BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: May 8, Gulfstream Park

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Friday, May 8

Gulfstream Park, Race 8: $50,000 optional claiming (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 4:48 ET)

A pair of well-bred Todd Pletcher trainees take on a competitive field. Out of the two, I’m picking #5 Rhythm Section, a son of American Pharoah.

His two starts have both been on the Gulfstream turf. The gray colt lost his debut by a neck going a mile and returned to win by a nose at 1 1/16 miles. Jockey Luis Saez, who is winning at 20% and currently tops the Gulfstream standings, piloted Rhythm Section in both races and will stay in the irons.

We’ll bet Rhythm Section to win and play him in an exacta box, with stablemate #1 Mandate. This son of Blame, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., won his last race by three lengths and earned the same Brisnet speed figure as Rhythm Section’s latest performance. We’ll also include #11 Arithmetic, trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who won his debut in March by a neck.

$5 to win on #5 Rhythm Section
$2 exacta box: 1, 5, 11 ($12)