HORSE RACING

​Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday 12/23/20

There are 10 races at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday. Which horses should you bet on at FanDuel Racing?

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).

Tap Tap Birdie, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1

Race 4 is a Maiden Claiming race for two-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the Turf. The favorite in the field of 12 is Irazu (7/2) for EPO trainer Rudy Rodriguez with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons. Irazu is stretching out after rallying from off the pace to finish second going 1-mile when she was last out in early December. Also rallying to finish third after clipping heels early was Julie Bird (4/1) for EPO trainer Mike Maker.

The top pick of numberFire is longshot Broadway Diva (20/1), who is 0-for-3 but improved her speed figure last race when running on the lead for 1-mile before fading. She's an overlay in this field with a chance to hit the board and payoff in Exacta and Trifecta wagering.

Take a look at Tap Tap Birdie (5/1), who has finished third in four of five starts locally since June. In October, she had a tough post position running wide around the turns. The winner that day returned to beat better runners and males last week.

Brasstown, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2

Race 6 is a Claiming race at 1-mile. The favorite, Han Sense (9/5), is the projected winner, according to numberFire's data. Han Sense will take money in the seven-horse field with leading-jockey Paco Lopez riding. Han Sense has been off since August when he failed to finish a race. A second-place finish and 104 speed figure in July against higher-priced claimers at Belmont makes him the favorite. Still, he's winless in 2020 and has no races in more than four months.

Horse Racing Radar notes that Turn On the Magic (4/1) is running in a straight claiming ranks for the first time and posted his best speed figure (92) last race.

Brasstown (5/2) is the second choice of numberFire and has the ability and best speed in the race. He'll have one of the nation’s best speed riders to fit well in jockey Edgard Zayas. Horse Racing Radar adds that Brasstown has hit triple-digit speed figures in three of his last four starts and finished in-the-money in five straight races. Trainer Antonia Sano freshened him off his September try and he finished a close third last month with a 101 speed figure. This is a good spot for his second win since May.

Shamrocket, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5

Race 9 is an Allowance race for state-breds going 1-mile on the Turf. The favorite and top pick of Guaranteed Tip Sheet is Shamrocket (9/5). Shamrocket has been working sharply in the mornings the past month following his third-place finish in September against a classy stakes field. He’s running against older horses and finished in-the-money in all seven starts this year. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides for Shamrocket’s new trainer Todd Pletcher.

Kroy (4/1) was claimed last month by new trainer Eddie Kenneally, who will try to get him running back to his triple-digit speed figures from earlier this year. numberFire's models believe he will accomplish that and win the race in front of Shamrocket.