Gulfstream: Dirt stakes picks and plays for Mar. 5

March 4th, 2022

Three of the nine stakes events on the slate during a blockbuster day of racing at Gulfstream Park on Saturday will be contested on the main oval.

Race 6 – Davona Dale S. (G2)

Seven sophomore fillies will vie in a wildly competitive one-mile affair. #6 Cocktail Moments (5-1) makes her third lifetime start and seasonal debut for Kenny McPeek. By Uncle Mo, the $190,000 yearling purchase was a sharp debut winner at Churchill Downs when rallying from well off the pace to win by a commanding 9 1/4 lengths, which preceded her credible third-place finish in the subsequent Untapable S. at Fair Grounds in her juvenile finale. She could be set for a big three-year-old campaign.

Todd Pletcher’s unbeaten #2 Classy Edition (7-2) ran to her lofty $550,000 price tag at two with a trio of dominant tallies. The Classic Empire filly looms large with Irad Ortiz in the silks. And #4 Outfoxed (5-1) rides in on a three-race win streak for Bill Mott, including a late-running victory in the Gasparilla S. at Tampa Bay most recently. The expensive daughter of Valiant Minister will be doing her best work late under Tyler Gaffalione.

Wagers

$10 win and place #6 Cocktail Moments ($20)
$5 exacta key box 6 with 2, 4 ($20)

Race 10 – Gulfstream Park Mile S. (G2)

Nine will go postward in the one-mile contest, and the race appears to be very logical to me. #3 Speaker’s Corner (5-2) and #4 Fearless (3-1) ran one-two in the recent Fred W. Hooper S. (G3) on the surface, and I expect a replica of that result to occur in this spot. The former is long on talent, is lightly raced with room for improvement, and also has the speed to be in a great position from the break. Junior Alvarado retains the mount.

Fearless never runs a bad one, especially at Gulfstream where he dons a 6-4-2-0 local line. The Ghostzapper gelding will be a formidable foe from just off the early tempo.

Pegasus World Cup (G1) fourth #7 Endorsed (6-1) has the fitness and right profile to make a run in the lane to grab a minor award. Michael Maker's charge likes the surface and will appreciate the cutback in distance.

Wagers

$6 superfecta 3 with 4 with 7 with all ($24)
$3 superfecta 3 with 4 with all with 7 ($12)

Race 12 – Fountain of Youth S. (G2)

I fancy the chances of the up-and-coming #8 Emmanuel (9-2), and he will be the center of my wagering in the feature. #2 Simplification (7-2), #3 Howling Time (15-1), and #4 In Due Time (6-1), are the additional contenders that I will dabble with for the exotics in the especially deep cast.