Singling 'Blue' In Late Gulfstream Pick 3

Gulfstream Park will play host to a star-studded 14-race card on Saturday led by a staggering 10 stakes races. The ultra-competitive Fountain of Youth (G2) caps a huge day of racing, and I am focusing on the late Pick 3 as a value wager.

Here is my take on the well-matched Grade-2 fields:

Race 12 -- Gulfstream Park Mile (G2)

An excellent field of 11 will travel one-mile on the dirt. The $300,000 contest has top speed horses, as well as stout late runners, and I will spread in the first leg.

2019 Florida Derby (G1) runner-up #1 Bodexpress (6-1), Grade 3 victor #2 Haikal (10-1), Fred Hooper (G3) runner-up #5 Zenden (9-2), Pegasus World Cup (G1) second #9 Mr Freeze (7-2), Norm Casse’s #10 Do Share (15-1), and Grade 1 star #11 Hog Creek Hustle (12-1), should get me through to the second leg.

Race 13 -- Mac Diarmida (G2)

#3 A Thread of Blue (9-2) is 4-for-4 at Gulfstream Park and is the one to catch under Joe Bravo. McLaughlin trainee had what I thought was a nice prep when running a mile off the layoff, and the Hard Spun colt could lead throughout at a decent price on Saturday. I will single the talented 4-year-old.

Race 14 -- Fountain of Youth (G2)

Fantastic field of sophomores assembled for the feature. The majority of the pace in the cast is drawn far outside, and the chance of a sophomore coming from off the pace to win is very possible in my opinion. My top pick is #7 Country Grammer (15-1), but he is far from a strong single in the sequence.

Grade 3 victor #5 Dennis’ Moment (2-1), Remsen (G2) hero #10 Shotski (10-1), Holy Bull (G3) second #11 Ete Indien (8-1), and three-time stakes winner #12 Chance It (7-2), have to be included in a demanding handicapping assignment.

(Suggested Wager)

• $.50-cent Pick 3: 1,2,5,9,10,11 with 3 with 5,7,10,11,12 ($15)

Good Luck!