Month: January 2023

Pegasus World Cup Saturday Picks — January 28, 2023 | Pegasus Day at Gulfstream Park

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Three horses racing at Gulfstream Park with jockeys in colorful silks and a large statue in the background.

The Ductor has been slacking, working on the train instead of giving out his ponies to the passengers. He will not apologize as he hasn’t been playing much. Winter racing is poo and there hasn’t been many betting opportunities. Finally, a big stakes day at Gulfstream Park puts a little fire in his belly. He’s combed thru the Saturday card and has found some juicy prices he’ll ride to glory. Pegasus World Cup time, Let’s Ride

Gulfstream Park Race 1: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.OC 25000n1x

#5 On Alert (6/1) – This filly hasn’t gotten a hot pace to run at and has run massive late pace figures. She’s run winning races in all three of her starts with Lasix and she gets back on Lasix today. Shug has them ready off the bench and the Ductor thinks she wins the opener at a fair price.

Race 5: 1 Mile. (Turf) OC 25000n1x

#3 Winston Blue (20/1) – The first bomb that stuck out on the Pegasus World Cup card comes in the fifth. There aren’t any monsters in this race and its ripe for an upset. This new gelding has run well on synthetic and ships in from Woodbine to try the turf for the first time. The Ductor liked his last race where he was wide pressing a hot pace and still finished well. He has major upside.

Race 6: 1½ Mile. (Turf) F.G3 La Prevoyante Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Personal Best (7/2) – This filly will have to take down a rightful favorite #5 Adventuring (7/5), but the Ductor thinks she’s more than capable. Her two marathon races on the turf have been dominant. The Ductor does not care that she failed as the favorite last time on synthetic. She gets back to her personal best today. Skip.

Pegasus World Cup

Race 9: 1½ Mile. (Turf) G3 William L. McKnight Stakes

#11 Red Knight (9/2) – The Ductor liked this gelding in the Breeders’ Cup and new he was toast after the first turn. He’s been really good since entering the Maker barn and Irad taking the mount off is a positive sign. The Ductor thinks this old boy’s tank is still full and the post should be no problem with his closing running style. He’ll be a higher price than 9/2.

#3 Pao Alto (8/1) – He’s gotten brutal trips in his starts in the states and now gets a world class rider in Dettori aboard. The Ductor likes his muddied up form and he’ll show what he’s made of today with a good ride.

Race 12: 1 1/2 Mile. (Turf) G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf

#6 Lady Speightspeare (6/1) – Although this mare got a great ground saving trip in the Breeders’ Cup, she was still up close to a scorching pace and finished well. She beat many horses in that race that would be favorites here. Attfield has dominated these big turf stakes in the US the last few years and this mare will add to his tally.

#4 Hurricane Dream (15/1) – This is a weak G1 field in the Ductor’s opinion and this shipper from France a run well vs classier competition. Her marathon distance form across the pond makes her dangerous.

Race 13: 1 1/8 Mile. G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes

#4 White Abarrio (10/1) – This colt returns to Gulfstream where he won his prep races last year on the Derby trail. He got a solid race going a mile vs quality competition under his belt last time and has been working well since. Returning to his favorite track and distance today, this new 4-year-old will run a career best effort.

#12 O’Connor (10/1) – There was heavy steam on this Chilean Star last time where he failed as the favorite. After that race, reports detailed that he lost a shoe while running, so that effort can be excused. He’s another runner working well for Saffie Joseph entering today. You can sneak one past the public, but you can’t sneak him past the Ductor. Skip.

Coast to Coast Pick 5 Picks — January 14, 2023 | Gulfstream Park Saturday Key Horses

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Horses and jockeys exiting the starting gate at Gulfstream Park during a horse race.

The Ductor can feel a big Saturday in his left knee. The races at Santa Anita stink and have small fields, you passengers can figure those out on your own. Down to Gulfstream Park we go. Let’s Ride.

Gulfstream Park Race 8: 1 Mile. Mdn 84k

#1 Sara’s Shaman (4/1) – This is a difficult maiden race to start the sequence with many unproven runners with upside. Of the 1st time starters, the Ductor likes the looks of this colt best. He’s working great for top connections and he can see him exploding gate to wire.

#3 Arcangelo (5/1) – He took money on debut for a low % barn and ran a solid 2nd over a sloppy track. He dropped back to last, was hung wide and closed into a slow pace, galloping out in front. He has a major chance today and will be a higher price than the morning line suggests.

#5 Prairie Dunes (8/1) – This colt was close to graduating last year and ran a couple of quality races. He’s working well off the layoff, gets lasix for the 1st time and has the best foundation of the bunch. With natural development as a 3-year-old, he’s very dangerous.

Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.S.Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf Stakes

#9 Mona Stella (10/1) – The Ductor is leaning towards horses with proven turf form in this race. There are many runners in here taking shots to see if they handle the turf. This filly has run multiple fast races on the turf and looks live. They prepped her off the bench with a sprint on synthetic and now gets back to what she does best. Connections decided to take the blinkers off her today, but the Ductor is hoping they still use her speed and send her from the outside post. If they don’t, then he will curse.

#1 Sonar (8/1) – This mare tried turf for the 1st time last time vs tougher than this group as been facing and ran well. She was wide and uncovered the whole way and found her best stride late. Sonar galloped out in front and the Ductor sees upside making her 2nd start on the turf today. She draws well and shortens in distance to boot.

#6 Crystal Coast (8/1) – She got the job done last time at this surface at Gulfstream Park and distance at 8/1 and looks to repeat. The Ductor sees no reason why she can’t against a weak stakes field.

Race 10: 6 Furlongs. Sunshine Sprint Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Cajun’s Magic (10/1) – He went off for pursuing the Derby trail last year, but ran some very fast races prior. They cut him back to a sprint off the layoff and he’s working like an improved 4-year-old. With a nice outside draw today, the Ductor sees him springing the upset.

Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park Sunday Picks — January 8, 2023 | Best Bets & Full Card Handicapping

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Gulfstream Park Picks

No dice yesterday in the coast to coast pick 5, which still paid over $1000 despite being very chalky. Hopefully you passengers were able to cash some nice exactas with some prices the Ductor liked running behind the favorites. The Ductor looked at the sequence today, but he wasn’t a fan. He likes the latter half of the Gulfstream Park card, he’ll donate a few winners to you passengers. Skip.

Gulfstream Park Race 6: 6 Furlongs. Moc 40000

*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Alpha Blue (9/2) – The Ductor sees #5 Bourboun Ready (7/2) being pounded at the windows dropping to the claiming ranks for the first time. This should help Alpha Blue’s price stay above 3/1. This gelding set an impossibly fast pace over the synthetic surface going a mile last time and rightfully tired. Now switching to dirt and cutting back to a sprint, he’s primed for a peak effort for top connections.

gulfstream park

Race 7: 6½ Furlongs. Clm 8000

#2 Caramel Chip (5/1) – This horse had a bad trip, chasing wide the entire way last time. The Ductor liked that he showed improved speed in that race and now he drops to by far his lowest career class level. The Ductor sees him burying this group at a fair price.

Race 8: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Mdn 84k

This is a wide open maiden race with many first time starters. It’s a good race to look for a price, especially when the Ductor is against the likely favorite. #6 Be My Sunshine (4/1) will be heavily bet for top connections, but she fits one of the few scenarios Saffie Joseph Jr. doesn’t excel at. He’s only 6% with 72 1st time starters on the turf in the last year and only 24% have hit the board. At a short price, he’s a play against.

Other Contenders: #5 Armonia (20/1), #7 Bo Derek (5/1), #10 Be Here Now (8/1), #11 Moral Turpitude (8/1) and #12 Love Rhapsody (12/1)

Coast to Coast Pick 5 Preview: 1/7/2023

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A diverse crowd of spectators watching a horse racing event, showcasing various individuals engaged in the experience.

I know, I know I’ve been getting your messages. “Mr. Ductor please I am broke after the holidays and can’t cap like you. Please save me, I need your help. You are the greatest, where have you gone?!” Now, now passengers, the Ductor hasn’t gone anywhere. Time off is needed in this game especially with how stinky winter racing has become in North America. The Ductor won’t play daily at NYRA until the spring, but he’ll start upping his play as Derby prep season comes upon us. For the next few weeks the Ductor is going to cap the sequences for the coast to coast pick 5 with a $1 minimum and 15% takeout. The Ductor likes that its solely at Gulfstream and Santa Anita and is going to back to longer form posts. He’ll have his breakdowns for both Saturday and Sunday up each week along with their corresponding podcast. Cheers to ripping out gullets the entirety of 2023. Skip

Gulfstream Park Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Ginger Brew Stakes

#3 Cairo Consort (7/5) – She’s the clear favorite exiting a 3rd place finish in the Breeders’ Cup and moving into a stronger barn. The Ductor can’t fault you if you single her in the Coast to Coast Pick 5. However, he doesn’t think she’s the cinch the morning line suggests.

#9 Erna (4/1) – This filly has shown gameness in her 1st two starts and has an early pace edge over this group. The outside post is no concern with Saez, who will take her right to the front. She’ll have the lead turning for home and will fight to the wire.

#5 Stephanie’s Charm (12/1) – In a stakes race off a layoff last time, she ran very well in just her 2nd career turf start at 30/1. She overcame some trouble and closed strongly into a slow pace, making up 3 1/2 lengths in the stretch. 2nd off the bencch today, she is improving and dangerous.

#7 Navy Goat (8/1) – She’s slow on figures, but be leery of the numbers. Her last two victories have been on synthetic and a quirky Kentucky Downs turf course. This filly beat a strong maiden field that day and her breeding screams turf. She posts a bullet work entering today and Rosario takes the mount for a top barn. She smells like a live one.

Santa Anita Park Race 4: 6½ Furlongs. (Hillside Turf) S.Alw 72000n1x

#7 Larry’s Legend (30/1) – The Ductor loves the hillside turf course and nothing leads you to more juicy winners than prior form down the hill. This colt was nailed at 81/1 in his lone start down the hill and that race gives him a mighty chance to beat this group without much hill experience. At this morning line, he must be on every ticket.

#1 Queen’s Code (8/1) – He had a no chance trip going 5-furlongs last time and now stretches out down the hill. He’s another contender who’s run well over this course with limited experience. He ran 2nd in his only try.

#3 Thorne House (5/2) – He made an early, wide move into a blistering pace last time and faded late. He’s logical.

#10 Moose Mitchell (4/1) – This gelding had a good trip last time going 5-furlongs. The Ductor would usually be against a horse like this, but again he’s one of the few that have experience on this hillside course. He ran a good 3rd in his only try down it three starts back.

Gulfstream Park Race 11: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) Mdn 84k

#6 Moon Cat (4/1) – This gelding ran well on debut despite having to shuffle badly early in the race. Making his 2nd career start for top connections and switching to the surface he’s bred for, he’s the Ductor’s top pick.

#12 Jamestown (10/1) – This colt has major upside and is a price that could knock many tickets out. He broke slow and ran evenly going 5-furlongs in an off the turf race on debut. That was a clear prep for this spot. He’s bred to relish the lawn and that sprint put enough speed into him where he should be able to clear from the outside post.

Santa Anita Park Race 6: 6½ Furlongs. (Hillside Turf) F.S.Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes

#3 Alice Marble (5/2) – Unlike race 4 at Santa Anita, almost all of the fillies and mares in here have shown an affinity for this turf course. You could make a case for any and the Ductor wouldn’t knock you. He hates taking a short price in a race like this, but this mare has a significant class edge. 2nd off the layoff for top connections, she looks like the winner.

#2 La Deuxieme Etoile (6/1) – This filly set a hot, contested in her first try down the hill and held on nicely last time. Any horse that wins their first race over this surface has the Ductor’s respect.

#5 Eddies New Dream (7/2) – She was in an impossibly tough spot last time and now cuts back to her best distance. She beat #3 Alice Marble down the last year.

Santa Anita Park Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.S. Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks

*Gullet Shot of the Day #1 Carole Lombard (8/1) – The Ductor is planning on singling this filly to end the Coast to Coast Pick 5. The two favorites #8 Sell the Dream (2/1) and #9 Cast Member (5/2) draw to the outside and have yet to win on turf at this distance. Carole Lombard broke her maiden at Del Mar decisively last time. She was up close to a quick pace and was able to finish strongly. A step forward off that effort puts her in the winners’ circle today, especially with a nice ground saving trip.

coast to coast pick 5