Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday 12/16/20
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 12:35 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Gulfstream Park. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.
As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and check the weather and track conditions.
(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions).
Seven Channels, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1
Race 3 is a Maiden Claiming race at 1-mile on the Turf. The top pick, according to numberFire’s data, is Pool Shark (4/1), with longshots Colliery (12/1) and Mr Matuschek (12/1) hitting the board. Pool Shark makes his local debut after setting a pressured pace and finishing second in his last race.
The favorite is Trade Deadline (2/1) for trainer Chad Brown, but he looks beatable and Horse Racing Radar notes he’s only raced three times and never in a claiming race. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides and he’ll be pressing the pace.
A live runner looks to be Seven Channels (6/1), who is ridden by the meet's leading-jockey Luis Saez. Seven Channels has finished in the money in four straight races, including with a 91 speed figure. His last race was a pretty salty Maiden Special Weight, and he was steadied early before coming on well down the stretch after getting bumped. We’ll give him another shot on a three-week turnaround with a pair of workouts in place
Sunny Isle Beach, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2
Race 8 is a Starter Optional Claiming race for two-year-old fillies going 1-mile. The favorite Yellowstone Girl (2/1) should be included since she gets an extra boost from EPO trainer Brad Cox. Top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides, and Yellowstone Girl is 1-for-3. She makes her Gulfstream debut off a runner-up finish last month at Churchill Downs with an improved 77 speed figure.
The top pick, according to both numberFire’s data and Daily Horse Picks algorithm, is Sunny Isle Beach (7/2). Sunny Isle Beach has top class and speed according to Daily Horse Picks' algorithm and projections, and she’s ridden by leading-jockey Luis Saez. Sunny Isle Beach won her last race in October and was claimed by new trainer Danny Gargan, who won four-of-eight starts last week and is leading all trainers at the current meet with a 50% win rate. Horse Racing Radar notes that Gargan has gone 8-for-17 with first off-the-claim starters at Gulfstream Park.
Social Paranoia, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1
Race 9 is the featured event and Allowance race at 7 ½ furlongs on the Turf. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides the favorite Social Paranoia (2/1) for another EPO trainer in Todd Pletcher. numberFire's models project Renaissance Frolic (6/1) to upset and win, with longshot Thunder Ride (15/1) hitting the board. Guaranteed Tip Sheet makes Social Paranoia a best bet with Olympic Runner (4/1) and Hay Dakota (5/1) the top contenders.
Social Paranoia is 2-for-4 this year and has finished in-the-money in 13-of-15 starts. He won his last race in July, hitting a 100 speed figure in a Grade III race that saw him come from the back and show a strong late-drive down the lane while going one mile. Soldado (10/1) is a stablemate of Social Paranoia, and he tries the grass for the first time.
