Gulfstream: Saturday’s Tropical Turf Pick 3 at Gulfstream Features Full Fields in Derby, Oaks

By David Joseph —-

Saturday’s Tropical Turf Pick 3 at Gulfstream Features Full Fields in Derby, Oaks

$1,200 Average Payout, 15-percent takeout

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s popular Tropical Turf Pick 3, with a low 15 percent takeout and average payout of $1,200, will be highlighted Saturday with a dozen 3-year-olds in the $140,000 Tropical Park Derby and a dozen 3-year-old fillies in the $140,000 Tropical Park Oaks.

The two 1 1/16-mile events, along with a $35,000 maiden claiming event at the same distance for 3-year-olds featuring another full field, is an intriguing Pick 3 that begins with Race 5 at approximately 2:19 ET and concludes with the Derby at approximately 5:21 ET.

Gulfstream’s Brian Nadeau and Samantha Perry handicap the Tropical Turf Pick 3

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFRAM9pquhM&t=92s

Gulfstream’s Ron Nicoletti’s longshot in the Tropical Park Oaks

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFRAM9pquhM&t=92s

Race 5: Maiden claiming, $35,000, 1 1/16-mile turf

Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, Danny Gargan, Brian Lynch, Mark Casse and Mark Hennig are all represented here and Pletcher saddles the favorite in Patronage who draws the rail and Irad Ortiz Jr. The gelded son of Kantharos has a second and two fifth-place finishes racing against restricted company in New York and has never been beaten more than 3 ½ lengths despite some outside draws. Take Your Seats hasn’t hit the board in three turf tries for Brown and is a beaten favorite in his last two. Brown is 33 percent going maiden special weight to maiden claimer. John the Baptist finished second across the Saratoga turf in a $40,000 maiden claimer, but was no factor in his last two starts against better. The Hennig-trained son of More Than Ready is a first-time gelding. Casse’s Operatnthunderbolt tries the turf after three tries on Tapeta.

Race 8: $140,000 Tropical Park Oaks, 1 1/16-mile turf

Lots of possibilities with a tepid 7-2, morning-line favorite in See You Around, whose North American debut produced a sixth-place finish in the Pebbles (G3) in November at Aqueduct. Trained by Christophe Clement, See You Around raced two seasons in France, winning a stake but was unable to do much in the French 1000 Guineas (G1). Life’s an Audible makes her first start since March for Pletcher. The filly won the Sweetest Chant (G3) and was second in the Herecomesthebride (G3) over this course over the winter. Vive Veuve has two wins and a second over this course in three starts, including a victory in the Sanibel Island last winter. Random Harvest, an unbeaten daughter of Uncle Mo trained by Jimmy Toner, broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs in September and followed with an allowance victory at Keeneland.

Race 11: $140,000 Tropical Park Derby, 1 1/16-mile turf

Cugino, 9-5 on the morning line, enters off a second-place finish Nov. 9 in the Hill Prince (G3). The Pletcher-trainee, second in the Transylvania (G3) and Colonel Liam, gets the services of Ortiz Jr. Silent Heart (7-2), has two wins in three starts over the course, including last time out in the Showing Up, for trainer Lynch. Can Group, winner of the 2023 Bourbon (G2) and fourth in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), goes out first time as a gelding for Casse. John Velazquez rides. Palm Tree, trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, could be closing fastest of all.

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The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.