Horse Betting World

Trio of Stakes Highlight Gulfstream Park Card

By Mike Dempsey

With Blame and Zenyatta retired, the question is who among the handicap division will move to the head of the class in 2011.

The question will be answered on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, as a solid field of nine older runners will go nine furlongs in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1), the first major stake for the handicap division in this year.

Among those looking for the win are I Want Revenge, who won the 2009 Wood Memorial (G1), and Fly Down, who capped off his three-year-old campaign last fall with a third place finish behind Blame and Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Toss in Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G3) winner Eldaafar, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) runner up Morning Line, and Clark Handicap (G1) winner Giant Oak, and we have a good betting race.

Supporting the Donn on the 11-race card is the $150,000 Suwannee River (G2) and the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1).

Here is a look at who I like to win each of the three stakes on Saturday’s card:

The Suwannee River
#9 Miss World stalked the early pace while saving ground and finished up well for third last out going a mile against Alw-3 optional claimers and that effort may set her up for a top effort here as she stretches back out to nine furlongs. She has lost seven races in a row, her last win coming in the Garden City (G1) at Belmont Park and note she is reunited with Cornelio Velasquez, who was aboard her for that win as well as her good effort in a runner up finish in the Glowing Honor three back off a 4 ½ month layoff. The mare is in good hands with the Clement barn and she should end up a decent price in this spot.

The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
#2 Smart Bid is coming off a third place finish behind #6 Little Mike’s gate to wire score in the Ft. Lauderdale (G3) on Jan. 9. The Graham Motion trainee has only raced on turf three times in his career and each was a good effort. He beat Alw-1 foes back in ’09 at Santa Anita in his turf debut, and only missed winning the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland by a neck. The five-year-old looks primed for a top effort here in his second start off a two-month break for a sharp barn and he should get a good tracking trip sitting just off what could be a lively pace. He appears to be the value of the race if let go near his 6/1 morning line.

The Donn Handicap
#3 Morning Line set a sharp early pace and weakened to finish third last out in the Hal’s Hope (G3), his first start since that tough beat in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) where he missed by a head to Dakota Phone. The fourth place finisher in the Hal’s Hope was Tackleberry, who came back to pull off the upset last Saturday in the Sunshine Millions Classic. Our top pick is a two time winner at nine furlongs including taking the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Parx last fall. The colt owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and if he can shake loose early he may prove tough to catch.