Weekend Winners Club

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Saturday, June 29. Gulfstream Park has what used to be a huge race day highlighted by the Smile Sprint G3 and the Princess Rooney G2, which is now a Breeders Cup Challenge Race. On the undercard are the Carry Back Stakes, a former G2 race now worth 75k, the Azalea Stakes also 75k, and a 75k Turf Sprint.
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The $250k former Grade 1 Princess Rooney is offering a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November. However, it is only attracting 7 runners this year, most likely because most are not brave enough to compete with the defending champion, 5yo mare Stormy Embrace at 4-5 morning line.
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Stormy Embrace had her best career performance winning this race last year and is coming off a ten length win in a stakes race here last month. Her only finish worse than 3rd in her last 10 was in the BCFMS in a performance that was not very characteristic for her on a fast track.
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Razorback Lady at 8-1 ML will set the pace and try to hold on to the lead, but last time couldn’t hold off Trenchtown Cat at 6-1 ML, who looked great in her first dirt race. It’s unclear to me exactly why Saguro Row is the 2nd ML choice at 5-2, but I won’t be counting on her to win.
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Keep an eye on the 5yo mare Royal Asscher at 12-1, who looks to be in great form after winning her last 2 optional claiming races by 7 lengths each at a mile. Cutting a furlong off that distance could be just what she needs to compete in this G2. He also has top EP in the Grid. Long shot special alert.
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The next race will be the Smile Sprint G3 for the boys and the competition looks a lot more even, but the 6 not named Jalen Journey will have a tough time getting by the ML favorite. The gelding hasn’t let anyone by in his last 3 of 4 career starts but this will be his first stakes contest. The other 6 are all stakes winners.
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The Carry Back for 3yo’s features ML fav Well Defined, who looked like he was paving a path to the Kentucky Derby earlier this year with a Sam F Davis stakes win but was flat in the Tampa Bay Derby. Since then has taken 3 months off and should be tough to beat. Jackson will be the prime challenger.
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The most exciting race to me is the MSW for 2yo’s going 5.5f for a 52,500 purse. Favorite Genghis has had 2 almost identical and excellent races in which he lost less than 1 length combined. Those were for 65k purses so the class drop could be just what he needs. The winner could make the AFH top 100.
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2nd choice Chance It comes off 2nd by a length in a race just like this one 4 weeks ago. The 2 longest ML shots have also the best situational trainer stat aggregates according to the Grid. Daniel Pita will try to turn over another big long shot with Mr. Impressive. Beinfun trainer Becker also has good win and ITM percentages. Long shot specials alert.
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We are not going break down every race, but this little analysis should get you started. There are 14 races and over 100 runners after early scratches. Use The Grid provided free here to make your picks on all the Gulfstream Park races today. You’re welcome.
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