Breeders' Cup Final Picks
by GLEN GALLIVANWire To Wire Racing Editor
Gulfstream Picks
Race 1-- Nite Dreamer, Reality Road and Fig Fest
Race 2-- Lucky Livi, Sahara Gold and Magicalmysterycat
Race 3-- Banshee Breeze, Beautiful Pleasure and Silverbulletday
Banshee Breeze looks ready to rebound from a pair of subpar performances. Expect her to challenge Beautiful Pleasure around the final turn, setting up a dramatic battle to the wire. Let’s play her to win and then an exacta box using her with Beautiful Pleasure.
Race 4-- Surfside, Scratch Pad and Darling My Darling
Surfside will display the heart that her mother, Flanders, showed five years ago when she captured the Juvenile Fillies. The D. Wayne Lukas-trainee exits an inspiring victory at Belmont and we’re expecting a similar performance today. Let’s play her to win and then over Scratch Pad and Darling My Darling.
Race 5-- Lend A Hand, Silic and Middlesex Drive
Lend A Hand get the slight nod to snap the European losing streak at Gulfstream in a wide-open affair. He should settle toward the front of the pack, which will allow him to avoid the traffic problems that the closers will be forced to deal with. Let’s play him to win and then box him with Silic and Middlesex Drive.
Race 6-- Vicar, Kona Gold and Affirmed Success
The post position draw killed the chances of our original top choice, Lexicon, so we’ll go with Vicar to pick up the pieces down the lane. It’s difficult to ignore the fact that he’s already taken two grade-one events over the Hallandale oval. Let’s play him to win and then box him with Kona Gold and Affirmed Success.
Race 7-- Coretta, Perfect Sting and Soaring Softly
The draw certainly didn’t help our top selection in here, but we like Coretta so much that we’re still going with her. She possesses enough early speed to work her way over throughout this long event. Watch her get the lead before the field turns for home and then dig in gamely for the stretch drive. Let’s play her to win and then over Perfect Sting and Soaring Softly.
Race 8-- Chief Seattle, Captain Steve and High Yield
Chief Seattle possesses a quick enough turn of foot to take advantage of breaking from the rail. This youngster has a bright future ahead of him, the only question is will that show in here? Let’s play him to win and then box him with Captain Steve and High Yield.
Race 9-- Honor Glide, Dark Moondancer and Daylami
Honor Glide shows a solid string of workouts at Payson Park that should have him sitting on a huge effort. The Florida-bred will likely get ignored at the windows by a majority of the betting public, and that’ll make it even nicer when he crosses the finish first. Let’s play him to win and then over Dark Moondancer and Daylami
Race 10- Lemon Drop Kid, Behrens and Vision And Verse
Lemon Drop Kid is a win away from capturing both 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors, this gutsy sophomore always runs good in the big races. He’s setting the Gulfstream strip on fire in the morning with his sharp decent drills. Watch for him to wear down a determined Behrens in the final yards. Let’s play him to win and then over Behrens and Vision And Verse
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