Gulfstream Park: Claiming Crown spot plays for Dec. 4

A total of nine Claiming Crown races will headline a blockbuster card at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The day that features blue-collar runners offers total purses of more than $800,000, and a bevy of competitive betting events, as well.

Race 4 -- Distaff Dash

An overflow field of 14 is entered for the five-furlong grassy tilt. #6 Beantown Baby sports a 10-6-2-2 lifetime line on the green and is a must-use for Delacour. Artie Schiller five-year-old has never run on the Gulfstream carpet, but she is versatile and comes in fresh with solid morning moves of late. Sanchez will be up.

Race 6 -- Tiara

The affair for fillies and mares will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the sod. I love the current form of Mike Maker’s #9 Whimsical Muse and will tab her for success in the tilt. Oxbow mare has been first or second in three straight, and the five-year-old has also finished runner-up in both career attempts at the distance. Kentucky-bred has looked good since stretching out from sprint affairs.

Race 9 -- Rapid Transit

Seven-furlong contest attracted 11 in a well-matched field. #8 Miles Ahead took the Smile Sprint (G3) on the surface in July and is clearly the one to beat for Kelly Breen. The four-year-old gelding is a seven-time winner at Gulfstream Park, and he put in a very good prep for this race last time out.

Elizabeth Dobles’ #5 Pudding has faced some solid foes this season and looks like a great fit in the field to me. The six-year-old gelding has won or placed in 20 of 29 lifetime performances, with a 7-3-1-1 local line among those outings. Stalker will be well positioned at the top of the stretch at a decent price beneath Reyes.

Race 10 -- Jewel

The $125,000 feature boasts a fine field of 10 in a good rendition of the event. #3 Girolamo’s Attack has taken his last three races on the surface, all in sharp fashion, and he has never been better leading up to Saturday. Saffie Joseph pupil received a nice post slot to save ground while forwardly placed throughout the nine-furlong test. Edgard Zayas has the assignment.