Saturday's 10th race (5:05pm ET) from Gulfstream Park is the Grade II Fort Lauderdale Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf course (rail at 12 feet).
#7 Sky Blazer (10-1) looks like the right play from a value standpoint. The fresh Sky Mesa gelding is 2-for-3 over the local weeds and he enjoys this 8.5 furlong trip as well. I like the rider switch to Rosario and he should do his best running in the lane. He finished a troubled 3rd behind today's favorite Dominus at the Spa last summer so he is not that far behind these. He has been working steadily at Palm Meadows (2 turf bullets) for this engagement.
Play Saturday's $10k Santa Anita/Gulfstream game at DerbyWars.com
#8 Big Blue Kitten (6-1) won his paceless local turf return and the runner-up came back to tally. Chad Brown's versatile sort always runs his race in the U.S. and Castellano has booted him home three times.
#2 Nikki's Sandcastle (5-1) is already making his third start of the meet. There is no denying his sharp form but he faces tougher, fresher rivals today. I do not blame connections for striking while the iron is hot.
#5 Hollinger (4-1) is usually thereabouts but is only 1 for his last 16 with nine 2-3 finishes. He is probably best used underneath.
About 1 out of 6 turf races at this distance have been captured in wire job fashion (37-race sample). #4 Dominus (3-1) is a classy speed threat for Pletcher but must deal with #3 Fifty Proof (6-1) from the opening bell. It could be all she wrote if one of the aforementioned early runners get away early.
The Plays:
$30 to win #7
.50 cent Trifecta Key 7/2-3-4-5-8 ($10)
.50 cent Trifecta 2-3-4-5-8/7/2-3-4-5-8 ($10)
analysis by Jarrod Horak
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