BEST BET: RACE 12, GIVONNA’S MAGIC

FIRST RACE

OVER LIMIT rates a narrow edge in the opener, a $6,250 conditioned claimer, following a drop from $12,500 claiming company; hard to get excited about anyone in this struggling field, but this one at least starts for a winning and can at least lay within three or four lengths of the pace, unlike deep closing STARSHIP ROCKY. The latter comes off a pair of 70+ Beyers since shifting from turf to dirt, but doesn’t have much early speed, and such types are usually shaky plays in the win pool; therefore the second selection. W W CONCERTO has recorded 11 victories, though has only one top-3 finish over his last six starts since changing hands; tactical speed is a plus.

SECOND RACE

Even though she lost last time out, ROSES IN THE SOUTH ran one of her better races to be second. She wasn’t able to secure her preferring running position on the lead and was racing on dirt in a race that came off the grass. She is at her best when making the lead in five-furlong grass races like this one. BALADA has been in sharp form since the sprint, winning two of four starts, but inexperienced as a short-distance turf sprinter; regress of her lofty recent Beyers on the cutback from routes. CORDELE hasn’t run to expectations over her last few starts, but one of those came in a race taken off the grass, and she is best forgiven for at least that failure; 5 for 9 sprinting five eighths on the lawn.

THIRD RACE

COMMISSIONED is aggressively spotted off the claim, though for winning connections known for such kind of placement; has rattled off three straight victories under varying conditions. MILBRA has been popular at the claims box since March, getting claimed from three of her four starts over that stretch, even last time when she was a 34-1 outsider; mediocre recent form but her new barn has lofty number in many statistical categories, including with first-after-claim runners. TIUNA seems like one of the classier runners in the field, but she has been managed more like a turf horse than a dirt horse in 201720018. So although her dirt race is solid, at 2 for 5, would not be surprised to see her go backward a bit on the move from grass to dirt.

FOURTH RACE

WHISKEY TRAIN drew poorly toward the outside, but so did chief rival DARN THAT PARKER. ‘TRAIN at least has a nice up-close stalking style that should allow him to clear much of the traffic while putting him within range of the leaders; coming off a near-miss when second, beaten a nose, on June 3. DARN THAT PARKER has the speed to be prominent from the start and also brings solid recent form into this race, but his 31-2-6-6 record hints that he is best used underneath in the gimmicks. Late-running SMART RETURN failed to threaten in his last two starts, but perhaps can wake up with a class drop; keeps high-percentage rider Tyler Gaffalione, who was up for a victory three starts ago in April.

FIFTH RACE

A slow group of maiden claimers are on tap for

race 5, and CARIBBEAN GIRL, while hardly fast, has been quicker than her rivals on the basis of speed figures. She has run Beyers in the 34-42 range in three races for her current barn - far higher than the regular numbers of her rivals. GRAN AVENTURA hasn’t run as quick but is speedy and lightly raced and may have more upside than others in the lineup. MONJA has yet to hit the board in eight starts, but has respectable numbers, at least on turf; chance to contend if she can run effectively on dirt, a surface for which she is bred to handle.

SIXTH RACE

GRAYCIEZ SPIRIT is a consistent turf-sprint performer that was freshened a bit after being claimed by a winning barn; great first-after-theclaim numbers, though the workout tab is sketchy coming into this. SUM ROAR has struggled in her last two, but one of those losses came on dirt, and the other following an extended layoff; possible bounce-back race here. R SWEET EXCHANGE is a four-time winner on the Gulfstream Park lawn, all in sprints, but hasn’t raced since Jan. 11 and could be disadvantaged by the time away; still must respect for a high-percentage trainer in Ziadie.

SEVENTH RACE

MASTER RORY blew away maidens first out on the lead before finding winners much more difficult, fading to fifth after chasing the pace; sharp class to $6,250 seems a reflection on the fact that he is a 5-year-old with only two starts. GITGO also moves down the ladder, and now adds Gaffalione; exits a key race at the $12,500 level - thoughshe was a relative non-factor in finishing fifth of seven. SOUND OF THE TAP is speedy and seems likely to benefit from a cutback in distance, though his 1-for-13 record is unattractive.

EIGHTH RACE

The speedy LITTLE PLUMBER is erratic but appears capable if he runs to his potential. He ran well to be second in the slop in a race taken off the grass last out, and dirt does not appear to suit him nearly as well as turf. WILDCAT SAINT gets a little bit of class relief after repeatedly coming up just short against winners once within the N2L ranks. SMILING MASON isn’t as quick as the top two on paper, but has a stalking/midpack closing style that could set him up to pick up a piece.

NINTH RACE

DIZZY GILLESPIE has performed well in two starts off the claim for trainer Rohan Crichton, winning a claiming race by over 10 lengths and then finishing second in a starter; now jumping in class into an allowance, but his numbers suggest he has the speed to keep up. RULER OF THE NILE was highly disappointing at Keeneland, running last of seven at even money for Pletcher, but Gulfstream in the summer isn’t Keeneland in the spring. Even within the allowance ranks, this is a much easier race. TO DARE is 6 for 30 on dirt, a record that includes a few wins in 2017-2018; was flat in his latest after being kept closer to the pace than usual due to slow splits; seems more comfortably when allowed to fall back and rally behind quick splits.

TENTH RACE

PHENOMENAL GEM made up 11 lengths to defeat $10,000 N2L stock with a wide trip, and looks poised to repeat against N3L runners if he can repeat that kind of effort; now 2 for 4. COSITA RICA just ran a close fourth against similar after winning a N2L in April. She seems a bit better than she showed that day when a wide trip compromised her somewhat. SCHMISS fits off figures, having run Beyers of 66 twice and a 77 in three starts on the Gulfstream lawn this year. Those are among the best in the field; a bit prone to minor awards but dropped to her lowest level since moving to the grass this spring.

ELEVENTH RACE

MCMANAMAN seems to have rounded back into form after faltering in February and March. Now in the third start of his current form cycle, he looks poised for a winning effort after a runner-up finish against similar June 2. OCTOPYTHIUS woke up with a close third June 3 after not running to his capability in his initial starts vs. winners; well suited to the mile distance and $6,250 claiming level. EL CHAVAL rallied to be second June 3, finishing a length in front of OCTOPYTHIUS. ‘CHAVAL figures as a threat off that race, but having very little early speed, he is more dependent on pace/trip than those with tactical speed.

TWELFTH RACE

GIVONNA’S MAGIC goes second off the claim for the Calabrese crew, and drops to her lowest level while returning to grass. One-race experiment in a dirt sprint didn’t work out. Fellow dropper EXCLUSIVELY EMMA owns decent Beyers and is a touch fresh; ready for her most competitive effort to date after not finishing better than fifth in her first six races. TROPICAL GOLD is another that has yet to hit the board, though she at least flashed improved speed in her latest before fading to sixth against richer maiden $20,000 stock.