International Racing: Gulfstream Park – Saturday 28 March 2020 (Turf/Dirt)

After finding four winners on the card at Gulfstream Park yesterday, we look forward to a 14-race programme today which includes the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby. It looks to be a two-horse race between INDEPENDENCE HALL and TIZ THE LAW. The three jockeys that will be worth following on today’s meeting are Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario and Luis Saez who all look to have a good book of rides. 

Looking for more international racing tips for Saturday and Sunday? We’ve got you covered:

Winning Form Tips:
Sha Tin: http://ow.ly/d0Zk50yYuNj
Gulfstream Park: http://ow.ly/zrFz50yYuNH
Geraldton: http://ow.ly/Szyc50yYuOH

Neil Morrice:
Sha Tin: http://ow.ly/u8zH50yYuPd

Anthony Delpech
Sha Tin: http://ow.ly/g2uA50yYuPV

Best Bet: ZULU ALPHA (Race 12)
Value Bet: UNCLE MOJO (Race 5) 

If viewing the below table on mobile, please turn your phone to landscape orientation to display correctly. 

Race 1 
ZABAVA has good consistent form to her name. She moved up well in her last start, but the winner just found a stronger kick. Her form over this distance is good with three wins and two third place finishes from seven outings. She jumps from a handy barrier position today and should be the one they all have to beat. CODRINGTON has come well in her last three starts. She was gaining at the finish in her last start over this course and distance when finishing just a neck behind the winner. Her record of a win and a third-place finish from three starts on this course will stand her in good stead.

Race 2
BEAU LUMINARIE has shown in his last two starts that the gelding was what he needed. He finished second in his first run as a gelding and won his latest outing by seven lengths over a mile on this course. He does take on stronger this afternoon, but the manner in which he put the rest of the field to bed in his last start suggests that he has some class about him. Julien Leparoux rides the son of I Want Revenge once again and the pair merit respect. TRAVELLING MIDAS showed good signs of a form return in his last start over six furlongs on this course. He steps back up in distance today and if confirming that recent improvement, he should pose the biggest threat to the top selection

Race 3 
LARGENT has won twice and finished second twice in his four starts to date. He shows good guts and determination in his races and went down just a short head in his last start. Regular pilot Luis Saez does duty from a good barrier position and the pair should notch up their third career victory. TEMPLE has good consistent form to his name. He raced very wide in his last start over this course and distance, but the manner in which he was gaining at the finish that day was eye-catching. He has a good record over this distance with three wins, a second and two third place finishes from eight outings. He should be mowing down the frontrunners in the run down to the wire.

Race 4
VITALOGY is one of the better bets on today’s card. He moved up well at the 400m mark in his last start and showed good determination to hold all challengers at bay. Javier Castellano who has been aboard the son of No Nay Never in his last two starts remains in the saddle and the pair may find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. SOUTH BEND has produced four decent efforts since winning his first three career starts. He is yet to win on the turf and in 2020, but the manner in which he is racing shows that those stats could change very soon. Regular pilot Julien Leparoux does duty and the pair should be right there at the finish.

Race 5 
UNCLE MOJO is the value bet on today’s card. He needed his first run after the gelding badly. That race was on turf and he never got into the race. He is a much better horse on the dirt with a record of two wins, four seconds and a third-place finish from twelve attempts. He should strip much fitter for today’s race and with Joel Rosario in the saddle, the pair could cause the upset. CHEWING GUM is lightly raced and has good form to his name. He too was in need of his last run and should strip much fitter today. If repeating his penultimate run when beating the field by 8.75 lengths, he should be the one to pose the biggest threat to the top selection.

Race 6
HARVEY WALLBANGER was an impressive winner of his last start when beating the rest of the field by 5.25 lengths. He came from tailed off last that day and the manner in which he finished off the race was eye-catching. If repeating that run in this type of field, another emphatic victory could be on the cards. YOU’RE TO BLAME was a tad disappointing in his last start at Belmont Park. He runs well on this course with a record of two wins and a third-place finish from as many outings. On best form shown, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 7 
LUCKY POLLY was far from disgraced in her last start when facing stronger company. She raced three wide that day and made steady progress up the straight. She has finished second on this course in the past and from pole position with Javier Castellano taking the ride, she should be the one they all have to beat. CHEERMEISTER has been given a driving finish to win her last two starts on this course. She is unbeaten from two attempts over this distance and with regular pilot Emisael Jaramillo in the saddle, she looks to pose a huge threat to the to top choice. ONYX has won her last three starts well. She does face her toughest thus far, but she does look to have some class about her and cannot be ignored under Luis Saez.

Race 8
VEKOMA is a three-time winning son of Candy Ride. He raced four wide in the Kentucky Derby last time and understandably did not find a finish up the straight. He has not raced since that race and takes a big drop-in class on his return. If not in need of this run, he should take a power of beating. JACKSON is a six-time winner from sixteen outings. Despite excuses in the early stages of his last start, he manged to get to the finishing post in front under a driving ride. If may be a tough task to beat the top selection at the weights, but he should be right there in the run down to the wire.

Race 9
ZOFELLE did not have much luck in her last start. She was bumped in the early stages of the race and raced wide around the turn. She won three races on the trot prior to that and on those efforts, should be in with a big shout here. It is a big plus that she is drawn in pole position and that she gets the services of top jockey Joel Rosario. NEWSPAPEROFRECORD was considered good enough to contest in the Group 1 Belmont Oaks last time out. She raced three wide that day and understandably emptied out in the straight. She takes a drop back in class this afternoon and on best form shown, she should be right there at the business end.

Race 10
MEAN MARY was ultra-impressive when winning a Group 3 event in her last start under today’s pilot Luis Saez. The daughter of Scat Daddy set the pace that day and found extra in the straight to put five lengths between herself and the second placed finisher. She is unbeaten from two attempts on this course and should keep that record in tact this afternoon. GENTLE RULER was also a winner of a Group 3 event in her last start. She is having her first run on this course and if all has gone well with her travels, she should be the one to pose the biggest threat to the top selection. Jockey Chris Landeros knows her well and the pair merit healthy respect

Race 11
This is the Group 2 Gulfstream Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 1700m. SPICE IS NICE is the narrow first selection under jockey Javier Castellano. She was ultra-impressive when winning on debut by twelve lengths. She followed that up with a nice run when finishing runner-up in a Group 2 event. She is obviously a filly who has some class about her and should contest the finish in a field of this nature. LAKE AVENUE needed her last start after winning a Group 2 event in her penultimate race in December. She should strip much fitter for today’s race and if all has gone well with her travels, she should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 12
Another Group 2 event on the card is the Kitten’s Joy Pan American Stakes. ZULU ALPHA is the best bet on today’s programme. He was super-impressive when winning a Group 1 race in his penultimate start and followed that up with another victory, this time in a Group 2 contest. He loves racing on this course and his record shows as he has won four times from five attempts. In this type of field, he has a good chance of notching three Graded race wins on the trot. Last year’s winner of this race, FOCUS GROUP looks to have a bright chance of retaining his title. He has not raced since October last year, but he has had a good few breeze ups leading into this race. It is encouraging that he gets the services of Luis Saez who is riding at the top of his game at the moment. If not in need of the run, he should be right there in the run down to the wire.

Race 13
EL TORMENTA was not disgraced when racing in the Group 1 Breeders Cup Mile last time. He won a Group 1 event in his penultimate start and takes a drop to Grade 3 company on his return. His record over today’s distance is good with two wins and a second-place finish from four starts. He makes his course debut this afternoon and if all has gone well with his travels, he may be tough to beat. SOMBEYAY got his consistency rewarded last time when winning a Group 3 event over this course and distance. Luis Saez who has ridden some good races on this son of Into Mischief in the past, steps back into the saddle and the pair cannot be ignored. He is having his peak run this afternoon and should be cherry-ripe.

Race 14
The main race on the day is the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby. This is a competitive contest to close off the meeting and the narrow first choice goes to INDEPENDENCE HALL from the Michael Trombetta stable. He was a tad disappointing in a Grade 3 contest last time after winning his first three career outings. He does take a step up in class today, but he has had the perfect prep coming into the race. Joel Rosario knows what it’s like to win a Grade 1 and it is encouraging that he will be doing duty aboard the son of Constitution. TIZ THE LAW is likely to start favourite in this contest. He is a three-time winner from just the four starts. He won his prep race coming into this race and merits healthy respect. The slight concern for this 3yr old colt is that he tends to lug in up the straight and if in a fight out to the finish, it could end up costing him the victory.