Thunderstorms figure to wash Gulfstream’s turf races on Friday onto the main track. Because of the likely rain, we’re handicapping and making horse racing picks for three dirt races. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Gulfstream Park for Friday, June 19. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks
- When: Friday, June 19 at 12:00 pm ET
- Where: Hallandale Beach, FL
- Weather: Thunderstorms Likely
- Temperature: High 87 – Low 79
Gulfstream Park Picks for Friday, June 19
Race 1 – 12:00 pm ET – 5 ½ Furlongs Dirt – $65,000 Maiden Special Weight
Often, 2-year-old maiden races are the toughest to handicap. We’re expecting the track to come up sloppy, which does make Race 1 somewhat easier to handicap. The best bred horse for the slop? Constitution sired Ralph Nicks trained first time starter Gulf Coast Gal. We’re putting Gulf Coast Gal on top.
Hara could go off the chalk. She ran okay in her first race, fading in the stretch to finish second by 4 lengths. If nobody goes with her, she can win this on the front end.
Acting Lucky isn’t bred to excel over the off going. However, the Tapizar sired runner raced great in her first lifetime event. She couldn’t beat the winner, but she finished second. That was 4 ½ furlongs. If she gets a good trip, she’s another with a shot at the win money.
- Win: Gulf Coast Gal
- Place: Hara
- Show: Acting Lucky
Race 3 – 1:02 pm ET – 5 Furlongs Dirt – $20,000 Maiden Claiming
Kathleen O’Connell trained 2-year-old gelding Monday’s With Mike should excel over a sloppy racetrack. The works aren’t special. But no equine in this race has worked particularly well. More importantly, O’Connell wins 18% with her first time starters, 19% with debut maiden claimers, and 21% of her sprint races.
Ralph Nicks trained First Navy Admiral takes a massive drop from $65,000 maiden special weight to this maiden claiming event. Admiral isn’t bred to love the slop the way Monday’s With Mike is. But the Fort Loudon sired 2-year-old colt has a race under his belt. He could improve to get into the exacta.
Take Midnight Traveler seriously. Sired by Jimmy Creed, Traveler improved big time from his first race to his second race. Any more improvement could put the 9/2 morning line runner into the winner’s circle.
- Win: Monday’s With Mike
- Place: First Navy Admiral
- Show: Midnight Traveler
Race 7 – 3:09 pm ET – 6 Furlongs Dirt – $50,000 Maiden Claiming
Georgina Baxter trained R Uncle Eric could run them off their feet. The Uncle Mo sired gelding grabbed the early lead before fading to fifth in its first lifetime start. Baxter drops R Uncle Eric from a $7,000 maiden special weight to this $50,000 maiden claimer. The class drop could be all Eric needs to get the win.
Double Advantage runs for Todd Pletcher. Todd wins 23% with his first time starters. He wins 27% of his maiden claiming races and 24% with his sprinters. Double Advantage has good enough mud breeding to win at first asking.
In its first ever race, gelding Girolamo’s Attack raced great. The Larry Piloti runner ran 6 furlongs over a sloppy track and finished second. This one could improve enough in the second race to get the win. Consider for the top and bottom of your exotics.
- Win: R Uncle Eric
- Place: Double Advantage
- Show: Girolamo’s Attack
