Month: March 2023

Heathguard was bet down, but won nicely a 3/1 Thursday at Gulfstream. Two tough 2nds followed. The train stays in neutral moving into St. Patrick’s Day. Stew, ponies, ball, repeat. Skip

Race 3: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) Alw 50000s

#6 Famous Gent (9/2) – As the old saying goes, pace makes the race. Every other horse in this field needs the early lead to win. This gelding circled the field last time at Gulfstream and switching back to turf and he looks to get a perfect setup. The Ductor is hoping he’s not recognized at the windows.

Race 6: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Mdn 84k

*Gullet Shot of the Day #10 Levity (8/1) – The Ductor is ignoring his last race at a quirky Kentucky Downs racetrack where something went wrong. His race at this distance at Ellis Park last summer was solid. He chased a quick pace uncovered 3-wide and never quit. Now returning to the races as a 4-year-old, he should naturally progress gets Irad in the saddle. Irad rarely rides for trainer Victoria Oliver and wouldn’t be piloting this gelding if he wasn’t ready to fire.

Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) Alw 50000s

#3 Chasing Rainbows (5/1) – Making his first start on turf after switching barns last time, he took a step forward. He made an early move into a hot pace and understandably tired the final 1/16.  That was still a strong 2nd that this colt can build off of. He gets a nice draw here and Gaffalione will have learned something too.

#8 Ski Patrol (3/1) – He’s the most likely winner in the Ductor’s opinion and will likely be the 3rd betting choice. He ran well last time at Gulfstream with a wide trip and never quit.

Another #gullet shot scratched for the Ductor Wednesday. Gulfstream Park is trying to hold us back. At least we were able to get Perhaps Tonight Home at a measly 8/5. The train continues onward. Skip.

Race 1: 1 Mile. (Turf) S.Mdn 53k

#5 Heathguard (6/1) – He made an eye catching middle move in his debut. He circled the field behind a slow pace and flattened out in the final 1/16. This morning line looks high, but we might get 4/1 running for a small barn. The Ductor sees him he’s the most likely winner.

#1 Quick Quick Whit (8/1) – This colt has shown competence on dirt at Gulfstream and now switches to turf for the first time. He’s bred for both surfaces and this is what trainer Michael Trombetta does best. Moving 130 runners to turf for the first time, he’s 20% with a +$1.56 ROI.

#4 Ensign Skip (12/1) – He’s another 1st time time turfer that can inject value into this race. He’s bred for the lawn and has strangely only run on synthetic and dirt thus far. He’s working well and should improve making his first start as a 3-year-old. Trainer Laura Cazares is 3/14 with a +$1.96 ROI with 1st time grass runners. How could the Ductor not include Skip?

Race 8: 7 Furlongs. OC 75000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Great Navigator (4/1) – This colt is working well off the layoff and gets a nice outside draw. His stakes race at Saratoga last summer got he Ductor’s attention. He was blocked on the rail and ate kickback before he angled out and re-rallied for 2nd. He showed the grit he Ductor likes to see, he knows a great pilot when he sees one.

Race 9 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Mdn 84k

#1 Make the Boys Wink (9/2) – This filly got a nice rail trip in her debut on turf, but she still showed a nice late kick behind a slow pace. She’s worked well since her last dirt effort and now getting back to the Gulfstream turf here, she’s the one to beat.

Momma will need to clear out her basement if the Ductor has too many more weekends like that. The Ductor followed up a pathetic Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a goose egg Sunday. Ponies and March Madness this week, just keep skipping. Skip.

Race 1: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 25000s

#1 My Man Flint (7/2) – He scratched out of a much tougher spot last week when he was going to be the Ductor’s #gullet shot. We get a much lower price here, but the Ductor sees him handling his business. Shortening in distance and switching back to turf with a nice rail draw, he should run his best.

Race 5: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.OClm 32000

#4 Perhaps Tonight (8/1) – This mare took a big step forward last time at Gulfstream Park 1st off the claim. She circled a field of lesser foes despite a slow pace up front. She steps up in class today, but she’s run figures that can beat this field and has run well vs tougher in the past. The Ductor isn’t waiting for nightfall to get lucky.

#8 Rosebud’s Hope (9/2) – This mare can’t be ignored with the early pace advantage she has over this group. She’ll be able to clear from the outside post and can take them gate to wire.

Race 8: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) F.OC 25000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #10 Manorelli (6/1) – This filly’s best race was a 5-furlong turf sprint at Del Mar, where she ran 2nd at 32/1. Moving to the Jack Sisterson barn, he rightfully brings her back in a race under those conditions. She has the upside to run a big race getting back to what she wants to do.

Woof. 0/3 at Gulfstream Park Saturday is not what the Ductor ordered. Nothing like getting whacked right on the chin. Lucky for us, we have Sunday to bail us out. Skip.

Gulfstream Park Race 1: 1 1/16  Mile. (Turf) Clm 16000

#6 Crack Shot (15/1) – The Ductor might be smoking something, but he’s a bomber the Ductor likes. He’s dropping to his lowest career level today and stretching out to a route for the first time. He’s been running average sprint races, but there’s no telling how far he wants to go. The Ductor hopes they’re smart enough to send him right to the lead in a race without any other early speed.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.OC 75000n1x

#10 Silver Stripes (8/1) – This filly was impressive on debut at Gulfstream for a barn that doesn’t win at a high clip with first time starters. She was sold for 800k and her breeding is tremendous. Now moving from synthetic to the turf in her second career start, she has major upside.

Race 10: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Mdn 84k

*Gullet Shot of the Day Mesaoria (4/1) – It will all come down to the last race of the weekend for the Ductor. This filly’s best race came at this distance at Aqueduct last fall. She made a nice middle move into a hot pace and still held on for 3rd. Her race last time off the bench was too far and on the wrong surface. Switching back to turf today and cutting back to a mile, she’s going to fire a big effort. The post isn’t ideal, but the Ductor thinks we’ll get more like 6/1.

1 for 3 with a 5/2 winner and an empty #gullet shot was not good enough Friday at Gulfstream Park. Luckily for us, Saturday racing is where the pools are the fattest. The Ductor can’t wait to eat. Skip.

Race 7: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Mdn 84k

#6 Le Beau (7/2) – This filly ran well on debut over synthetic and now moves to turf for the first time. Her breeding suggests she will adore moving to the turf. She will have her picture taken with a step forward.

#10 La Goulu (8/1) – She was well bet on debut sprinting at Aqueduct last fall and ran like she wanted more distance. She returned routing on synthetic last time and ran a decent 3rd off the layoff. With a race under her belt and switching back to her preferred turf surface today, she could improve in a big way.

Race 9; 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) OC 75000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #8 More Than Ready Eddie (8/1) – This colt won easy in his first start last year in a sprint taken off the turf. He returned off the layoff last time on grass and lost all chance after being sandwiched at the start. He puts the blinkers on today and stretches out to a route for the first time. He’s bred for the turf and has major upside. The Ductor is confident Pletcher will have Eddie ready.

Race 12: 5½ Furlongs. (All-Weather) Clm 10000

#7 Celebratory (9/2) – Making his first start of the year at his lowest career level, this gelding has multiple races under his belt that beat this field. After his last race at Gulfstream Park, he moved into the Scooter Davis Barn, who is 32% on the year with a +$0.85 ROI. Davis is also a preposterous 7/10 with a +$1.85 ROI with runners for the first time. Jose Ortiz also shows up? Everything screams Celebratory runs off the screen.

#11 Joe Phillips (8/1) – The only horse that can beat Celebratory is this gelding at a better price. He improved 1st off the claim last time chasing a quick pace routing on the turf. He cuts back to a sprint today and takes on a weaker group. Trainer Bobby Diibona is 28% with a +$0.28 ROI cutting horses back from a route to a sprint this year.

Well, Thursday at Gulfstream Park was foolish. 0/1 with a loser in the first race and two scratches. How dare they waste the Ductor’s capping time with scratches. Someone must atone for their sins, and it will be the passengers who don’t bet these ponies today. We seek vengeance. Skip.

Race 1: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.MC 25000

#1 Calling All Angels (4/1) – This filly ran well last time making an early move into a quick pace in a race that melted down. Now she drops in class and shortens 1/2 furlong. This is a large field with many unknowns and the Ductor thinks she’ll be an overlay as by far the most likely winner. If she just repeats her last race she’ll be tough to beat.

Race 7: 1 Mile. F.OC 25000n1x

#3 #Three Witches (7/2) – #6 Signal from Noise (8/5) will be hammered here after running a good 2nd behind Classy Edition at Gulfstream Park, who came back to flatter that effort. The Ductor is completely against #7 Inventing (9/5), who will also take money. She’ll have to improve on figures to win. Three Witches took a major step forward last time and will get the early jump on the two favorite. 7/2 would be a generous price on the fastest filly of the bunch. The Ductor thinks they’ll have a tough time passing her in the stretch.

Race 8: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) OC 75000b

*Gullet Shot of the Day #11 Eamonn (20/1) – The Ductor likes this bomb quite a bit.to make it a bountiful Friday for the passengers. #2 Dr Zempf  (3/1) has a major class edge over this field, but he’s coming off a long layoff, making his first start in the US and will be a short price. #6 Slipstream (7/2) is also making his first start off the bench. Eamonn has a race under his belt on synthetic last time and now moves back to his preferred surface and distance. He’s won at this distance at Gulfstream at 14/1 before and this race sets up nicely for him. There will be a contested pace up front and the closers will get good setups. The post isn’t ideal, but with the hot pace Camacho should be able to drop back, save ground and come flying late. Mow baby Mow.

1/3 Wednesday at Gulfstream Park with the #gullet shot getting home…but at 7/5. The Ductor didn’t think she’d be bet like that, but I guess we’ll take it. No short prices on Thursday, kill shots only. Skip.

Race 1: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Clm 16000

#8 Short Circuit (9/2) – Making her 1st start off the claim for a small barn, this mare moves back to the turf for the 1st time since last year. She’s in good form on synthetic and although she’s stepping up in class, this is the lowest turf level she’s faced. She’s beaten much tougher on turf before and there aren’t any standouts in this low level claimer. She’ll be a square price and Saez sticking around for a barn he’s never ridden for is a positive sign.

Race 5: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) OClm 32000

*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 My Man Flint (15/1) – This is a great handicapping puzzle. There are many evenly matched horses and a nice full field. One things for sure, this pace will be hot, so the Ductor is looking for a closer. #3 Jais’s Solitude (4/1) is the most likely winner, but he Ductor believes My Man Fling has a shot at 4 times the price. This gelding switches back from Tapeta where he ran a good 2nd and shortens back 1/16 a mile. In his three turf races prior he won at 21/1, 13/1 and ran 2nd at 7/1. He has strong late pace figures and this race sets up perfectly for him. Mr. Flint will make our week.

Race 9: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) F.S.OC 20000n1x

#1 Princess Blakely (20/1) – The Ductor likes another bomb in the finale at Gulfstream Park. This filly ran solid races routing on turf and synthetic for Chad Brown last year. She’s moved to a small, 4% barn and is cutting back to a turf sprint for the 1st time. The barn change will cause her to be completely ignored at the windows, but the Ductor thinks she’s sneaky. She has three fast works entering today and Castellano takes the mount for a barn he’s never ridden for. Whenever he rides for small barns, the Ductor takes note. His jock agent usually knows something the rest of us don’t.

Alright passengers, spring is officially here. It’s time to get back to the daily grind. Key horses every race day at Gulfstream with a #gullet shot video. When turf racing gets back to New York and Keeneland, the train will head back up north. We don’t know what the rest of 2023 will bring, besides lot’s of loot from the generous Ductor. Skip.

Race 1: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) Clm 35000b

#8 Discreet Tune (4/1) – This horse returns to his preferred turf surface after making a middle move on synthetic off the bench last time. He’s run multiple turf sprints at Gulfstream that would beat this field and he’s dropping to his lowest career level today. Trainer David Carlos is 18% with a +$0.70 ROI with runners 2nd off the layoff this year. Don’t sing about this horse too loud passengers, we need this morning line to hold.

Race 5: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.Clm 20000b

#11 Boston Princess (8/1) – The favorites are nothing special in this race, so the Ductor is looking for a price. This filly is stepping up in class after a nice win last time, where she wore down the favorite. In her race two back, it looks like she was easily beaten by the morning line favorite in this race #2 French Franc (5/2), but she got completely shut off in the stretch and that effort can be excused. The outside draw is not ideal, but she’s the upside horse in this field and will be a juicy price.

Race 7: 1 Mile. (Turf) OC 25000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 James Aloysius (6/1) – This colt has been fickle, making it to the track only twice in his first two years. However, he’s shown major talent in those two races, including a 2nd on debut at Saratoga. He draws well here and looks to get a nice ground saving trip in race with a quick pace to stalk. Gargan is 27% with a +$0.03 ROI this year with runners off the bench and Saez returning to the irons is a positive sign that James Aloysius is ready to run.