BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: May 14, Gulfstream

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Thursday, May 14

Gulfstream Park, Race 3: $25,000 Claiming (5 furlongs on turf, 2:07 p.m. ET)

#7 Sea Lover (4-1 on the morning line) has an abundance of tactical speed, which is so often an asset in 5-furlong grass sprints at Gulfstream. The son of Midshipman is also undefeated in two starts and might have upside for trainer Timothy Hamm.

Sea Lover showed promise in his debut, in a 6-furlong sprint on dirt at Tampa Bay Downs. In for a $25,000 claiming tag, Sea Lover vied for the early lead through quick fractions of :22.18 and :45.30, then kicked away to beat next-out winner Lanse Mitan by five lengths.

Sea Lover arguably ran even better when he switched to turf for a 5-furlong optional-claiming allowance at Tampa, where he pressed a :21.26 quarter before and stemmed off a late challenge to prevail in :56.36.

Sea Lover’s two victories produced Brisnet Speed ratings of 80 and 95, and the latter ranks by far the best in Thursday’s field. A clean, pressing trip should be in the offing from post 7, so we’ll bet Sea Lover to win and box him in the exacta with #10 Bahamian Prince (2-1), who drops in class after a second-place finish in a turf allowance sprint at Gulfstream.

$15 to win on #7 Sea Lover
$10 exacta: 10 with 7
$5 exacta: 7 with 10

Good luck!