Garrity's Sunday Stakes picks races at Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and the Grade 3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita

There are three stakes races on the national simulcasting slate today, and they comprise our three plays. We expect fast dirt and firm turf in all races; let’s go.

Gulfstream Park, Race 5, 2:08 pm ET

$75,000 Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf Stakes, 1 mile, Turf, Florida-bred Fillies & Mares 4 & Up

This mile stakes race for state-bred filly and mare turf milers drew a field of seven. We’re not sold on the merits of 4-Sweet Dani Girl, who is certainly good enough to win, but who is not going to have an easy trip – she has speed, but will have company up front early – and who therefore looks to us to be a play-against at 4/5 odds. We prefer instead 6-Thelastbulletsmine, who is in good form, and who will be rolling late. We will bet her to win at 6-1. The bet: Gulfstream Park, Race 5, $40 to win on 6-Thelastbulletsmine.  

Aqueduct, Race 8, 3:47 pm ET

$100,000 Franklin Square Stakes, 6 ½ furlongs, Dirt, New York-bred 3-Year-Old Fillies

Eight go in the Franklin Square. One who should get a perfect trip, and who appears to have enough ability to take advantage of it, is 6-My Mane Squeeze, who combines enough speed to stay reasonably close to the pacesetters early with a good closing kick, to put away the race late. We will bet her to win at 5/2. The bet: Aqueduct, Race 8, $40 to win on 6-My Mane Squeeze.

Santa Anita Park, Race 7, 6:30 pm ET

Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes, 6 ½ furlongs, Turf, Fillies & Mares 4 & Up

The Las Cienegas, a Grade 3 turf race run down the Santa Anita hillside turf course, drew a full field of eleven. A handicapper could go in many different directions with the group, but we are headed straight toward 3-Nadette, who is a classy 5-year-old mare who has been merely OK since being brought to California  from her native France eighteen months ago. We like her here primarily here because of distance: she’s been running in longer races, but we think she will take to this oddball distance like a duck takes to water. That makes her the pick; we will bet her to win at 5-1 odds. The bet: Santa Anita Park, Race 7, $40 to win on 3-Nadette.

That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the races, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.