Horse Pick’s from Florida – Gulfstream Park

Besides the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park has two other graded races on their Saturday card for Racebook fans to place bets.

One of those, the Grade II Swale Stakes, will provide our pick of the day.

Let’s analyze Race 9 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Gulfstream Park – Race 9

Grade II Swale Stakes

$150,000

For Three Year Olds

7 furlongs on dirt

Brave Victory – - 4/1 morning line odds

Brave Victory may not make the Kentucky Derby, because he doesn’t have the graded earnings and probably won’t get them even if he wins this race. But he’s got a huge shot to go into the Swale, stick behind This One’s For Phil, and then swoop by that one in the stretch for the win. Brave Victory was fantastic in his last, a win over the Gulfstream main track at 6 furlongs, and should carry that over to a victory in this.

BZ Warrior – - 5/1 morning line odds

Blinkers could make all the difference for the Todd Pletcher trained son of Malibu Moon. BZ Warrior is bred to be a winner, that’s for sure, and just didn’t concentrate enough on the track in his last, a third place finish in an allowance race at Gulfstream. He could improve tons with the blinkers.

This One’s For Phil – - 3/1 morning line

He goes back to a distance that he should be comfortable with and might get an easy led in this race, but his class is questionable and Big Drama could put more pressure on him than he’d like. Still, losing to Quality Road in the Fountain of Youth is nothing to be ashamed of and trainer Richard Dutrow will have him ready for this.

Wagering Strategy

I’ll bet Brave Victory to win and place as well as put Brave Victory into an exacta and trifecta box with This One’s For Phil and BZ Warrior.