Horse race betting - Impressive Winners on Gulfstream’s Opening Day Card
- WHO: Thoroughbreds Notonthesamepage and Delightful Kiss
- WHAT: Opening Day Stakes Races
- WHERE: Gulfstream Park
- WHEN: Saturday, January 3
Last weekend, I passed on the victorious Proudinsky in the San Gabriel Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita, because his 6-5 odds were ridiculously low. If you read Friday’s article, you’ll know I liked #7-Silent Valor in The Spectacular Bid Stakes and #3-Fearless Vision in The Hal’s Hope Handicap, both on the opening day card at Gulfstream Park. I bet neither, for the same reason I passed on Proudinsky.
I felt Silent Valor would be worth a play at horse race betting odds 9-5 or higher, as the second choice behind #2-You Luckie Mann. As the 6-5 favorite, he offered no value. Likewise, I was interested in Fearless Vision at his morning-line odds of 12-1, but at 6-1 in a wide-open 14-horse field, he was an underlay.
In the Spectacular Bid Stakes, #1-Notonthesamepage proved to be the speed-of-the-speed, carving out fast fractions and drawing off to win by more than eight lengths in 1:08 2/5. His time was a mere .02 of a second off the track record set by Tiger in 2006. The Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred may be pointed to the spring classics, but the feeling here is that he may be better suited to one-turn races up to a mile. Silent Valor finished a disappointing fourth.
The Hal’s Hope Handicap was won in impressive fashion by the up-and-coming Delightful Kiss at horse race betting odds of 5.20-1. The connections of Delightful Kiss were using this race as a prep for the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic later this month, and did not have him primed for a peak performance.
Nevertheless, he got the job done with a wide, last-to-first move in the final half-mile. Delightful Kiss covered the final quarter mile in a swift 24 1/5 seconds, and drew off by a widening three lengths. He should be ready to take on all comers in the Sunshine Millions Classic, and his price may once again be attractive, as he’s still not a household name. Fearless Vision ran a respectable fifth.
In the game of horse racing betting, always be mindful of value; a disciplined approach will yield big dividends in the long run.
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.
