RT's 1.1 Gulfstream Park Picks: 2022 Kentucky Derby Trail begins for 3yos, plus Aqueduct, Oaklawn, Santa Anita

Rt’s Picks 1.01.22

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In addition to the Mucho Macho Man stakes today, Gulfstream has four other stakes for just turned three-year-olds. Here’s a look

Gulfstream Race 4 – The $100K Cash Run Stakes

3yo fillies racing one mile on dirt

5-Jumeriah (7/2) is my choice after her game effort, and beaten favorite, in a $75K optional claimer here on Dec. 9. Prior to that, she took an ass kicking by the likes of undefeated Echo Zulu and Gerrymander, who returned to beat Oaks hopeful, Nest, and Sweet Dani Girl. She had a freshening on Dec. 24 and trainer Carlos David might be a mere 9% proposition, yet when teamed with Paco Lopez, they are 31%.

Gulfstream Race 5 – The $100K Ginger Brew Stakes

3yo fillies racing one mile on turf

I am taking a shot on 6-Lady Puchi (15/1) an Into Mischief filly who looked like an entirely different horse in her last race. Of her four starts, which she has yet to win, her debut was turf, which she was smoked by Diamond Wow, and her last two were synthetic and dirt. Returning to turf last time, at GP, she took the lead in the stretch before tiring and getting the place money. That was her first attempt at two turns and her first route. This race does not have formidable contenders and sets up well for a longshot.

Gulfstream Race 7 – The $100K Limehouse Stakes

3yo’s racing six furlongs on dirt

1-Last Leaf (8/1) with Junior Alvarado in the irons, has been just as effective on dirt as turf. He scored at this course and distance in a $75K optional claimer before being moved to synthetic and turf in her next three. She had an easy freshener on Dec. 22 and is 5/2-1-1 on GP dirt, as well as 2/1-0-0 at the distance. Look for Junior to keep her near the lead pressing the pace, then closing late.

Gulfstream Race 9 – The $100K Dania Beach Stakes

3yo’s racing one mile on turf

After contemplating between Shug’s KEE SEP YRL sales $295K colt 2-Smokin T (4/1) and Pletcher’s 8-Grand Sonata (7/2), I am taking the Medaglia d’Oro colt from Pletchers’ barn. He has a stakes race under his belt, his last, he was bumped badly at the start, was steadied at the 3/16^th mark, and still gamely fought back to just miss by 1.75 lengths. Two strong works leading up to today, with a :48.5 and :47.7.

Since everyone else seems to have an opinion on the Big 4….

Aqueduct 8 The $150K Jerome Stakes – 8-Hagler (4/1) going with RudyRod.

Oaklawn Park 9 The $250K Smarty Jones Stakes – 4-Kavod (5/1) looks like a new horse since moving to Chris Hartman and 13-Immoral (20/1) Into Mischief second time starter.

Gulfstream Park 10 The $150K Mucho Macho Man Stakes – 5-Skippylongstocking (7/2) looks well suited for this spot

Santa Anita 10 The G3 Sham Stakes – 5-Degree Of Risk (12/1) finally shakes free of having to face Boise and Umberto gets a graded stakes win for Godolphin

Happy Hunting!