Best Horse Racing Bets Today | Gulfstream Park, February 1

As we inch closer to the big races of the spring, sophomores will be on display Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The South Florida oval brings us a quintet of stakes races for young colts and fillies looking to make a name for themselves. Leading the way will be the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, which has drawn a field of seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Twice second in Grade 1 events as a juvenile, Ferocious will look to kick the new season off with a victory in the 1 1/16-mile prep for the Florida Derby. 

The afternoon’s other biggest races include 7-furlong sprints for both the males and the fillies. The Grade 3 Forward Gal has attracted eleven sophomore females including the graded stakes winner The Queens M G, while the $165,000 Swale Stakes features the unbeaten stakes winner Donut God. Not to be outdone by the dirt horses, the $165,000 Kitten’s Joy is led by the three-time stakes winner Mi Bago. Without further ado, let’s get to my top picks and plays for this very good card of racing from Gulfstream Park.

Race #9 Swale Stakes $165,000 7-Furlongs Dirt- 4:13pm EST

The early pace should be fast and contentious in Saturday’s 7-furlong Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, as a number of speedy and talented young colts square off in the $165,000 affair.

Something’s got to give in this one, as out of a field of seven, four of the starters come into the race undefeated and they all possess early speed. Donut God, has a race on the three having won his first two starts, which includes a debut win at Churchill Downs in November. The well-liked son of Into Mischief followed that up soon after with a stakes win in the Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs.

Of the three colts who are perfect after one career start, look for Gunmetal to get the most play. The son of Gun Runner pressured a fast pace at Fair Grounds five weeks ago before taking over in the stretch for trainer Brad Cox. The fast debut victory should have him vying for favoritism here.

The two other unbeaten colts in the race both have a chance to upset the Swale. Grayscale was an easy winner over the track in his debut back in November for Saffie Joseph, Jr. He will pick up top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. on Saturday. Meanwhile, Maitre D will have the highest odds of the group despite overcoming a wide trip to win in his debut at Turfway Park. In a tough call, I am siding with the stakes experience of Donut God. He is the top pick.

My Plays

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel - Donut God over Gunmetal, Grayscale, and Maitre D = $30

• $5 Exacta Part Wheel - Gunmetal, Grayscale, and Maitre D over Donut God = $15

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Race #10 Kitten’s Joy Stakes $165,000 1 1/16-Miles Turf- 4:43pm EST

One of three in the field for trainer Mark Casse, Mi Bago will be in search of his fourth career stakes victory in his young career as the one to beat in Saturday’s $165,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

A son of solid young sire Vekoma, Mi Bago was a debut winner back in August on the dirt at Colonial Downs. Most recently, he was a game winner of the taken-off-the-turf Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park. In between, the winner of 4-of-6 lifetime ran three strong races on the grass, including a romping win in the Pulpit Stakes over the local turf course.

Several others in the field have the potential to upset the favorite in this 8 1/2-furlong affair. Test Score who finished ahead of Mi Bago when second in Del Mar’s Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes must be respected. Trained by Graham Motion, he was a sharp maiden winner on the grass at Keeneland before that one. The Lookin at Lucky colt should be running late here.

Other interesting candidates in the Kitten’s Joy include Charlie’s to Blame, a sharp winner of a turf maiden at Del Mar last time, as well as Tiz Dashing, who has run well in both career starts in New York for trainer Baclay Tagg. I actually love the way the latter has been training for this. Tiz Dashing will be the top pick.

My Play

• $10 Daily Double Part Wheel -Tiz Dashing and Test Score with Ferocious and Tappan Street = $40

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Race #11 Holy Bull Stakes (Grade 3) $265,000 1 1/16-Miles Dirt- 5:13pm EST

Established as a Grade 1 performer last year, Ferocious looks to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since his debut when he headlines a field of seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls in Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Most recently fifth after some traffic in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the son of Flatter was second in the Hopeful at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before that. After a run of three straight Grade 1 races, Ferocious will get some class relief in his 3-year-old debut.

Among his competition in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby points race is the highly regarded Tappan Street. A son of Into Mischief, he made his debut late last year and was a stylish winner of a 7-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brad Cox. Both Tappan Street and Ferocious should be within striking distance early on Saturday.

Others to consider here include a pair of colts coming off wins over the track. Guns Loaded was a game winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes last time out and could be on the early lead again in this one. After two near misses, Burnham Square ran off and hid from his competition most recently in his first try at Gulfstream Park. Because of his class, however, I like Ferocious best. He is the top pick.

My Play 

• $10 Daily Double Part Wheel - Ferocious and Tappan Street with Stunner and Eclatant = $40

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Race #12 Forward Gal Stakes (Grade 3) $165,000 7-Furlongs Dirt- 5:45pm EST

Twice a stakes winner at the prestigious Saratoga meet last summer, The Queens M G looks to return to her winning ways against ten other sophomore fillies in the Grade 3 Forward Gal Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

A dark bay filly by Thousand Words, she won three of her six starts last year, but it was back-to-back victories in the Schuylerville and the Grade 3 Adirondack that thrust her into the limelight during the dog days of summer. Away since a third-place finish in the Tempted Stakes last fall at Aqueduct, she should appreciate the cutback to 7-furlongs here.

Chief among her competition in the Forward Gal will be a pair from the powerful barn of Brad Cox. Stunner defeated The Queens M G in the Tempted Stakes and has not finished worse than second in four lifetime starts, and Eclatant was a good looking winner of her first two starts before fading to third against strong competition in the Grade 2 Golden Rod.

Another filly who should get plenty of support at the betting windows in Rojo Rita. A daughter of Volatile, she has only one career start, but she made an impression while winning a local maiden race by more than 16 lengths last November. In a pretty wide-open heat, I like the two Cox fillies best. Stunner will be the top pick.

My Play

• $5 Exacta Part Wheel - Stunner and Eclatant over Stunner, Eclatant, The Queens M G, Justinqueso, and Rojo Rita = $40

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