Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Mike Welsch handicaps the Thursday, March 12 racing card at Gulfstream Park, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 4.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Game Changer Jolie (4th race)
Fourth Race
1. Game Changer Jolie
2. Bal de Mar
3. Pocket Pair
GAME CHANGER JOLIE needed a baker’s dozen starts to finally break maiden, might not need many more to win N2L condition in current form. Irad stays, continues to work well over the synthetic. BAL DE MAR off form of late but could get brave at square price if away running from rail as likely controlling speed in here. POCKET PAIR knocking on door of late at the N2L level. Cannot ignore.
Here are Mike’s thoughts on the other nine races on Thursday’s Gulfstream Park card.
First Race
1. Pom Pom
2. Jamaican Destiny
3. I Love Ines
POM POM showed some early foot vs. much better in debut while down on deep rail during the early going. Comes off her best work yet, albeit on Tapeta, but might get brave if loose on front end as expected with this bunch. JAMAICAN DESTINY overcame very slow start, wide trip to finish third, debuting for same tag behind 3-2 Saffie J class dropping winner while galloping out best of the bunch after race. Expect better if she leaves with the field the second time around. I LOVE INES readily outlasted Jamaican D. for second while down on deep going near the rail in her first start on dirt. Figures forwardly throughout once again in this spot.
Second Race
1. Brigade Commander
2. Murabeh
3. Fly Erik Fly
BRIGADE COMMANDER getting ample class relief while returning to preferred surface today. Not badly beaten by Mythical Man for 2nd money last time on grass, the latter beating same kind next out and exiting an 82 Beyer effort against open $35K company after that. MURABEH a popular item at claim box lately and coming off a better than it looks on paper try last time in a race that graded out well for the level. Must avoid early conflict with speedy Drink N Wink. FLY ERIK FLY an improving sort who steps up off game N2L claiming win.
Embed from Getty ImagesThird Race
1. Mo Rapido
2. Skedaddling Home
3. Simo At the Big A
MO RAPIDO has been entered and scratched a couple of times recently for same tag, now well drawn outside if finally ready to give it a go today. Has shown promise on several occasions in a.m. including over the Tapeta strip on 2/21. . SKEDADDLING HOME another who has worked well over the surface, although perhaps better in a.m. than p.m. Did have excuses in each of last pair. One more chance for this tag. SIMO AT THE BIG A in new hands since latest. Ran sharp second, this level, two back.
Fifth Race
1. Elenique
2. Viking Quest
3. Emerald Ember
ELENIQUE gets a mulligan for beaten favorite performance when dropped to this level for first time last month after checking at break, checking on turn before coming up short with closing bid. Galloped out best of the bunch. Like Junior taking the call here. VIKING QUEST had used on front end, still hung in their gamely while showing improvement with addition of Lasix and on turn back to a sprint. Might not look back this time if able to relax a bit more early on. EMERALD EMBER well backed for debut, overcame slow start to look home free late stretch before overtaken in final jump by out of the clouds winner. Idle ever since and in new hand for return. Appears to be training forwardly for return.
Sixth Race
1. Awesomely Wild
2. O’Hearn
3. Flatter Fanatic
AWESOMELY WILD just one win in 19 tries but ran two well behind next out winners Worth Considering and Sheshighmaintenance last fall not to give one more chance in this pretty weak-looking spot. On dead rail two back, entered out of conditions against N3L company last time. O’HEARN overcame the bias to win maiden on the drop to bottom level claimer, properly spotted for this tag off that effort. One to catch again. FLATTER FANATIC logical off near miss last time with same kind, although that effort on Tapeta. Back to main today.
Seventh Race
1. My Perfect Lady
2. Waittilmidnitehour
3. The Dove Rules
MY PERFECT LADY makes third start off the layoff and first for barn, who owns high marks off the claim. Looks like speed of the speed even on turn back to five-eighths. WAITTILMIDNITEHOUR the lone five-time winner in lineup and exiting improved showing getting back on synthetic in ’26 bow. Blew out smarly over surface for this. THE DOVE RULES a consistent sort from Beyer standpoint of late turf or Tapeta. Hard to leave out of the equation.
Eighth Race
1. Patrol Squad Six
2. Beautiful War
3. Tacticality
PATROL SQUAD SIX got a bit too far back early, was left with too much to do, did finish willingly despite swapping leads along the way down stretch. Galloped out quite willingly. Sitting on a win with this kind with the right trip. BEAUTIFUL WAR ran to big works to register narrow victory in debut and continues to train smartly for first try with winners. Might just handle the jump with a little forward move. TACTICALITY like preferred choice chased home next out SW Thousandsticks last time while earning career best Beyer in process. Another major contender in wide open mix.
Ninth Race
1. Her Town
2. Velvet Vortex
3. Dry Powder
HER TOWN has won two of three, both from off pace, and catches a field that figures to produce very legitimate pace to run at again today. Holding own in morning with likes of speedy Dazzling Move and Holy Bull runner-up Bravaro. VELVET VORTEX perhaps the speed of the speed and likely to improve making just second start since the spring. Worked with FOY winner Commandmant on 2/21 prepping for this. DRY POWDER multiple G1 placed at 3, got caught up in three horse pace duel through smart fractions last time at Laurel. Should appreciate the class relief back with allowance foes and over track on which she captured her debut a year earlier.
Tenth Race
1. Gallant Lad
2. Sidearm
3. Cuban Cowboy
Lots of options in extremely wide-open finale. GALLANT LAD drops into selling ranks for first time, re-unites with Johnny V under whom he finished relatively well graded fifth two back behind red hot winner who has won twice more since that outing. Might just be along in time with clear sailing in this spot. SIDEARM from red-hot barn and is bred for the switch to grass being kin to several turf SW’s including Offering Plan. CUBAN COWBOY could proe bit of a sleeper switching to the turf and coming up tagged off the layoff. Held own in a.m. on grass with multiple inner winner Landman Friday.
Daily Racing Form is the most trusted source for horse racing news and information. Get an edge when you play the races with DRF.com.
For complete Derby Watch Top 20 rankings, visit DRF.com – Derby Watch analyzes top Kentucky Derby contenders each week. For odds, past performances and expert picks, visit DRF.com
DRF Road to the Derby Package Available Now! Save 37% on key handicapping essentials through Kentucky Derby day.
Get more Daily Racing Form horse racing picks on a daily basis on our VSiN Horse Racing page.
The post Horse Racing Picks Today at Gulfstream Park for Thursday, March 12 appeared first on VSiN.
Leave A Comment