ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, PAT M’S IMAGE

FIRST RACE

VENEZUELANTREASURE rates a narrow edge over SHEZAWAVE and YANKEE PERFECTION in the opener. Her last couple races were sneaky good, resulting in fourth-place finisher\s that don’t immediately jump out at bettors. SHEZAWAVE owns the top last-race Beyer, a 64, accomplished with a third-place finish when having a wide trip July 24; much improved form for her current barn. YANKEE PERFECTION struggled in an off-the-turf race in the slop June 4 but has solid grass form with a win, a fourth, and a fifth in three starts on the surface.

SECOND RACE

SOBRINO, claimed out of two consecutive races, goes for a winning trainer/jockey combo and has back class to go along with a recent second-place finish. D. SHIFFLETT possesses speed and has been running competitively, but is 22-1-8-7 and seems best used in the 2-3 spots in the gimmicks. DREAMY MARTINI is dropped in class and adds blinkers, but will likely be heavily backed to underlay status, being from California.

THIRD RACE

SECOND STREET has move-up potential racing first off the claim for a barn having a good summer and with blinkers being removed; recent seventh was lackluster but his preceding races at Gulf in May and June were solid. JAGR is the most likely winner, dropping in class and being 1 for 3 on the turf, but he figures to be a prohibitive favorite. RORY is a late runner that has regularly settled for minor awards since moving into the N2L claiming ranks.

FOURTH RACE

GUNNEVERA is the class of this stake, a millionaire that won the Fountain of Youth over this track; been working swiftly at Gulfstream Park West leading into his comeback, suggesting he ought to be ready for a his first race since a fifth in the Preakness. FRONT LOADED is the only other entrant other than GUNNEVERA to have won more than a single race. He is a three-time winner that recently took a Florida-bred allowance July 16; tactical speed and stakes placed. PRINCE TITO was dull in finishing fifth last out in a open firstlevel allowance but had previously been second in a similar race; reunited with Gaffalione, who was up for the runner-up finish two back as well as this colt’s maiden win.

FIFTH RACE

VIGAS was a brave winner of a conditioned $10,000 claimer July 22, surging to victory after awaiting room; ultra consistent and at the top of his game since April. FAIR PROSPECT also won for $10,000 last out, though he had to work a little harder than expected as the 4-5 favorite; joins a winning barn off the claim after rather aggressive placement by his prior connections. BRITANNIA’S MOAT chased fast splits and threw in the towel last out and can likely respond with better for $10,000; was third at this level two back with a troubled trip.

SIXTH RACE

DIPLOMATIC AFFAIR, riding a three-race win

streak, has defeated stronger $6,250 claiming fields than the group she faces here; keeps changing hands via claims but also keeps producing.

L’S WAGON is better than what she has shown in her last two starts when fifth on both occasions; likely needed her latest after nearly three months off. Late-running MISS VISCONTI shifts from turf to dirt and is dropped in class from $10,000 after non-threatening efforts on the lawn; won the last time she raced on the main track, scoring at this level Apr. 30 at odds of almost 7-1.

SEVENTH RACE

MISSWORLD VENEZUELA crossed the wire first in a $16,000 race, only to get disqualified for interference for drifting out - the second time this has happened to this filly in her 13-race career. Now new trainer Leo Gabriel, who claimed her last out, removes her blinkers in an effort to straight her out. R SWEET EXCHANGE set a pressured pace and pulled away to win for $10,000 last time, and though stepping up in claiming price, she has won races for this tag or richer. COQUIVACOA is similar to the top choice in that she was a disqualified from first most recently and was claimed out of the race; an honest sort but seemingly a step slower than the top two on figures.

EIGHTH RACE

HELLO JULIET has posted Beyers in the 70s in four of her last five starts, sometimes when matched against better; lone figure that didn’t fall in the 70s came in the slop; tactical speed and a winning trainer/jockey combo. CHARLIE’S SECRET did everything but win in her last try when matched against Florida-bred allowance foes, dueling down the length of the stretch, only to lose by a neck; two victories since May here at Gulf, though both came vs. softer. SURPRISE WEDDING was stakes placed last year, and though she hasn’t done much at 3 with a pair of fourths, one race was a comeback and the other came in the slop.

NINTH RACE

PAT M’S IMAGE should fire fresh after a short layoff with the move into this allowance after a close fourth in a stakes race for Florida breds; ran quite well given the circumstances in the latter race given there was no pace to set up her rally. FASHIONABLY WILD should be forgiven for a distant third last out in a race taken off the grass and run on a sloppy main track; good turf form at Gulfstream this summer. REAGAN’S ODYSSEY looked like she might steal a $30,000 conditioned claimer last out after spurting clear and setting a slow pace, but was run down late and ended up second; went 5 for 12 in 2016 but her stretch fight has been absent in six winless starts in 2017.

TENTH RACE

QUENANE has run third or better in five consecutive starts, and though beaten over 8 lengths in his latest, bear in mind he stumbled at the start; Levy, who claimed him last out, and Gaffalione are 5 for their last 13 when teaming together at Gulf. KNOCKOUT RANGER has improved since blinkers were removed, winning a maiden claimer and following that race with a fourth and a second in two starts against N2L competition. NEPHEW HOWARD D has run third in his last two tries against similar on the dirt and is 6-1-2-2 on fast tracks.

ELEVENTH RACE

Little separates the leading contenders in the this grass stake .... giving the edge to TWO STEP TIME, who starts for a barn that excels with turf horses across the country; sharp current form at Gulfstream. GALLEON MAST finished in front of the top choice when second in the Mecke Stakes July 9 when TWO STEP TIME was third; posted his first Beyer in the 90s last out after regularly running figures in the mid 80s. MY POINT EXACTLY caused interference when second across the post before being placed fourth in a stakes race June 17 here; is dangerous when able to control the pace. There is not a whole lot of speed in this lineup, though COLLECTIVE WISDOM to his immediate inside may come out running.

TWELFTH RACE

GRAN NIGHTHAWK is by a top Kentucky sire in Awesome Again and has trained quickly for months; trains like a runner for a high-percentage stable for her debut. SO FRESH is another with sire power, being by Candy Ride. Most of her works have been moderate, though she did work a half in 48 and change out of the gate at Palm Meadows July 22. LADY FREEDOM might be the best of those that have raced. She was fifth and second in a pair of races against talented maidens.