Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park Picks for April 11, 2020

I’m taking my talents to Hallandale Beach (just for this card). Gulfstream Park is full of great wagering opportunities including multiple Pick 4’s, Pick 5’s, and the Rainbow 6 starting in Race 8. My ticket includes the early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) and the early Pick 4 (Races 2-5). Both tickets are predicated on a major single that can unlock the whole ticket! 

Best of luck!

Race 1: Claiming $12,500-$10,500 for 3-year-olds and upward going 5 furlongs on the turf. Purse $20,000

I’m going to put my top choice on top from the rail, #1 Bolt. He’s looked like a completely different horse here in 2020 performing very well on turf. Two starts back he went wire-to-wire after posting a quick :21.91 first quarter. He followed that start up with a solid performance at the Starter Optional Claiming ranks finishing fourth at 49/1, getting bumped at the start. He will be quick out of the gate, and Jaramillo will ride for the third time in a row. #6 Put it on Detti makes his second start on turf after stepping up in class from his debut. He closed into a very fast first quarter on March 19. Paco Lopez is an upgrade over Luis Quiroz and should give this horse a great trip from the back of the pack. #7 Primo Posto has been a tough horse to figure out. His last turf effort was October 18, 2019 where he was five-wide into the stretch. His best effort was when he broke his maiden on September 4, 2019 at Colonial Downs on the turf. He gets back to a turf sprint here and will look to show that early speed he possessed on that day.

Race 2: Maiden Claiming $12,500-$10,500 for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $17,000

This race sets up as a one-horse race as #3 Witch Hunter will be very tough to beat. Saffie Joseph Jr. had her ready to fire for the first time after the trainer switch. She takes a major drop in class today for the connections and on paper is the best of this group. Tyler Gaffalione is the hottest jockey in the country right now and will have a fantastic opportunity to improve on those numbers here.

Race 3: Maiden Claiming $50,000-$40,000 for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $35,000

#4 Queen’s Mason drops in class for Michael Tomlinson after failing to win in his first seven starts of his career. He makes his first start here at Gulfstream after running at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, and Keeneland. His best performances came at the beginning of his career where he showed early speed. Jaramillo will not wait to let this horse go out of the gate who certainly will be a very short price. Saffie Joseph Jr. will bring back #5 Chill Haze who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for the first time. He got Chris Landeros the first two times out and his struggles have been widely talked about. Chill Haze got away very well last time out at the same level he will run at here and will be a logical choice on most multi-race tickets. #6 Lucky Stripe will make his debut for Monica McGoey as a 3-year-old by City Zip. His most recent morning workout was :36.68 at 3-furlongs indicating he should show early speed. It’s an added bonus he gets white-hot Luis Saez aboard as well. #8 Liberty’s Pursuit is an interesting 4-year-old by Curlin. He was purchased in 2017 as a yearling for $850,000 and has not lived up to the hype. This will be his first start for a tag as he makes his return to the dirt. He hasn’t run on dirt since he ran at Saratoga last year where he finished third. He’s my top choice but is running out of opportunities to break his maiden status.

Race 4: Claiming $6,250 for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $16,000

It’s going to be very tough to beat #3 Enzoexpress if he runs his best race. He has the best early speed out of this group and also has the class as well. His last race at Churchill Downs should be crossed out. He was hustled up by Robby Albarado after getting jostled at the gate. The top three runners in that race went on to win next time out showing the prowess of that Claiming $50,000 race. The only concern the betting public may have is the long layoff, but Larry Rivelli is 21/35 with runners coming off a six-month layoff in the last 365 days. The other horse I’m including is #5 Azkaree who won on debut back on January 15 here at Gulfstream. He was able to get the lead from the start and held on at the wire. It’s interesting to note Jaramillo does not ride back and Alberto Burgos will be aboard. Gilberto Zerpa doesn’t have a ton of stock but his numbers in the last 365 days are spectacular.

Race 5: Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old fillies going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf. Purse $45,000

I have plenty of coverage in the last race of the sequence as I’ve included seven entries. My top choice #5 Church on Time makes her debut for Chad Brown at a mile on the turf. In most years, this horse would’ve made her debut at Keeneland or Aqueduct but 2020 has been a different year. She is by Honor Code who was a fan of Gulfstream Park in his racing days. In two career starts Gulfsream, he finished second at the allowance level and won in the Gulfstream Park Handicap back in 2015. Church on Time has looked great in the mornings on turf and is poised for a big performance in her debut.

THE TICKET

$0.50 PICK 5 (Races 1-5) – 1,6,7,11 / 3 / 4,5,6,8 / 3,5 / 2,3,5,6,8,9,12 – $112

$1 PICK 4 (Races 2-5) – 3 / 4,5,6,8 / 3,5 / 2,3,5,6,8,9,12 – $56

Want more Gulfstream picks? Get the Dudes’ FREE and PREMIUM picks!