Gulfstream Park Sunday Feature Preview & FREE Picks | RUDDER’S MEN Leads Packed Field Of Kentucky Derby 2023 Contenders

Vinny from Real Dynasty Picks previews the Sunday feature race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, January 8, 2023, then gives his top picks & long shots. The Todd Pletcher-trained Rudder’s Men leads a packed field of 3-year-old colts in a race that could produce multiple contenders for future Kentucky Derby 2023 prep races. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

Legacy Racing LLC’s Mr. Ripple is scheduled to make his much-awaited return to action in Sunday’s Race 9 feature at Gulfstream Park.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Dialed In is one of four first-out winners to return in the one-turn-mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds that will likely serve as a prep for the Feb. 4 $250,000 Holy Bull (G3).

“He’s doing well,” Joseph said. “It’s a tough race. He ran well in his first race, but don’t know what he beat.”

Mr. Ripple graduated at the one-turn mile distance at Gulfstream Park Oct. 15 by 9 ¼ lengths. Edgard Zayas has the return mount on the son of Dialed In.

“This race will be a good gauge of where we are,” said Joseph, who saddled White Abarrio for victories in last season’s Holy Bull and $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by a pair of first-out winners – Rudder’s Men, who won at first asking by 4 ¼ lengths Oct. 22 at Aqueduct, and Centennial Farms’ Litigate, who debuted with a wide-rallying victory at Aqueduct Nov. 19.

Fellow Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the return call on Litigate, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Rudder’s Men back.

Hall of Famer trainer Shug McGaughey is slated to saddle Joseph Allen LLC and China Horse Club’s Talk of the Nation, who overcome a slow break to score going away by 4 ½ lengths in his debut at Aqueduct Nov. 11. Joel Rosario is set to ride the son of Quality Road for the first time Sunday.

Trainer Dale Romans entered Bakster Farm LLC’s Deer District, who finished second on turf in the Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland two starts back, and Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons’ Cyclone Mischief, who weakened to finish seventh after leading in the stretch in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill after graduating at Keeneland in his third career start.

The well-stocked Race 9 feature will headline Sunday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence that will span Races 5-10.