Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Other international tips for Friday:
Gold Coast
Cranbourne
Albany
Coffs Harbour
Neil Morrice Tips
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 2: No5 – BREAKTHROUGH
Trainer: Wesley Ward – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
While the two with racing experience in this juvenile maiden have shown a glimmer of ability it’s heavy odds-on that the winner will be a newcomer, and the one to be on is BREAKTHROUGH. The son of much sought after stallion Nyquist has done everything right in his prep and should set himself up for better things ahead with a debut delivery for top connections. Prisoner has been similarly pleasing in his workouts, and goes in, while Carson City Kid could be a lively outsider and a horse worth watching in the market.
Prediction: 5-7-1
Race 6 (Maiden Claiming): No6 – BARDOT
Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Jockey: Luis Saez
If BARDOT can repeat the level of form she displayed when second of 12 on her debut over track and a slightly longer trip last month, she’s going to be very hard to beat. A daughter of Candy Ride out of a Medaglia d’Oro mare, she shaped with abundant promise and should be fully tuned for a contest that shouldn’t take too much winning. At a big price, Harmonic Thunder could help ramp up the exacta, while more obvious is Granny Bradley, who will strip fitter for her last earned run.
Prediction: 6-7-1
Race 8 (Starter Optional Claiming): No11 – ARITHMETIC
Trainer: Christophe Clement- Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Several can win this and the main protagonists are drawn right across the map. ARITHMETIC defends a one race unbeaten record with two live wires, Maserati Man and Blood Moon, outside him. He probably surprised his connections when scoring on debut here back in March as he was quiet in the betting, but that should have served to pave the way forward for him. Masterati Man and Blood Moon both went close on second starts back and will figure to be cherry ripe now, while Rhythm Section is an equally promising candidate from the Pletcher barn. The call is Arithmetic because he is going to offer up value.
Prediction: 11-5-14
Race 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No11 – KITTEN’S COVERGIRL
Trainer: Jose Gallegos – Jockey: Luis Saez
Having skipped a good opportunity last month, KITTEN’S COVERGIRL returns from a 51-day absence and breaks from the outside post in this big field of distaffers. She’s all about consistency, is proven at this level, and deserves to put one on the board on what will be her third outing of the year. She may need to find racing real estate from the 11th slot, but if doing so can swoop to conquer. Lady Grace is afforded respect as she bids to complete what would be a fine hat-trick, but the main threat may stem from Dixieincandyland, who landed some good bets in an allowance over track and trip.
Prediction: 11-7-5
Tampa Bay Downs Best Bets
Race 2 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No3 – LIBERATE
Trainer: Timothy Hamm – Jockey: Angel Suarez
This can go to the Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes winner of last year, LIBERATE. The gelding took out that Thistledown contest before a further win at Mahoning Valley, and is a winner of four of his five starts with plenty to recommend on first start in FLA. To win he needs to blunt the impressive unbeaten sequence of The Goddess Lyssa, all of whose form is at Tampa where this year she’s been outstandingly progressive. He’s Smokin Now enjoys similar knowledge of the sprint track here and figures to rate at a bigger price.
Prediction: 3-4-6
Race 6 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No5 – TOWN CLASSIC
Trainer: Gerald Bennett – Jockey: Daniel Centeno
I’m A G Six is a winner of three of his last four and on a hat-trick, but TOWN CLASSIC can spoil the party. Since his arrival before Christmas, the selection has consistently shown himself to be effective at this level and is now ready to repeat his win in early February. His three runs for Bennett have yielded two seconds and a costly fourth, that last reverse coming when he was backed in to odds-on. His mission now is to show that the losses were just lent. Navy Armed Guard is the other one that pops out as a contender, as he’s bagged two of these from his last four outings.
Prediction: 5-7-2
Race 9 (Maiden Special Weight): No2 – U S DELTA FORCE
Trainer: Shug McGaughey – Jockey: Pablo Morales
In first time blinkers U S DELTA FORCE couldn’t quite live up to the market confidence that saw him start a warm favourite for a maiden last month. The grey nevertheless showed ability to make a frame finish behind Gravitas and time may show there was no disgrace in the defeat. He enjoys a good post today and could see off the almost certain market leader Idle Time, who chased home another from the McGaughey barn in North Dakota at the end of March. That form looks powerful based on what North Dakota has achieved subsequently.
Prediction: 2-7-4
