We handicapped and made horse racing picks for three races from Gulfstream’s Friday card. Two of the races are turf events. The other is an interesting $16,000 optional claiming dirt race. Check it out! Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Gulfstream Park for Friday, May 22. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks
- When: Friday, May 22 at 12:45 pm ET
- Where: Hallandale Beach, FL
- Weather: Partly Cloudy
Gulfstream Park Picks for Friday, May 22
Race 2 – 1:15 pm ET – 5 Furlongs Turf – $65,000 Maiden Special Weight
Few runners in this have racing experience. No problem. First time starter Amanzi Yimpilo is bred to love the grass. Not only that but Wesley Ward wins 29% with his first time starters. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call and the works suggest this one has some speed. We’re backing the 6/1 morning line to get her picture taken.
2-year-old Mark Casse trained colt Kodiak Mamba should go off the favorite. Casse wins 17% with his first time starters. Mark wins 14% with debut turf runners. Also, Luis Saez takes the call, which means Mamba probably gets the lead.
Trainer Michael Yates and jockey Miguel Vasquez have combined for some nice scores during this meet. The duo gets together in Race 2 with Congrats Again. The gelding finished third in its first race. That was over dirt. Turf could wake this one up so consider for top and bottom of your exotic tix.
- Win: Amanzi Timpilo
- Place: Kodiak Mamba
- Show: Congrats Again
Race 9 – 4:52 pm ET – 1 1/16 Miles Dirt –$16,000 Allowance Optional Claiming
It’s rare to find a Danny Gargan runner that offers 10/1 on the morning line. Jay’s Way does. On one hand it makes sense. The 7-year-old horse hasn’t won in who knows how long and walked off in his last. But Gargan wins 28% first time. Also, based on speed ratings, Jay’s Way has better than 10/1 shot to take this low-level optional claimer.
8/1 on the morning line First and Three has run in four straight at this level. The colt has 3 second place finishes and a third. Even though classier horses have entered, First and Three is the form equine. Form usually trumps class in races at this level.
One of those class horses is Saffie Joseph Jr. trained No Getting Over Me. After breaking its maiden by 9 ¾ lengths, former conditioner Gerald Bennett entered this one in three straight stakes races. This is a massive drop in class. Expect Edgard Zayas to go gate to wire. The gelding might but it won’t at decent odds.
- Win: Jay’s Way
- Place: First and Three
- Show: No Getting Over Me
Race 10 – 5:24 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $12,500 Claiming
Youshouldbesolucky goes back to a mile, gets to break from post-position 1, and drops in class. It all adds up to a possible winning run. It also helps that Dillon Rocks in post-position 2 should ensure a fast pace.
In his first against winners, 4-year-old colt Dillon Rocks ran a respectable third. The speedster faces other front runners in this. But Rocks should get the lead after breaking from his inside post. Getting the lead could be all that jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. needs to nurse the Jane Cibelli trained runner to a gate to wire score.
Star of Stars has never raced on turf. The Mike Maker trained equine offers 7/2 morning line odds, though. Why? The colt broke its maiden by 7 ½ lengths and this event is low on talent. Also, Maker wins 19% with his first on the grass runners.
- Win: Youshouldbsolucky
- Place: Dillon Rocks
- Show: Star of Stars
