Musings from my Grade One Couch !
I have one too, much like Bob Baffert, Kenny McPeek and many other people I have watched multiple Grade 1’s from my grade one couch .
So lets get to business , Gulfstream Park has fabulous 9 race card starting at 1pm eastern on Thursday. I have concentrated on a couple of key maiden races and delved further into their pedigrees.
Race 1) $50K MAIDEN CLAIMER FIVE FURLONGS ON TURF FOR 3 YEAR OLDS
#2 She’s just Quality 4-1
Lone FILLY in this race (gets a 5lb break in weights!!) is a Daughter of Quality Road and debuts for a trainer who hits at 29 % first out. This $50k Keeneland September grad is owned by Irishman Fergus Galvin ( His Hunter Valley Farm consigned her ) and she is well spotted, coming in with a series of strong works at Palm Meadows, including a Bullet 47 1/5 on March 25.
As far a pedigree goes she’s out of a winning half sister to G2 Sanford winner Desert party. (Sire) and multiple stakes winner Ellie cat, as well as a 1/2 to 3 winners from 3 to race .TOP PICK
Race 4) MSW ONE MILE ON TURF FOR 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES
Super interesting race here with many ways to go, my TOP PICK in here will be …
#1 Altaf 8-1 DAYMAKER
Rosario and Brown team up for 26 % winners and Brown himself is a gaudy 27 % first out on Turf. This daughter of Medaglia d’oro debuts with some stellar works, although there is a 12 day gap from March 16-March 28, I see no cause for concern there . Her March 16 gate work was with #6 Publication (6-1), a grey daughter of Tapit out of G2 winner Flimbi. She easily outworks her company and most certainly has the action of a filly who will relish the Turf . Publication the shorter priced of the two looks like she may need a race to figure things out .
Altaf’s pedigree is nothing to be sniffed at either as her dam was a debut winner on the lawn at Keeneland for trainer Danny Peitz, she her self is out of a half-sister to G2 Miesque Winner Habaya and to top it all the 2nd Dam is Champion Turf Mare Golden Apples!
#3 Cat Lady 9-2 For all you TIGER KING fans out there (yes I do think Carol killed her husband !!!)
This filly, while not impressive in her am works certainly could have been much closer in her last if it were not for a rather bumpy trip in last that caused Ortiz to do a masterful job of very quickly regaining his irons . Saez picks up the mount due to Ortiz taking off due to COVID 19 ( thoughts to all and their families out there ) DANGEROUS
#7 Miss Flying Sun 20-1 LONGSHOT
This daughter Karakontie was a $17k Keeneland September yearling purchase and could easily debut for a tag. She’s out of a winning Royal Academy 1/2 sister to MGS winner Springhouse.
Seen working here with Burning secret on the outside. Burning Secret was 6th in a MSW on dirt at Churchill last September and clearly relishes the dirt . Miss Flying Sun clearly does not as you see her action get a little shorter towards the wire as she struggles over the dirt. Turf with that pedigree will certainly move her up . LONGSHOT
#8 Mimina’s Team 7-2 is the morning line favorite and will be bet that way; however she has given up the lead in her last two starts and I’m not sure I trust her.
RACE 7) MSW FOR 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES 1 1/6 DIRT
#1 Token 7-2 TOP PICK
Claiborne bred and raised filly makes her 3rd start for a trainer that excels in this category. She was well-meant in her last a may have moved rather too fast and too early and paid for it late! Goes two turns for the first time this daughter of Curlin of of the G2 miler Sign should only get better . TOP PICK
#7 Envoutante 3-1
#6 Assume 8-1
RACE 8) NW1X FIVE FURLONGS TURF FILLIES AND MARES
#1 Smack 2-1 is the morning one favorite and will be very tough in here , the rails are set at 120 feet. She’s sharp and has speed, plus the Clement barn is on fire right now! However ……..
There is plenty of pace in here to keep her honest so I’m going to go with …..
#4 Dixieincandyland 9-2 TOP PICK
This daughter of top stallion Candy ride fired big of the layoff in her last with significant trouble, especially going 5/8. She likely will improve tremendously with that start under her belt , picks up Rosario ( Gaffalione rides Smack ) and has a really nice work under her belt with a rather not so small exercise rider aboard her !!
RACE 9) MSW 3 YEAR OLDS 1 1/16 TURF
#Limetini 6-1 TOP PICK and DAYMAKER !!!!
I have been waiting for this guy to show up in the entries for quite some time. The son of Tapiture was a $240K yearling purchase for Phoenix TB ( Tapiture stands for $7,500!) Tapiture’s progeny do very very well on debut and I have no doubt that he will fire at first asking .
Work: https://xbtv.com//video/gimme-some-mo-(outside)-and-limetini-worked-4-furlongs-in/gimme-some-mo-outside-and-limetini-worked-4-furlongs-in-51-10-at-palm-beach-downs-on-march-14th-2020/
#5 Pricing Exercise 4-1 will take some money second out for brown
#7 Bear Alley 9-2 ran very well in last start , but in comparing the March 28 work where he didn’t switch leads to works prior to his last start I’m inclined to stay away …….???
