Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Friday, May 8

Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Friday, May 8

Written by on May 6, 2020

On Friday, May 8, great turf racing continues at Gulfstream Park. The Hallandale Beach based horse racing track features grass runners in a couple of $50,000 optional claiming events. One goes off as the eighth. The other goes off as the tenth. We handicap and make picks for both those two races as well as the ninth, a $25,000 claiming event going a mile on the dirt. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Gulfstream Park for Friday, May 8. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks

  • When: Friday, May 8 at 1:00 pm ET
  • Where: Hallandale Beach, FL
  • Weather: Mostly Sunny

Gulfstream Park Picks for Friday, May 8

Race 8 – 4:48 pm ET – 7 ½ Furlongs Turf – $50,000 Starter Optional Claiming

Rhythm Section has the look of one of those Todd Pletcher trained stakes horses. Todd saddled the son of American Pharoah to an easy maiden score in its last. No doubt, the top trainer wants to give this one more confidence before trying stakes company. Sometimes we’ve got to accept low odds on the favorite. Trying to beat Rhythm Section could be tantamount to throwing money into a tornado.

Cristophe Clement trained Arithmetic should finish off the chalky exacta. The Algorithms sired 3-year-old colt broke his maiden at first asking. Clement doesn’t often get them ready in their first race. We must expect this one to improve big time off the maiden score. The works are decent enough to consider for the top position if you’re not sold on the favorite.

Pletcher saddles another contender in Mandate. Todd wins 25% with his last out maiden winners. The son of Blame didn’t just break the maiden in his last, he dominated his competition by 3 lengths. Mandate is impossible to leave out of the trifecta.

  • Win: Rhythm Section
  • Place: Arithmetic
  • Show: Mandate

Race 9 – 5:19 pm ET – 1 Mile Dirt – $25,000 Claiming

Mary Eppler puts the saddle on Blue Ridge Mountain. The 4-year-old gelding goes turf to dirt for Eppler, a 14% winning angle. Mountain faces horses making bigger drops. That could give this one an advantage. We must ask why horses like Flute Maker, who ran in the Grade 3 Iroquois in its last, runs in this. At least we know Blue Ridge Mountain races at the right level.

Frank First was awful in its last. But the Lea sired 3-year-old gelding has a couple of excuses. First, the last was over the grass. Second, jockey Tyler Gaffalione rode. Nothing against Tyler but Friday’s listed jockey, Irad Ortiz, has a rapport with Frank. Irad rode this one to a couple of third place finishes and a win in 3 straight before Tyler took the call.

Based on class, Flute Maker is a must use in the trifecta. The Kenny McPeek trained runner is a tough sell for the win slot, though. Horses dropping from graded races to $25,000 claimers are often bad bets to win.

  • Win: Blue Ridge Mountain
  • Place: Frank First
  • Show: Flute Maker

Race 10 – 5:49 pm ET – 5 Furlongs Turf – $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming

Lady Grace has 2 wins and 2 seconds from 5 races at the distance. The Mark Casse trained 4-year-old filly has 3 wins and a third in her last 4 races. She’s 2-2 from 4 races over Gulfstream Park’s sod. She’s the top pick in a crazy deep race.

Joel Rosario rides Dixieincandyland. The Eddie Kenneally trainee has 2 wins, a second, and a third in her last 4 races. As they turn for home, Joel will ensure she’s within striking distance. If Lady Grace gets caught in a speed duel, Dixieincandyland could motor home for the win.

R Happy Ending may get lost in the betting. The Georgina Baxter trained runner has speed. The mare also has a great 3-3-1 record from 8 races over Gulf’s turf. If the odds are nice, consider on top and bottom of the exotics.

  • Win: Lady Grace
  • Place: Dixieincandyland
  • Show: R Happy Ending