Betting trifectas in the Gulfstream Park Sprint and Turf Sprint

Sprinters will take center stage at Gulfstream Park on Saturday for a pair of graded stakes on dirt and turf.

With two formidable favorites in the entries, exotic wagers will be the key to generating appealing return on investment. Let’s take $50 and assemble trifecta tickets in search of big payoffs:

Race 6: Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3, five furlongs on turf, 2:34 p.m. ET)

It’s mighty hard to look past #6 Leinster, who towers over his rivals from a class and Brisnet Speed rating perspective. The talented six-year-old exits a third-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), which followed gritty victories against tough competition in the Woodford (G2) and Shakertown (G2).

If Leinster produces anything close to his "A" game at Gulfstream, the rest are running for second place.

We’ll key Leinster on top of our trifecta and emphasize #2 High Crime and #3 Harry’s Ontheloose underneath.

$4 trifecta: 6 with 2,3 with 1,2,3,7 ($24)

Race 11: Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3, six furlongs, 5:16 p.m. ET)

It is difficult to picture anyone topping #5 Mischevious Alex in the race to the winner’s circle.

The speedy son of Into Mischief is undefeated in two starts at Gulfstream. He dominated the Swale (G3) last winter, then returned from a layoff to win a six-furlong, optional-claiming allowance sprint Jan. 10.

The latter effort saw Mischevious Alex score by 3 3/4 lengths, with a career-best 102 Brisnet Speed rating, one of the highest figures in Saturday’s field.

Mischevious Alex is versatile in terms of running style, so no matter how the Gulfstream Park Sprint unfolds, he should work out a good trip. Hot jockey Irad Ortiz maintains the mount for trainer Saffie Joseph, and considering they’ve gone 6-for-15 (40%) together over the last two months, we have to view Mischevious Alex as the horse to beat.

Underneath, let’s take a shot and key #3 Admiral Lynch, who finished a distant third behind Mischevious Alex on Jan. 10. The son of Super Saver was claimed out of that effort by trainer Victor Barboza, who strikes at a 47% rate with new claiming acquisitions.

Admiral Lynch’s first workout under Barboza’s care was a bullet five furlongs in :59 3/5, so I’m optimistic Admiral Lynch will take a step forward in the Gulfstream Park Sprint.

$3 trifecta: 5 with 3 with 1,2,6,7 ($12)
$3 trifecta: 5 with 1,2,6,7 with 3 ($12)
Total: $24

Good luck!