International Racing: Sunday 12 April 2020 – Gulfstream Park

The Winning Form Team brings you their preview for tomorrow’s nine-race meeting at Gulfstream Park. 

Best Bet: VICTORY TOWN (Race 3)
Value Bet: BION MAGIC (Race 9)

Race 1 – 18:00 – 1600m 
GRIMPANTE looks the one to follow in the opening race on the program. The daughter of Empire Maker boxed on well in that debut effort when drawn wide and from a much-improved draw this time, she should be progressive enough to win this. COUPLE OF NIKKIS has had the 6 starts already and she has gone close on more than one occasion. From a plum draw, she should be involved in the finish. SUBTLE JOY has also been involved in a few late tussles in her 8 career outings. She may have just needed that last start, but she’ll be cherry ripe for this.

Race 2 – 18:29 – 1200m
After winning three starts back, FOLLOWHISFOOTSTEPS has followed up impressively in his last two starts when overcoming tricky barriers and stepping up to this trip. The son of Field Commission lands a much-improved draw here and he looks tough to beat this time, with Luis Saez in the irons. LUCKYTOBEINAMERICA steps up to the 1200m and he should relish the extra furlong after appearing to be outpaced over the 1000m in recent times. Tyler Gaffalione should be able to get the most out of him and he must be included.

Race 3 – 18:58 – 1200m
VICTORY TOWN gave a good account of himself when finishing third last time out, after a 4-month absence. The 3-year old son of Speightstown retains the services of Tyler Gaffalione for this follow up attempt, and with the expected progression to come, he should be tough to beat this time. WHISKEY SUNRISE was just edged out late on in that debut run when showing plenty of speed over the 900m. He returns as a gelding for his second start, after a year-long absence but on what he has shown in his breeze ups he should be in good enough shape to win a race like this one.

Race 4 – 19:27 – 1200m
PILOT EPISODE showed good improvement last time out when chasing home the eventual winner. That was just her second outing and she should have the natural progression to come. Emisael Jaramillo is in useful form and he takes the ride this time. If showing the early speed that she has displayed in both of her starts to date, she should relish this slightly shorter trip and just about win this. BERNIE’S MISTRESS went well in that debut run when pressing hard and making some late headway. The 4-year old daughter of Bernardini should have plenty of improvement to come and she must be included here. SARATOGA AFFAIR and SIXTH STREET should be worth including in wider perms.

Race 5 – 19:56 – 1000m
BLUE MAGIC was a bit of a hard-luck story last time out when being forced out wide. She did well to find the second box after rallying late but will be out to go one better this time around. From a useful draw, Luis Saez takes the mount and with that impressive record over this trip in mind, she will be tough to oppose. FIBER OPTIC has returned to racing with some impressive form having won his last two starts after a 7 months absence. He remains unbeaten over this course and distance from his three attempts here and if finding a relatively handy early position once again, he could be tough to peg back in the closing stages.

Race 6 – 20:25 – 1600m
The 6th race takes us through the halfway mark of the meeting and its PRIMACY who should find the winners enclosure. The daughter of Union Rags finished with a wet sail in that debut run when finishing 2nd over the 1300m and she should relish this step up to the mile here. Tyler Gaffalione does duty for Chad Brown and she should be one of the better bets on the card. PRAIRIE WINGS was another impressive debutante last time out when running on over the 1300m. Being out of a Saddlers Wells mare, she will be looking for the extra ground and with another late surge she will be fighting out the finish. MYLASTFIRSTKISS has placed in her last four starts, twice over this trip. She is well overdue a win and despite not having as much scope for improvement as the top two selections, she deserves plenty of respect.

Race 7 – 20:57 – 1200m
COMBINATION pulled off the hat-trick last time out, making it an unbeaten run of victories since the start of the year. The son of Alternation now lines up against a field where he should be the leading contender for top honours once again and from a plum draw, he looks tough to look past. RAY’SWARRIOR finished behind the top selection last time out when finding himself caught out wide in the final bend. With a bit more luck in running, he has the course and distance record to fight this out. PANGO is another obvious inclusion in a relatively open race. Despite contesting over further in his last three starts, he has a decent record over this trip and with Miguel Vasquez up he must be included. 

Race 8 – 21:28 – 1700m
BOSS LIFE showed the expected improvement when stepping up to the mile last time out, in just his second start. He seemed to enjoy setting the fractions and stayed on strongly for 2nd in the closing stages. The extra 100m should suit and he looks a major threat with more improvement to come. BUDGET BUSTER finished second in his only attempt over this trip. He has since returned as a gelding and clearly needed both outings over the mile. He has his peak run now and the 3-year old son of Paynter should be one to the leading contenders at the business end.

Race 9 – 21:59 – 1200m 
BION MAGIC has been impressive in both of her starts so far and with the speed she has shown on both occasions, she should relish this slightly shorter trip. Tyler Gaffalione jumps aboard and the 3-year old daughter of Biondetti should be a big runner with the WFA allowance. MERSEYSIDE gave a solid account of herself when stepping up to this trip, after winning her penultimate start over 1000m. With this being just her 5th outing, she has plenty of scope for further improvement and must be a massive contender at these conditions. SHE’S ALL WOMAN is an ultra-consistent performer and with her record of a win and three 2nds from 7 starts over this trip, she must be considered.

Race 10 – 22:30 – 1600m 
MACHIAVELLI seems to be a progressive sort and he seems to be going the right way, since returning from his gelding in early January. Zayas retains the ride on the son of Sky Mesa and if utilizing his turn of foot, he should go very close to winning this. DEVOTED KITTEN has a useful record in his seven career starts, having picked up the two wins and two seconds so far. Since the gelding after his modest debut, he seems to be on the right trajectory and with scope for more improvement, he must be considered. SIRE SEASUS and SOUPER COURAGE both won their last starts and seem to be distance suited. They have useful pilots engaged in the form of Tyler Gaffalione and Emisael Jaramillo respectively and look worthy inclusions for wider permutations.

Race 11 – 23:01 – 1200m
FLAT AWESOME JENNY was slow away last time out over this course and distance when attempting her 4th victory in a row. She has won three times from her eight outings over this trip and five of those runs have been at this course. From a plum draw, she’s a definite inclusion. MS MESHAK is another smart contender over this trip, having won 50% of her 6 attempts. On her penultimate start, she looks a big runner. Both of NAKED AVENGER and GUACAMOLE have the form to feature prominently and must be considered.

Race 12 – 23:32 – 1600m
KEEPSAKEKITTEN steps up in class but has done very little wrong so far, having won three from five career starts. All of those wins have come over this trip and she still has plenty more to come. With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, she looks an obvious inclusion. IM MORE READY has his peak run after gelding and had excuses in his last start when finding interference at numerous stages of the race. With a clear passage this time, he should be a huge player in the final phase of this test. BLAZING DESIRE has certainly come of age since his gelding in September and with Luis Saez up on the inform son of Munnings, he merits respect.