BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: June 24, Gulfstream Park

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Wednesday, June 24

Gulfstream Park, Race 2: Maiden special weight (5 furlongs, 12:30 a.m. ET)

Here’s a stat you’ll find impressive. Over the last five years, trainer Todd Pletcher has gone 13-for-24 (54%) with 2-year-olds who debut before the end of June at Gulfstream Park.

It’s an extraordinary record of early season dominance, so how can we possibly oppose Pletcher’s #3 Son of a Beast (5-2 on the morning line) in Wednesday’s 5-furlong dash for Florida-bred juveniles?

Sired by Grade 1-winning sprinter The Big Beast, Son of a Beast was produced by the Andiron mare Twocatsintheyard, who matured early enough to break her maiden as a 2-year-old.

The Big Beast is off to a hot start at stud. He has sired 29% debut winners, and Pletcher has enlisted jockey Edgard Zayas to ride. Pletcher and Zayas have gone 3-for-8 (37%) together over the last two weeks, and one of those wins came with a Florida-bred juvenile first-time starter.

With all these factors in Son of a Beast’s favor, I don’t see any reason to get creative. Let’s just place a large win bet on the favorite and hope his morning-line odds hold up.

$30 to win on #3 Son of a Beast

Good luck!