January 2024 - The Conductor's Scroll

2024 Pegasus World Cup Picks & Best Bets — Gulfstream Park Saturday, January 27, 2024

on January 25, 2024April 18, 2026 By The Conductor's Scribe 1 Comment

Yes, the Conductor has been slacking posting his picks. There are just so few playable races this time of year. However, the Pegasus World Cup card this Saturday at Gulfstream is the kick in the ass he needs. Full fields and stakes racing all day, you’ll need to bring an extra shovel. We need to unearth every last spec of coal we can. Let’s Ride.

Race 3: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.OC 62500b

#1 Sun Bee (12/1) – The rail draw is crucial at Gulfstream with the short run up into the first turn for this distance. Going longer vs tougher last time, this filly ran a huge late pace figure closing into slow fractions. She’ll be well back early again today, but she should get a beautiful setup. There is plenty of early speed in this race and she’ll save all the ground along the rail. Sun Bee will be finishing best late and has every chance to upset this field at a big number.

Race 5: 1 Mile. (Turf) OC 62500b

#4 Whisper Not (8/1) – If race 3 is going to have a fast early pace, this race will have a scorching one. You certainly want to fade the favorites that will be up close fighting for the lead early. This gelding is a square price and has the best post of any of the closers. He’s won at big prices off layoffs before and he’s improved since moving into the Maker barn. Whisper Not will be heard from down the stretch.

Race 11: 1 Mile. G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes

#11 Tamarumba (8/1) – This gelding has become a new animal in his last three starts, improving with each one. Last time out at Fairgrounds he pressed a hot pace going 1 1/8 mile and still hung on for 2nd. He looks perfectly setup for the turn back in distance he gets today and he’s working well for a red hot barn. Trainer Brian Lynch is winning at a 35% clip at this Gulfstream meet and 4/5 with Saez in the irons. Tamarumba should get a nice outside stalking trip up close to a moderate pace and will still have gas in the tank late.

Race 12: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 Webslinger (15/1) – #9 Warm Heart (9/5) clearly lays over this field from a class standpoint and is the most likely winner of this race. However, she’ll be even money and you’ll have to pair her up with a price to extract any value here. To no surprise to the loyal passengers who know him well, the Conductor likes Webslinger here. He is a game horse and Castellano cost him two Grade 1 wins last year (and the Conductor loads of coal). Webslinger has continued to run well with poor trips and has run well over this Gulfstream turf course. With a new rider, good post and juicy morning line, he’ll get the Conductor’s money.

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

#12 Skippylongstocking (8/1) – National Treasure (9/5) clearly ran the best last race in this field in the BC Mile. He set lightning fractions and was just nailed by Cody’s Wish. However, he is much better going shorter and is 0/2 without hitting the board at today’s distance. Skippy is also exiting that race and ran well chasing the pace and never quit. Unlike National Treasure, going a mile isn’t Skippy’s game. He’s better going longer and won’t have to expend as much energy early. He’ll have the stamina to skip down the lane and take home the feature.

Gulfstream Park Wednesday Picks — January 10, 2024 | Best Bets & Handicapping Analysis

on January 10, 2024April 18, 2026 By The Conductor's Scribe 1 Comment

The Conductor’s prices ran well Saturday, just not well enough to beat the chalk. Rain ruined Sunday, and unfortunately it looks like more rain in the forecast later this week at Gulfstream. We’ll make due while we can. Skip.

Race 5: 1m70yds. (All-Weather)

#11 Danville (20/1) – This morning line is asinine, but even if he’s half this price he’s worth a shot. This gelding has consistently been running faster figures vs tougher than this group on dirt. He’s never run on the synthetic, but he’s won on turf in the past. He should get a good trip today pressing a slow pace, let’s hoe the price is right.

Race 8: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) F.OC 75000n1x

*Gulfstream Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Fairhopecurly (12/1) – This filly switched into the Saffie Joseph barn after a speed and fade last time on synthetic. Now she gets back to 5-furlongs on the turf and is working well off a break entering today. She’s one of only two runners in the field who have won at this distance on turf. Plus, she has a major early pace advantage over this field. Fairhopecurly will have the lead when they turn for home, and that’s always extremely dangerous at 5-furlongs. Gate to wire.

Race 9: 5½ Furlongs. (All-Weather) F.Clm 16000n2L

#1 Talking Wonders (8/1) – This filly broke slow last time vs tougher at Gulfstream and made a nice move on the turn, but she was fanned wide into the parking lot. There aren’t and standouts in this field, and she has every chance today with a clean break. Hopefully Bridgmohan can find a seam and tip out from the rail entering the stretch.

Gulfstream Park Saturday Picks — January 6, 2024 | Best Bets & Full Card Handicapping

on January 5, 2024April 18, 2026 By The Conductor's Scribe 1 Comment

2 for 3 including a 2nd and a 4/1 winner Friday at Gulfstream gets the train moving in the right direction. Hitting the triple cold would have brought a coal overflow. However, I’m sure a few of you passengers included Saffie Joseph in the 2nd leg and hit the Tropical Pick 3. It paid a generous $231 for $3 with a 2/5 winner in the first. Let’s keep shoveling. Skip.

Race 7: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) OC 25000n1x

*Gulfstream Gullet Shot of the Day #8 American Diamond (12/1) – Saffie beat the Conductor yesterday, but he won’t get away with it today. This gelding returned off a break last time on synthetic and ran a strong late pace figure closing into slow fractions. Now he switches back to his preferred turf surface and has a race under his belt. This morning line is way too high, but the Conductor will take anything above 5/1.

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

#1 Madame Mischief (15/1) – One of the two favorites probably win this race, but this filly is a bomb that intrigues the Conductor. She’s steadily improving this year and ran well off the bench last time. She closed behind a slow pace going 7 1/2 furlongs and galloped out well ahead of the pack. She gets a great rail draw today and will appreciate the extra 1/2 furlong in distance. The Conductor sees her hitting the board and has a chance to light up the tote.

Race 11: 1 Mile. (Turf) Dania Beach Stakes

#3 Depiction (8/1) – The Conductor liked this colt’s maiden breaker two starts back. He pressed a quick pace and still drew off that day. Last time in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, he was well bet and it didn’t look like he enjoyed the surface. He was asked the entire turn and didn’t pick up his feet until late in the stretch. He’s had some time off since, gets back to firm turf at Gulfstream, and get’s a nice inside draw. The Conductor thinks this colt has talent.

Gulfstream Park Friday Picks — January 5, 2024 | Best Bets & Handicapping Analysis

on January 5, 2024April 18, 2026 By The Conductor's Scribe 1 Comment

Thursday brought an 0/3 with two flops and a gullet shot that ran well with a poor trip. Not the way we wanted to start the new year, but there’s a long track ahead. Tread lightly as it may take the Conductor a few days to unlock Gulfstream Park. He will be focusing on the tropical turf pick 3 on days when it’s available. It’s typically the best wager on the card with a 15% takeout and 3$ minimum. Let’s hit it cold and enter the weekend with some coal. Skip.

Race 1: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Moc 40000

#1 Heart N Soul (8/5) – Nothing creative in the first leg. This gelding pressed quick pace vs miles tougher last time and just missed. With a nice rail draw vs a weak group, he looks too tough to beat.

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

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Eyes On Target (9/2) – Many class droppers off layoffs for top connections will take money in this race. This ridgling’s price could float up at post time, and he ran a winning race last time at this level. He ran a huge late pace figure closing into a slow pace. In his 2nd start off the bench today, he should run even better.

Race 8: 5 Furlongs. (T) OC 62500b

#3 Kanthari (10/1) – #8 Carotari (8/5) is a formidable favorite, but he’s an 8-year-old entering off a 6-month layoff. Plus, if we want there to be any value in this sequence, we have to beat him. The Conductor landed on Kanthari, who is 2/2 running 5 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He ran a big number on his debut, then won off a year layoff in his next start. Clearly he’s an ouchie horse, who has trouble staying at the track. However, he has talent and is dangerous if he fires his A race off the bench again today. 10/1 is more than fair for the Conductor.

Gulfstream Park Thursday Picks — January 4, 2024 | Best Bets & New Year Handicapping

on January 2, 2024April 18, 2026 By The Conductor's Scribe 1 Comment

Happy New Year, passengers. It’s always tough to get back to the daily grind after the Breeders’ Cup. The Conductor needs full field turf racing to fuel his engine, and this winter has been bleak. Regardless, it’s time to get back to work and sharpen the axe. He’ll focus on the Gulfstream turf up until Keeneland, and then back to New York once turf racing begins. 2024 is the year you become the horseplayer you dream of. You will never be as good as the Conductor, but at least you can learn a few things and make some money off his picks. Skip!

Race 2: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 50000n2L

#6 Seaver (15/1) – This is a wide open claiming race and the Conductor likes this gelding at a big number. He ran a solid 3rd off the bench last time, sprinting on synthetic. Now he stretches out to a mile and switches back to his preferred turf surface. He ran his best race last year in a very similar scenario, running 2nd at 22/1 vs tougher at Saratoga. If he can repeat that effort here, he’ll be right there at the wire.

Race 6: 1 3/8 Mile. (All-Weather) Mdn 89k

#3 Hazon (12/1) – This is a very weak Gulfstream maiden field, where no horse has even sniffed par for this level. Hazon was hammered ate the windows sprinting on dirt in his debut and never picked up his feet. That effort was too bad to be believed and it’s a positive sign that Pletcher doesn’t drop him in class right away. If he has any talent like the market believed he did last time, he’ll win today at a much better price. He’s the lone horse in the field with major upside.

Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.MC 25000

*Gulfstream Gullet Shot of the Day #8 Looks Lucky to Me (6/1) – This filly ran a decent 3rd sprinting on synthetic in her debut vs slightly tougher. She’s bred for the turf, and should step forward moving onto the grass for the 1st time. Her running line suggests she’ll improve with the added distance as well. This is trainer Amador Sanchez’ specialty move. He’s 5/19 with a juicy +$3.02 ROI with 1st time turf starters this year.