Gulfstream Park: Horse racing pick of the day for Dec. 16

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Wednesday, Dec. 16

Gulfstream Park, Race 9: Allowance/optional claiming (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 4:39 p.m. ET)

#4 Social Paranoia (2-1 on the morning line) is an obvious choice in his return to racing from a 5 1/2-month break.

Victorious in Belmont Park’s 1-mile Poker (G3) last time out, Social Paranoia boasts two wins from three starts over the Gulfstream turf course, highlighted by a triumph in the March 28 Appleton (G3), when he returned from a 6 1/2-month break.

With hot jockey Irad Ortiz in the saddle for Gulfstream’s perennial leading trainer Todd Pletcher, Social Paranoia can fight for victory at a short price.

But he made need his "A" game to beat #1 Olympic Runner (4-1), a Mark Casse trainee who faced tough company at Woodbine throughout the summer and fall. Fourth in the Woodbine Mile (G1) three starts back, this talented deep closer has the potential to work out a ground-saving trip after a break from the rail.

Let’s box Social Paranoia and Olympic Runner in the exacta. If they run 1-2 in either order, we’ll enjoy a nice payday.

$10 exacta box: 1,4 ($20)

Good luck!