Analyzing Super High 5 carryovers at Gulfstream, Louisiana Downs

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a pair of non-jackpot Super High 5 carryovers at Gulfstream Park and Louisiana Downs.

Gulfstream Park, Race 1: $3,963 Super High 5 carryover (12:50 p.m. ET)

If you want to win a share of the $3,963 carryover available to chase in the $1 Super High 5 at Gulfstream, you’ll have to decipher Race 1, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds racing 1 1/16 miles on turf.

The horse to build tickets around is surely #2 King d’Oro (5-2). While definitely not a winning machine (he’s 0-for-6 lifetime), King d’Oro has run well in three starts over this turf course and class level, finishing second, fourth, and second. Those efforts produced sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 82, 81, and 84, the latter number earned when rallying to finish less than a length away from victory on April 29.

King d’Oro is a logical choice to play on top, but if you want to throw a longshot into the mix for good measure, check out #6 Right Karma (12-1). He hasn’t finished within a dozen lengths of victory in either of his first two starts, but those were tough maiden special weights on dirt won by Peter Pan (G3) runner-up Bishops Bay and Lexington (G3) winner First Mission.

Right Karma’s pedigree offers some potential for success on turf, so it’s possible switching surfaces and catching a seemingly easier field will trigger a competitive showing.

Louisiana Downs, Race 8: $4,568 Super High 5 carryover (6:21 p.m. ET)

The $4,568 carryover up for grabs in the 50-cent Super High 5 at Louisiana Downs is available to play in Race 8, an allowance for fillies and mares. The one-mile turf test has drawn a field of 10.

If you want to include a live longshot—and maybe even play that longshot on top—we recommend checking out #1 Savvy Shipman (10-1). The eight-year-old mare has been in winning form recently, sandwiching victories in a $5,000 claimer at Delta Downs and a $5,000 starter allowance at Evangeline Downs around a sixth-place finish in Delta’s LA Bred Premier Ladies Starter S.

Savvy Shipman has been competing on dirt as of late, but she boasts a respectable 20-4-2-3 lifetime record on grass. In her most recent turf start, Savvy Shipman finished fourth in a $20,000 claimer at Evangeline Downs. Hot apprentice jockey Elio Barrera (who rides with a five-pound weight allowance) is named to ride, and it’s worth noting Barrera has gone 4-for-11 (36%) teaming up with trainer Juan Larrosa over the last two months.

In short, Savvy Shipman appears poised for a peak performance while returning to turf. Sunday’s field hasn’t come up overly deep, so an A-game performance from Savvy Shipman may be sufficient to land in the winner’s circle.

Good luck!