Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 2/27/21
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 11:30 a.m. EST, we have 14 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.)
Vequist, Race 12
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/5
Race 12 is the $200K Grade II Davona Dale for three-year-old fillies racing 1 mile. The winner earns 50 qualifying points and a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Oaks the end of April. The top pick for numberFire’s data is favorite Vequist (7/5). She won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in November and is a very deserving favorite in her 2021 debut as the one to beat. Crazy Beautiful (6/1) offers value, and she finished a distant second to Vequist in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She’s likely second best again.
Heavenly Curlin and War Like Goddess, Race 13
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 10/1
Race 13 is the $125K Grade III Very One Stakes for older fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles on the turf. This race has higher payoff potential, according to Super Screener, and morning line favorite Antoinette has odds of 9/2. She’s won 3-of-10 starts and finished in the money eight times but looks vulnerable as the pace setter.
War Like Goddess (10/1), a lightly-raced four year old, is 2-for-2 and has a strong late kick. Antoinette and War Like Goddess are both trained by Bill Mott, and War Like Goddess makes her stakes debut but can challenge and hit the board.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet likes Belle Laura (5/1), who will likely press the pace and make it a race. Include her in exacta and trifecta wagering as an in-the-money finisher, according to numberFire's data. Chad Brown-trained Kalifornia Queen (4/1) is a closer, but Horse Racing Radar notes Brown's other horse, Bacchanalia (8/1), is a bigger threat with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. summoned to ride.
Heavenly Curlin (8/1) is overlooked in here with top jockey John Velazquez riding for leading trainer Mark Casse. She’s the projected winner by numberFire's algorithm and has been on a steady form cycle improvement. She won her third straight race in November with a big closing move to win going away at Woodbine. That 1 1/4-mile race sets her up well here despite a fifth-place finish on her first try at Gulfstream last month against a strong Grade III group of runners.
Greatest Honor and Prime Factor, Race 14
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 5/1
Race 14 is the $300K Grade II Fountain of Youth. The Kentucky Derby prep race is for three-year-olds. It's going 1 1/16 miles and awards the top-four finishers qualifying points (50-20-10-5). The top pick by numberFire's data is Fire At Will (7/2), who makes his 2021 debut after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November for EPO trainer Mike Maker. Favorite Greatest Honour (9/5) is runner-up, per numberFire. He won the Holy Bull at Gulfstream last month by more than 5 lengths over Tarantino (8/1).
Holy Bull favorite Prime Factor (5/1) finished a distant third and returns with expert handicapping picks giving him a solid chance to move forward and challenge the favorite. Prime Factor is ridden by leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the meet's top trainer, Todd Pletcher. Greatest Honour is ridden by Irad's brother, Jose Ortiz, and trainer Shug McGaughey won the race back in 2013 with Orb, who was the last horse to win both the Fountain of Youth and Kentucky Derby.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet's wagering guide gives Drain the Clock (5/1) a good chance to win while racing up front with Prime Factor and suggests using him in exacta and trifecta wagering. An improved effort by Papetu (15/1) off his fourth-place finish at much lower odds in the Holy Bull would make for a solid payday in trifecta inclusions.
