Gulfstream Park Picks: Florida Derby Day LP4 ticket on April 2

It's Florida Derby Day! At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action related to the Derby Trail! The South Florida Series put on the Grade 3 Holy Bull ... then it was the Grade 2 running of the Fountain of Youth Stakes ... so now, the attention shifts to the final leg of the Sunshine State Derby Trail!

That race, the Grade 1 FLA Derby should be quite an event , and our resident turfwriter, J.N. Campbell, has you covered with a Late Pick 4 All-Stakes ticket, plus free selections from the entire blockbuster 14-race card! You will not want to miss it ...

It is a good time for some of the greatest racing that North America has to offer. If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Saturday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

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ALL-STAKES LATE PICK 4…

LEG 1: (Race 11: Turf, 1 1/16th, Sanibel Island S., $100k, 3F)

We break from the Late Pick 4 post … heading around a number of turns … The Sanibel brings together a strong group of 10 turf routers. With a number of directions to go in, we need to be judicious about our selections because we want to try and keep this ticket price manageable. One other point to mention is the possible weather changes that are coming … rain is in the forecast, and that could alter the state of the turf course. Keep that in mind … I am pretty interested in Graham Motion’s filly by Medaglia d’Oro. The 3-yr-old Ambitieuse #8 is shipping back to South Florida after competing in the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa last month. She was up against a pair of Chad Brown runners that day (Dolce Zel and Spicer), and in the end, she did not have her best fastball. I like that Luis Saez gets the call for the 1st time, and that could be just the move that she needs. Two races back in the Sweetest Chant (G3) @GP, the filly just missed getting the prize. In tip-top form, I think she has a great chance to score. Just in case she cannot make the grade, I also like Bill Mott’s Mischievous Kiss #1, Saffie Joseph’s Beechnut Trophy #2, Christophe Clement’s Shad Nation #6, and Brendan Walsh’s My Philly Twirl #9. Those all make sense based on their barn’s penchant for big race day moments, and there are some solid grass pedigrees in here too. Let’s go ...

Selections: 1/2/6/8/9 (5-Deep)

LEG 2: (Race 12: Dirt, 1 1/16th, Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), $250k, 3F)

As we roll towards the heart of this GP card, we come upon a KYOaks “Points” race that is handing out purse money too. The 100-40-20-10 that is available to the 1st thru 4th finishers is an inviting prospect. I do not think this race “came up” very tough because it really boils down to a match race between Red Oak Stable’s Goddess of Fire #5 (22 Oaks pts), and Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O. #7 (50 Oaks pts). HOF trainer Todd Pletcher sent the Red Oak router to New Orleans for the Rachel Alexandra (G2), and she acquitted herself well against a big field. Ending up 2nd to Cox’s Turnerloose, the daughter of Mineshaft (homebred) keeps steadily improving. Luis Saez has the ride once again, and when he gets together with Pletcher, they can make a formidable duo. As for the Winngate entry, they employ their own HOF conditioner in Shug McGaughey. This undefeated filly by Upstart obviously likes the Hallandale dirt, and after winning from off-the-pace in the Davona Dale (G2) back on 5 March, she has a chance to go longer. McGaughey once again turns to Javier Castellano, who knows how to handle this one. Let’s use both of these power runners, and move on to what is going to be the toughest race on the slate.

Selections: 5/7 (2-Deep)

LEG 3: (Race 13: Turf, 1 Mile, Kitten’s Joy Appleton S. (G3), $100k, 4+)

A survey of the field in this race tells you that not only can almost anyone win, but it is going to be another wire finish in the end. I am not sure if famed turf jockey Irad Ortiz has the winner in Brian Lynch’s Phantom Currency #7. Sure, this gelding by Goldencents is coming back to the grass course at Gulfstream with a stellar record of 3 of 4 in the win column. That is extremely tough to do, especially if you consider that his last contest was the Grade 2 MacD in late February. My chief concern is that this 6-yr-old’s style is all-about getting to the lead. What would happen if he didn’t, you might ask? A just question indeed … Let’s use him, but I am pretty interested in an old standard of mine; instead let’s back Graham Motion’s English Bee #9. The Calumet homebred has a long list of races under his saddle, and I remember this one fondly from a couple of years back when I first saw him in the Columbia S. $75k @TAM. The 6-yr-old by English Channel is in better form than his current record might suggest. Luis Saez rode him at a big price in the Fort Lauderdale (G2), and he hit-the-board at odds of 21/1. I like a couple of others in this spot, and I like the idea of including Gustavo Delgado’s Noble Indy #1 and Shug McGaughey’s Scarlett Sky #2. Both entries have loads of turf experience, and Jaramillo and Rosario are seasoned grass riders. Using them makes a ton of sense in the end … Let’s go with these 4 runners, and move on to the final bell lap!

Selections: 1/2/7/9 (4-Deep)

LEG 4: (Race 14: Dirt, 1 1/8th, Florida Derby (G1), $1 million, 3)

To my eye, there are only 4 runners entered in the Grade 1 Florida Derby that can actually win this contest, and collect the KYD148 “Points.” Others will try, but Brian Lynch’s Classic Causeway #2, Antonio Sano’s Simplification #3, Todd Pletcher’s Charge #6, and Saffie Joseph’s White Abarrio #7 are it. Anyone of these could drive home for the win, but my top selection is Joseph’s colt by Race Day. This is not going to be a popular pick, especially with Lynch and Pletcher’s runners taking significant money. I am persuaded by this C2 Racing-owned speedster because I think he has much to offer. The Holy Bull (G3) was back in early February, but if you look at this one’s works, they look more than steady. People need to start taking Joseph more seriously, and I think this is his moment to make a statement. Tyler Gaffalione is now classified as an experienced rider, and he can match-up with the best of them. If his mount can break well, and position himself just off the front, then I think he has a chance to make a move at the top of the lane. Let’s key this Spendthrift bred colt in our exotic wagers, but also include the other “3” I spoke about for this LP4 … what a race it is going to be!

Selections: 2/3/6/7 (4-Deep)

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Ticket: 1-2-6-8-9 / 5-7 / 1-2-7-9 / 2-3-6-7

.50 P4 TICKET COST: $80.00

Enjoy the final Saturday of the 2022 Championship Meet! Best of luck on another run at Gulfstream Park on Florida Derby Day! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!