Pick 4 of the Week: Gulfstream Park Saturday [March 1]

A total of four Pick 4 wagers are offered on the massive, 14-race card at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. I’ll take aim at the earliest of the options in hopes of padding my bankroll for later in the afternoon. 

Race 2 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 3,4,5,7 with 3,5,7 with 5,6 with 3,11 ($24)

Race 2 – Optional Claiming

A one-mile turf contest for the boys attracted an overflow cast of 16 in a challenging way to kickstart the play. #7 Rothschild competed in graded stakes races in six of his last seven appearances and will appreciate the class relief in this spot in his first run for Jimmy Toner. The Uncle Mo colt gets Lasix for the first time and will have Luis Saez in the stirrups. 

Roger Attfield’s #5 Mount Horeb split a nice pair when runner-up in a local allowance heat most recently and will only need minor improvement to take this race. The Hard Spun gelding comes in with a pair of bullet morning moves on the turf in succession and gets Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad Brown’s #3 Clever Mischief and Jose D’Angelo’s #4 Rotterdam also make the ticket. 

Race 3 – Optional Claiming

A talented group will travel seven-eighths on the main strip with a competitive cast of seven set to go postward. Todd Pletcher’s #3 Speak Easy will be popular at the windows in his 2025 debut. I’m not in love with the son of Constitution at expected short odds, but he’s training in swift fashion and did leave a fine impression of himself on the surface in his debut last campaign. Irad will be in the silks aboard the likely one to beat.

#5 Classify is one that I like for Saffie Joseph. The son of Adios Charlie has registered two good runs at the current meeting, and if Saez can have him forcing the tempo in a race lacking a lot of early speed, then he will be stubborn in the lane at a fair price. Canadian classic winner #7 Duke of Love hasn’t been seen since finishing fifth in the Jockey Club (G1) at Saratoga, and this distance is likely much shorter than his ideal voyage, but I can’t dismiss the accomplished son of Cupid in this spot. 

Race 4 – Herecomesthebride S. (G3)

A total of 10 sophomore fillies will vie in the one-mile turf affair. While I feel that numerous contenders can come out on top in the affair, using the two most logical runners I see gives me confidence of advancing to the closing race. Sweetest Chant S. romper #5 Vixen rates a huge chance with her best showing under John Velazquez. The Vekoma filly makes her second appearance since a decent try in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and will be the one to run down late. 

Godolphin homebred #6 Civetta is a stakes heroine on the course who will have blinkers added for the first time by conditioner Brendan Walsh. The well-bred Into Mischief filly will be tough to deny late if the equipment change aids her. 

Race 5 – Optional Claiming

The last leg is for the boys going 1 1/16 miles on the weeds with an overflow field of 13 entered. #11 Full Nelson is back in good form, and I like his chances in a field with a good measure of pace signed on. The Jose D’Angelo pupil just missed when second in the Tropical Park Derby against some nice ones two back, and the Lord Nelson colt ran well when he was a closing fourth against a smart field last time, as well. He will get the right set up with Irad retaining the ride. 

I’ll also include Todd Pletcher’s #3 Enlighten, who is coming off of a pair of wins in succession on the course. This City of Light colt has good turf form, and the four-year-old could sit a very good voyage tucked in behind the pace to the top of the lane with Edgard Zayas in the irons.