Gulfstream Park Picks: Queen Letruska returns on February 26

The Gulfstream Park Championship Meet is moving right along towards March at a frenzied pace! With the addition of Tapeta, plus the MT and Turf Course, it gives bettors a myriad of options!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action related to the Derby Trail! With the Holy Bull S. all but a memory, is time to turn our attention to the rest of the South Florida Series ... the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, set for early March. Then the April running of the Grade 1 Florida Derby follows, as the Sunshine State Derby Trail concludes! This Saturday, it is the Grade 3 Royal Delta S., with Letruska drawing in! Check out the Eclipse Award-winning mare's chances, below ...

It is a good time for some of the greatest racing that North America has to offer. Stay tuned! 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 !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 10: Applecross #5, 9/2):

Here is a potential stakes player for HOF trainer Bill Mott, that has all of the tools to be a superb grass racer. The former runner from Richard Baltas’ outfit already amassed some strong class that ranges from competing at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary S. (G2) to taking on the very best that SoCal has to offer in the female turf divisions. Her record out West was so-so, but now that she is with Mott, there is potential for even more progress. In her 1st start for her new barn, she just missed in an OC25k, going 1 mile on the Gulfstream turf. I like the way Junior Alvarado has taken to the green this past year, and he gets the call again. This spot looks easy compared to some of her prior races, and I think she has what it takes to notch her 1st win in a long time.

Wager: $100 Win, #5

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 4: Thinkaboutit #2, 8/1):

If you are looking to take a stand against a couple of heavy favorites that are coming off a long break, then Ed Plesa’s entry is your horse. Both Ian Wilkes’ Milliken #1 and Chad Brown’s Reinvestment Risk #6 are accomplished, but they have not seen the oval in competition since last year. That is why I like Plesa’s entry, a well-bred 4-yr-old by Into Mischief. This Florida-raised gelding was really sharp in early January against a nice field of 8 others in an AOC contest. He used some power running late in the game, and it paid off. I think he is ready to take on some tough opponents, and Jose Ortiz, who has a knack for this kind of business, is just the rider to take this mount. This Mischief should be a square price at 8/1, or even higher, when post time comes around.

Wager: Graduated Wager, WPS, $100 Bankroll, #2 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 6: Dirt, 1 1/16th, Royal Delta S. (G3), $150k, F&M 4+):

In the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, it is the return of the “Queen,” Queen Letruska #6, that is … Fausto Gutierrez promised that last year’s darling of the distaff would reappear in ’22, and he is not disappointing us. She did it all, enroute to an Eclipse Award, and now, she returns to the track. St. George Stable invested in a good one, and the mare by Super Saver started her run late in 2020 at Gulfstream Park. Clearly, she likes the track because it was in the Rampart (G3) where she really made an impression. Trips to Houston, Hot Springs, Elmont, Louisville, Saratoga Springs, and finally, Lexington, were all stops where she notched a win. Of course, it was disappointing that she did not come to play in the BC Distaff (G1) at Del Mar, but let’s face it, that was an insanely hot pace. Looking like her old self, based on the work tab, I would imagine that Gutierrez has her ready for another campaign. Maybe it will not be as ambitious as last year. Jose Ortiz subs for his brother Irad, whose name is not the most popular right now. In this field, I cannot really find anyone who can rival this mare’s ability and back class. Maybe Kenny McPeek’s Crazy Beautiful #3 qualifies … This filly by Liam’s Map made some noise last year in the Summer Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita. But she couldn’t hold a candle to Pletcher’s Malathaat in the Alabama (G1) at The SPA. Also, she is coming off her own break, and probably needs a “freshening” too. The only way I see making money in a spot like this is to play McPeek’s entry to “Win.” I will be honest; I never like taking a stand against Gutierrez’s impressive mare … you are playing with fire!

Wager: $20 Win, #3

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Enjoy another fab Saturday trackside for the Championship Meet! Best of luck on another run at Gulfstream Park! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!