Gulfstream Park: Stakes selections and plays for March 19

Racing at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

March 18th, 2022

A trio of black-type dashes will highlight a fine day of racing at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Race 6 – Any Limit S.

A six-pack of sophomore fillies will sprint six panels on the dirt in the first stakes test. #5 Spirit Wind (2-1) graduated by an eye-popping 15 lengths on the surface in her second career try for conditioner Ralph Nicks. The Bahamian Squall filly showed little rust off the long layoff in that tour de force, coming home in a swift final time under a hand ride, and she looks too tough for those with anything resembling that performance. She will be a single on all of my tickets.

Wager:

$50 Win #5 Spirit Wind ($50)

Race 10 – Silks Run S.

A total of 10 boys will dash five-eighths on the turf in a good betting event. I am not sure if #10 Old Chestnut (8-1) will get up in time, but the Mark Casse pupil can be a very good late runner on his best day and warrants a play at his morning-line price. The Speightstown five-year-old will race as a gelding for the initial time, and if the early pace is hot and contested, then I could envision the Florida-bred to be moving into a threatening position inside the final furlong. Luis Saez riding adds to his appeal.

#3 Arrest Me Red (5-2) has won three stakes races in succession since joining Wesley Ward, and the four-year-old colt is 5-for-5 in turf sprints, overall. He looms large with anything close to his best.

Wagers:

$8 win/place/show #10 Old Chestnut ($24)
$1 trifecta 3,10 with 3,10 with all ($16)

Race 11 – Hutcheson S.

Seven three-year-olds will go postward in the six-furlong dirt dash. #2 American Sanctuary (9-2) had a very productive two-year-old campaign that included two stakes runner-up finishes, as well as a fourth-place result in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The Kentucky-bred bay has been working well in advance of his sophomore bow, and he figures to be a menacing foe late if he can stay in touch early on in the heat. Jose Ortiz taking the reins adds a level of confidence to my selection.

#4 Nitrous Channel (7-5) and #5 Provocateur (3-1) both make sense in the dash, as well.