How to bet with, and against, L'Imperator in the Fort Lauderdale S.

An overflow field has been entered to contest Saturday’s grassy $200,000 Fort Lauderdale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. #2 L’Imperator (5-2), one of two in the cast for conditioner Chad Brown, is the morning line choice in the well-matched field. A multiple stakes hero in his native France, the four-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor has run some big races since arriving to the states, including a dominant allowance triumph at Aqueduct last time out.

The gelding is 2-for-4 this campaign, with a placing in the Bernard Baruch S. (G2) at Saratoga in the summer. He is a winner at the distance and possesses, arguably, the best turn of foot in this spot with John Velazquez riding. If the bay gets smooth sailing throughout, he will be very tough inside the final furlong.

Barclay Tagg’s #1 Doswell (6-1) was a sharp runner-up in the event last season and comes in with a similar profile making his third run off a long absence. The lightly-raced six-year-old owns good early foot, a fine rail post, and has hit the board in each of his three lifetime efforts on the local lawn. Kentucky-bred gelding will be a major factor if he runs to his most recent morning move, which was a rapid bullet half-mile on the green. Junior Alvarado has the call.

#8 Analyze It (4-1), the other contender from the Brown shedrow, has raced his way back into shape after a very long break following his third in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The speedy sort is a bit of a question mark at nine panels, but I feel the Gulfstream course is ideal for him to get the trip as a top three must-use. Point of Entry six-year-old will have Rafael Hernandez in the stirrups while forwardly placed throughout.

Both #3 Breaking the Rules (3-1) and #12 Space Traveller (3-1) are similar in running style as deep closers in the field. I believe each of the duo is good enough on paper to win, though I tab them as exotics types in this event over a turf that generally hinders horses coming from far back.

L’Imperator – With

• 50-cent superfecta 2 with 1,3,8,12 with 1,3,8,12 with all ($49)

L’Imperator – Against

• $2 trifecta 1,8 with 1,2,3,8,12 with 1,2,3,8,12 ($48)