Bet on horse racing - Kick off the Gulfstream Meet with a bang
- WHO: Thoroughbreds Silent Valor; Fearless Vision
- WHAT: Bet on horse racing – Opening Day Stakes Races
- WHERE: Gulfstream Park
- WHEN: Saturday, January 3
When you bet on horse racing, the name of the game is value for your wagering dollar. In other words, you’re looking for horses whose payoffs exceed their chances of winning. You should find such value in a pair of opening day stakes races at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Race 4 on the card is The Spectacular Bid Stakes for three year olds going six furlongs. Gulfstream Park is generally kind to front-running types, but this race is loaded with speed, so the garden trip may go to a stalker.
#2-You Luckie Mann is the 8-5 morning-line favorite, and has plenty of appeal. He earned the field’s top Beyer Speed Figure (107) last out, but that was in mid-October at Calder. He was out of action for a while due to an ulcer in his eye, but has been working swiftly at his Calder base and should be ready to fire his best shot. You Luckie Mann has taken the early lead in three of his four starts. The only time he hasn’t was when he hit the gate and was steadied in his second trip postward. Trainer Marty Wolfson insists his horse doesn’t need the lead….we’ll see. #1-Notonthesamepage, #5-Under Contract, #7-Silent Valor and #8-Bee Cee Cee have all won in gate-to-wire fashion, so it should be crowded on the front end.
I like probable second choice #7-Silent Valor in this spot for several reasons. In winning the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth last summer, he showed his versatility by winning from off the pace. He broke his maiden in his previous start in the slop at Belmont going wire-to-wire. His connections thought enough of him to send him to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), so it’s clear this colt has quality. He should mow them down in the stretch at odds of about 9-5.
Race 8, The Hal’s Hope Handicap (G3), is a truly wide-open affair. You can certainly make a good case for at least a half-dozen entrants. I like 12-1 shot #3-Fearless Vision, and I’ll bet him across the board and use him top and bottom in exactas. He loves this racetrack, with a record of 5-2-3-0, and his top Beyer Speed Figure at Gulfstream is a solid 102. The one-mile distance is right up his alley as well…he’s won 4-of-5 starts plus a second at this distance. He’s in sharp form, is stakes-placed (third by a neck in the Grade 2 Peter Pan), and gets the services of jockey Eibar Coa, who knows this track like the back of his hand. I’ll use him in exactas with the 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13.
Best of luck and happy betting!
If you like to bet on horse racing, read Pete Mitchell’s columns every week in the Betting Edge on BetOnline.com.
Pete Mitchell has been handicapping horses since his teenage years. He has been a professional horse player for many years, and came to BetOnline.com’s attention through multiple referrals from industry insiders/sportsbook owners. Pete is revered for his horse handicapping opinion and industry experts acknowledge his impressive career winning record. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
