Gulfstream Park Stakes Selections for Tropical Turf, Marshua's River

Two graded stakes races on the lawn will highlight a fine Saturday card at Gulfstream Park. The boys will contest the $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3), while fillies and mares will vie in the $150,000 Marshua's River (G3).

Tropical Turf Analysis

A field of 10 will travel a mile in the very competitive turf test. The pace of the race promises to be a swift one at the very least, with #3 Gidu (7-2), #6 Tusk (8-1), #7 Gemonteer (10-1), and #8 A Thread of Blue (5-2) all being front-running types.

I think that Gidu is the speed of the speed and that he will be very tough when the other pace players give him the edge early over a course that is ideal for his running style. Son of Frankel has a lot of upset appeal to me.

Stakes winner #1 Empire of War (10-1) draws well along the rail with Castellano in the controls. The Declaration of War colt could be sitting on a big one in just his second outing since July.

Millionaire A Thread of Blue is the class of the field for Kiaran McLaughlin. Hard Spun colt is a perfect 3-for-3 at Gulfstream and has proven to be capable of winning from just off the early tempo. He is a must-use under Saez.

#9 Exulting (6-1) might own the best turn of foot in the field for Maker, who is well represented in this race. Tapit gelding is winless from five career turf performances, but his fifth-place finish in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) most recently was encouraging. Kentucky-bred is an exotics threat with Irad Ortiz Jr. picking up the mount.

Tropical Turf Wagers

$10 Win and Place: #4 Gidu ($20)
$5 Trifecta: 4,8 with 4,8 with 1,9 ($20)
 

Marshua's River Analysis

A solid cast of fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles on the green in the affair, and I think that #4 Sweet Bye and Bye (5-2) rates a huge chance for Steve Klesaris. Stakes-winning mare by Sky Mesa has very good current form, and the 5-year-old has some early speed in a field lacking pace as well. Pennsylvania-bred seems poised for her first graded victory with Saez picking up the mount.

The ever-consistent #7 Munchkin Money (7-2) draws outside in the affair for Christophe Clement. Freud mare closed to be a solid third in the My Charmer S. on this lawn last time, and she did so while facing an arguably better field. Tyler Gaffalione has the assignment.

The accomplished #5 Andina Del Sur (2-1) has hit the board in four of her five previous tries on the Gulfstream sod. Giant's Causeway mare was a smart victress of the Forever Together S. at Aqueduct in her most recent appearance, and she is an obvious contender right back.

Chad Brown can never be ignored in turf stakes races and he will saddle the lightly raced #3 Magic Star (9-2). $500,000 Scat Daddy filly was a superb debut winner on the Saratoga turf in the summer, and she is training forwardly in preparation of her first run since October. The aggressive placement tells me that she is thriving in the mornings leading up to her stakes debut.

Marshua's River Wagers

$5 Trifecta Key: 4 with 3,5,7 = ($30)
$2 Superfecta Key: 4 with 3,5,7 = ($12)