Exotics Plays for the 2023 Hurricane Bertie Stakes

A compact field of six will go postward in Saturday’s $125,000 Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dirt dash is led by the Bill Mott-conditioned #4 Frank’s Rockette (4-5), who was last seen concluding 2022 with a 12-length waltz in the Sugar Swirl (G3) on the surface.

The six-year-old daughter of Into Mischief has won or placed in a fantastic 22 of her 25 lifetime efforts to date, and she likes Gulfstream as well, evidenced by her 3-2-1-0 mark on the surface. Kentucky-bred mare often runs well from off the shelf and she comes in with some solid morning moves in advance of this heat.

Frank’s Rockette doesn’t need the lead in order to win, but when she does clear early on, the classy miss is even more difficult to overcome as she showed in her most recent run. I will key the morning-line choice on top with Junior Alvarado taking the reins.

I’ll use two horses underneath the leading choice, including #6 R Adios Jersey (8-1) for trainer Gerald Bennett. By Adios Charlie, the Florida-bred is not especially consistent as of late, but the mare is a three-time winner on the oval and looks like the speed of the race, as well. Bay mare chased a lone leader to late stretch before finishing fourth in the Inside Information (G2) here last time out, and she figures to receive a better trip on the front end against this field. The upset threat received a nice post on the outside of the small cast and will be in the clear throughout with Leo Reyes in the controls.

#1 Diamond Wow (8-1) possesses a fine turn of foot and comes off a fine allowance victory on the course, when the four-year-old powered home to win in going-away fashion at the same distance as this tussle. Trained by Patrick Biancone, the Lookin at Lucky filly gets a fine draw on the inside to save ground throughout, and the Kentucky-bred could be moving best of all inside the final furlong to earn a placing at a nice price. Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the stirrups.

Hurricane Bertie Exotics Wagers

• $12 exacta 4 with 1,6 ($24)
• $10 trifecta key 4 with 1,6 ($20)
• $2 superfecta 4 with 1,6 with 1,6 with all $12)