ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, FIAMMA MAMMA

FIRST RACE

With Gulfstream and the surrounding area having mostly (and fortunately) dodged that scary Hurricane Dorian bullet, the same 11-race program that was to be run last Sunday (Sept. 1) has been re-carded in its entirety for this Sunday. GILDA F. figures as a very heavy favorite in the 1:15 ET opener on the pretty safe assumption that racing will stay on the grass today; daughter of the standout Kantharos is in a light spot after finding the proper level in her latest for Mr. Frank & his minions. CULTIVATION also turned in a career best in her latest when turf-sprinting for the first time; should contend. ITALY RED gets cut in half when trying the grass.

SECOND RACE

Even with those 2 awful post-claim efforts by BIRD OF PEACE, she still has the look of a major contender in this ‘beaten’ bottom-level race, which clearly speaks to the competition; slimmest of pickin’s amid this short field. TRULY COURAGEOUS was a sharp 17-1 winner two-back in the slop; open-air outer box a plus. SONOMA STORM has enough to take down a minor share.

THIRD RACE

All of a sudden ONE FINE RIDE is really on his game, as evidenced by the 2 outstanding Aug. efforts; another good one in store to kick off his September. NORTHERN proved a shrewd claim right off the bat for the Imaginary folks; immediate factor from a favorable outside position. COLORMEPOMPOM drops from considerably tougher spots and stands to make his presence felt in his 50th start.

FOURTH RACE

Pretty nice that this card was stashed away for a week before being brought back whole, if only because of this particular race. It’s competitive top-to-bottom, with any of a half-dozen or so of these open $12.5k grassers capable of victory. The lean here is toward TROPICAT for the everdangerous Dibona barn; dips below the 2-back taking price of $16k after having one for Bobby; outer post might yield a bit of a better tote number than might otherwise be expected. CROWN TO THE GOLD could be closing best of all at race’s end; Beyers in his last few point to marked improvement for The Family Nagle. COMPLETELY BONKERS and BILLY BIG are among the other legit players.

FIFTH RACE

Second as a 1-2 favorite in her 2nd start, the chestnut 2yo filly FIAMMA MAMMA will be a similarly short price today when facing a highly suspect group; free space on your Bingo card as the day’s best, so might as well take it. ANGELIC KNUGGET ran OK for prior connections; new barn looking for something a whole lot better than that 8/10 stinker. MY LITTLE JOHARA ships in from La. with decent form, but let’s see how it translates across the Gulf.

SIXTH RACE

The Rainbow 6 and its seven-figure jackpot (assuming it wasn’t swept Friday or Saturday) starts with this 2-turn turfer for ‘beaten’ fillies & mares and with the possibility of a She-She exacta; namely, SHE’S RIGHT AGAIN could be the one to beat as she continues knocking on the door in what looks like a very suitable spot. A couple of gates down, SHEPUTASPELLONME surely needed her latest in a bad way when returning from a

nearly 7-month respite; all set now. Between the She pair, MOTHERWELL sports decent form as a handy sort.

SEVENTH RACE

13th time could be the charm for STARSHIP TAXI, whose latest for the Marlins Man was among his finest; over the top today. LONDON WEREWOLF comes listed as a first-time gelding after outrunning his 33-1 odds in his latest; pretty quick back after undergoing the knife, but whatevs. HIGH APPROVAL didn’t run too bad in his lone dirt attempt in late June.

EIGHTH RACE

No secret that VICTORIA’S SMILE will be trying to dominate this from the outset as the Georgiabred filly makes her two-turn debut following big flashes of early foot in sprints; simply a question of whether she can be throttled down enough to make that superior speed last throughout. If not, SWEEPENO stands to inherit the top; put a big red line through that off-turf debacle 3 Sundays ago and see what ya got. ADAMANT, adding blinks, can follow them on around while saving ground before taking home another minor award.

NINTH RACE

Lots of unknowns in this competitive-looking starter-alw. for 2yo fillies, with PRINCESS ULELE among those with the best chances; tons of early speed in opposition to help facilitate the nice kick she revealed in her last-out maiden tally. FAST VENEZUELA is perfect so far; won off as if she’s capable of doing even better. JOPLIN and HURRICANE LORN figure into an ample mix, too.

TENTH RACE

No bad ones so far for RAPID TRANSIT, whose lone defeat came when Boogie took her from a runnerup finish in her latest; the 31-percent strike rate with first claims puts the trainer among the elite on this circuit in that category. GIA LIA JOE sure is a tactical filly; among the first flight once they spin for home. CARUCA, WINNING GAME, and TOTAL TREASURE help make this one of the better heats of the day.

ELEVENTH RACE

Got to think Casse Inc. is bullish on KARAKONTIE FLYER after the $120k yearling purchase turned in a bullet in her final pre-debut work earlier this week in Boynton; one of several in this interesting finale with definite upside. GREATER PLAN comes unveiled by Plesa, whose many years of outstanding work with babies isn’t reflected in his more recent stats; Secret Circle filly is bred for speed and is apt to show it from a favorable post. HONESTA and CAJUN DELIGHT are two more whose chances might well be best reflected through the tote.