God's Tipster's Wednesday Gulfstream Park Pick: The 8th is a turf route with an improving Shankar

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Good morning racing fans! We’ve got an action-packed week starting with a Wednesday race card from Gulfstream Park. It’ll all be punctuated by Saturday’s stellar Louisiana Derby card from the Fair Grounds. In the meantime we’ve got fast and firm conditions expected at Gulfstream for Wednesday so let’s get started!

Wednesday at Gulfstream Park:

Race 8: Shankar - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 4/1)

Starter optional claiming runners close our day going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf and we’ve got a competitive field of ten lined up. Shankar gets the nod for me. Aside from his dirt debut where he may not have appreciated the surface, Shankar has run well in every start. He’s also improved in every start culminating with a maiden win last time out. That day he stalked a reasonably fast pace and moved a little too early but still held on the the win. Three of five runners from that race have returned to improve in subsequent starts by 13, 6 and 6 speed figure points. Trainer Saffie Joseph elected to give him two months off since that maiden win and he returns today with a few works under his belt. He gets Tyler Gaffalione to ride and together they combine for 24% winners. Major player at 4/1 or better.

Best of luck to all our members playing Wednesday’s races from Gulfstream!