Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay DownsTampa Bay Downs

Horse Racing: Garrity heads to Florida to try some grass

After two winners yesterday, our national handicapper looks to some warm weather turf

Maybe it's the lousy weather we've had, or maybe it's just the winter doldrums, but after several days of dirt racing, we have a hankering for the turf: grass racing is shut down here in the Northeast for the winter, but in Florida, there will be sunshine, warm air, and horses running on the sod.

We'll start at Gulfstream, which runs six grass races Wednesday. We'll start in the 7th, 1 1/8 mile, $35k maiden claimer for older horses. We like 1- Love Sick Kitten. He's dropping from straight maiden races to maiden claiming -- the biggest class drop in racing -- and though he's been running at shorter distances, being out of Kitten's Joy, he should relish the nine furlongs. Breaking from the rail, he should get a clean trip, so we'll take 2-1, and we'll bet $25 to win on Love Sick Kitten.

The 11th race at Gulfstream is another maiden claimer, this one at a mile on the grass for three-year-old males. We will again go to a class dropper, and again go to the rail: we like 1-Bee Keeper. Though it's a bit disconcerting to see a Calumet Farm homebred in for a $20,000 tag, and his last race against straight maiden company was dismal, we think he will improve second time out, especially since he gets blinkers for the first time. Trained by ace horseman Bill Mott, we will take 6-1 on Bee Keeper, and bet $15 on him to win.

Next, we'll head to over to Tampa Bay Downs, to the 7th race, a $25k claimer for older horses at a mile on the grass. We like 3-Wetumka: he's dropping from allowance to claiming company, and we think he fits here. We'll take his 5/2 price, and we'll bet $15 on him.

That's it for today. Good luck at the windows.

Related Stories

No stories found.
Bettors Insider
www.bettorsinsider.com