Sunday January 9 Selections

Fresh off a super Saturday, let's see if we can end the week with some winners on this dual graded stakes race card........

12:55    1-Gulfstream                6f         Claiming                                  4 – Bella Moneta                      5/2                   

Team Calabrese sends out the favorite and she’s a deserving chalk.  Nick Canani scores 34% off the shelf (when doesn’t he win at that clip?), and this runner has been razor sharp.  A month ago began working here at Gulfstream and sizzled a 4f work; since then being maintained with maintenance works.  What’s hidden is that if you toss Bella’s turf efforts, you’ll find she is 5/3-1-1.  Looks solid in here.

1:58      3-Gulfstream    Turf      7.5f       Claiming nw3L                                    1 – Lemon Punch                     6/1*                 

At first glance handicappers will be turned off by this runner’s turf numbers:  11 starts, 1 win, a second and a third.  OUCH!  I’m hoping they move on after seeing that, because if you look deeper for a reason for today to be different, the evidence is staring you in the face.  Today Lemon Punch makes her first start for Wayne Catalano;  that in and of itself is a 31% winning angle!  She is bred up and down for the turf, so what’s the deal?  Looks like she’s been in over her head from the get-go as today will mark her first start for a tag – another powerful angle in any conditioned claimer.  To add to the case, the Cat-man has enlisted super turf rider Jose Lezcano – who’s off to a great start here this winter (including winning Sunday’s feature with a outcome-changing tactical change).  AND….Lezcano wins 29% for Catalano with a $2.68 ROI with his runners!. Saves all the ground, and punches through to the wire in the stretch at a fair price.

2:27      4-Gulfstream                6.5f       Maiden Claiming                     3 – Just Say Goodbye              5/1*                 

There’s no way we can get 4/1 and a double-digit payout here is there?  I mean c’mon – Todd Pletcher trained, ridden by go-to Johnny V - 3-year-old maidens, an automatic selection.  Add to that Goodbye drops from MSW company into a high-priced claimer and working sharply.  Need more proof, how about the fact that from the debut race the winner and the show horse BOTH came back to score?  Bet down!

3:25      6-Gulfstream                7f         Claiming                                  2 – Dixie Band                         3/1                   

Is today “Wayne’s World” day?  Another Catalano runner looks to be the one to take down in here.  This highly competitive claiming race features several runners who have run and placed in stakes (even a couple graded efforts).  But the key here, like any 7 panel feature, is who likes this distance.  Well, Dixie Band has tried the distance 3 times and scored twice.  And what is even more interesting……twice, not once but twice, he’s come off the shelf (like today) and won going seven furlongs!  Lezcano up again.

4:23      8-Gulfstream    Turf      8.5f       Grade 3 Fort Lauderdale         2 – Get Stormy                         3/1*                 

You gotta love Gulfstream – a field loaded with potential contenders, and a lot of different angles to play here.  But the key for this handicapper is two-fold:  first, the pace scenario GREATLY favors Get Stormy as there is a definite lack of pace in here.  Get Stormy sits in a cozy post and should easily make the lead.  But with his ability to track, should a rival gun to the front from the outside (using valuable energy), he can easily save ground and rate and finish.  He’s a multiple stakes winner, and will find this Grade 3 race a much softer spot than his last – the Breeders’ Cup Mile.  Secondly, the turf course has been playing to speed, and that should help Get Stormy’s chances as well.  Solid.

4:52      9-Gulfstream    Turf      8.5f       Grade 3 Marshua’s River         2 – Never Retreat                     6/1                   

Could it be this simple?  Look at the Beyers for the field in their last three turf starts.  Either you are, or you are not, a believer in Beyer speed figures.  I am – but sometimes you have to interpret them.  But in this case I think it’s fairly simple that there are only two runners who CONSISTENTLY are fast enough to win this race.  There are a couple who can jump up and win, but only (2) Never Retreat and (11) Kiss Mine consistently run in the mid-90s.  So if that narrows the field, how to separate them?  Kiss Mine likes to be near the front and is marooned in post 11, and is 3/1.  Never Retreat sits mid-pack, is inside to save ground, and is 6/1…..well duh, there you go.  After the race is over many handicappers will say, “How did I miss that?”  We won’t!

1-Mary’s Follies                       79            88            93

2-Never Retreat                    94            95            94

3-Cherokee Queen                  81            89            86

4-Wild Mia                                88            87            85

5-Trip For A.J.                         87            91            97

6-Sweetest Song                   78            72            84

7-Quebrada Shiner                 89            88            83

8-Persuading                          75            80            80

9-Ansong                                80            79            78

10-Satan’s Quick Chick           70            76

11-Kiss Mine                         90            94            94

12-C.S.Silk                               87            101          82

13-Just Around Midnight         83            83

14-Street Gossip                     82            86            88

5:22      10-Gulfstream  Turf      8.5f       Maiden Special                       2 – Praetero                             4/1                   

Maiden 3-year-olds, what’s the key….c’mon, everyone together now……Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez!  Here he is.  And again, like you need any other angles……is bred up and down for grass; working sharply ON THE TURF at Palm Meadows; AND exits a KEY race where he ran third in spite of breaking slowly and was five-wide!  End the week with a winner, jump on board!