5-2
• #1 Sharperthanme   5-1
• #7 Miss Commish   9-2

Analysis: Orb's Soul pressed the early pace and tired to finish fourth last out on the switch from turf to dirt. Since graduating for a $40,000 tag thanks to a DQ she has come up short against winners five times but now drops in for a $5,000 tag and catches a field she should be able to handle. She ran into repeat winners in her first two starts against winners and is going to be an early pace threat here. She also has run well in his two trips on wet tracks which we might see again today.

Cold Hearted Wench tracked the early pace and weakened in the stretch to finish fourth last out against $15,000 non-winners of two going a mile on turf here last out. The third place finisher Happy Sonrisa came out of that race to beat $15,000 non-winners of two by 6 1/4 lengths in her next outing.  On a wet track two back in a race taken off the turf she ran second behind a 10 1/4 length winner as the beaten favorite. That was her first start for Shirer who claimed this guy tree back out of a sixth place finish at Churchill Downs going a one turn mile.

Good luck today!