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Thursday's Horse Racing is at Gulfstream and Oaklawn – Chris Garrity makes his picks

Garrity's first post, the 7th at Gulfstream, is at 4:05 pm EDT.

Oaklawn and Gulfstream Parks, in Arkansas and Florida, are the active tracks today. We have a quartet of plays, two from each. We expect fast and firm at Gulfstream, and fast dirt at Oaklawn. Let’s go.

Gulfstream Park, Race 7, 4:05 pm ET

Starter Optional Claiming, 1 mile, Turf, 3-year-olds

This race is for sophomore colts who have not won a race other than maiden, and who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less. We note that because class is more important in a race like this than it is in a graded stakes. Seven line up to go a mile on the Gulfstream turf.

We see a lot of early speed in here, which has us looking for a closer. We think we found one: it’s 8-He’s Super Lucky, who starts for trainer Kathy Ritvo. He has two career wins on the turf, and in both of them, he came from far back to take the prize. We see a similar trip for him today. We will bet him to win at 8-1. The bet: Gulfstream Park, Race 7, $35 to win on 8-He’s Super Lucky.

Oaklawn Park, Race 7, 5:06 pm ET

$20,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 miles, Dirt, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up

This maiden claimer drew a full field of twelve. The second coming of Personal Ensign is probably not among them, but it’s a good race to handicap nonetheless.

We like a filly at a price here, 5-Princess Lucky. She’s a 4-year-old daughter of Lookin at Lucky, and there’s a lot going on with her: she’s coming off a long layoff; she’s making her first start for a new trainer, John Ortiz; and she’s switching surfaces, from turf to dirt. This last change is the one that we like the most, as her pedigree makes her look to us like she will be a better runner on conventional dirt than on grass. The speed figures she earned on the turf in her two races last year are competitive with the other maidens in here, and she has a long string of recent stamina-building morning workouts under her belt. At 10-1, we think she has a big chance. We will bet her to win. The bet: Oaklawn Park, Race 7, $30 to win on 5-Princess Lucky.

Gulfstream Park, Race 9, 5:07 pm ET

Allowance/Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 miles, Dirt, 4 & Up

This first-level allowance/optional claimer drew a field of nine older horses going eight and a half furlongs on the dirt. 9/5 morning line favorite 4-Moretti is a strong play here: he’s a 4-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro who has an edge in both speed figures and early pace. He ran well enough to win both of his last two races, but didn’t get it done; today, trainer Todd Pletcher adds blinkers, which we think will make a difference, and get him Moretti to the finish line first. We will bet him to win. The bet: Gulfstream Park, Race 9, $50 to win on 4-Moretti.

Oaklawn Park, Race 8, 5:38 pm ET

Allowance, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 3 & Up

The featured race at Oaklawn today is first-level allowance dirt sprint, which drew a field of nine. 1-Tuggle is a strong play: he returned off a layoff last out, in a similar spot to today’s race, and he chased a very fast pace, and just missed winning, finishing second, only a head behind the winner. That was a big effort, and while he earned a big Beyer Speed Figure of 86 for that race, what we like more than the raw number is the way he earned it, which was despite a tough trip. We think he will get a good trip today, stalking the speed, and we think that he will win the race from that position. We will bet him to win at 4-1. The bet: Oaklawn Park, Race 8, $40 to win on 1-Tuggle.

That’s all for today. Enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows. In Pennsylvania? For all your sports wagering, go to the Parx Casino website.

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