Gulfstream Park's mandatory payout in the $866,897 carryover pick 6 will be offered on Races 6-11 for Easter Sunday. Track officials anticipate more than $7 million in the pool.
Local expert handicapper Ron Nicoletti provides his race-by-race analysis and picks, and we've included his GP co-host Brian Nadeau's selections for a second opinion.
Race 6
3 LUCKY SCORE, who is a multiple graded stakes placed performer on the Woodbine turf, will hope to flaunt his class when he faces $62,500 optional claimers in his local debut for Mark Casse. The gelding gets the tepid nod in a wide-open start to the mandatory Rainbow 6. 4 FAR BRIDGE, who is 3-2-1-0 at this mile and a sixteenth distance, is making his first start since the series of graded stakes races going longer during his 3year-old campaign. Christophe Clement has Jose Ortiz returning on the son of English Channel. 1 DREAMS OF TOMORROW is hoping to win today on the turf after showing some late interest in a pair of $100,000 starter handicaps going a mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta. Shug McGaughey has Joel Rosario atop the four-time turf winner.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 3-4-1
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 5-4-3-1 (BEST LONGSHOT)
Race 7
1 BIG CITY is stretching out to a mile and a sixteenth after the trio of solid in the money finishes going seven furlongs. Jose D’Angelo has Joel Rosario atop the $300,000 son of City of Light. 9 MILITARY ROAD is stretching out around two turns after following his thirdplace finish behind Florida Derby participant Conquest Warrior in his one-mile debut with a second-place finish going eight furlongs last out. The concern for the son of Quality Road is the demanding outside post at this distance. 6 DERBY STREET is a $700,000 son of Street Sense debuting for Bill Mott with Lasix and a steady work tab showing at Payson Park. John Velazquez rides.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 1-9-6 (BEST BET)
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 1-7-9-8 BEST BET)
Race 8
1 ASHIMA is returning to the turf after the consistent campaign going around two turns on the Tapeta. Jose D’Angelo, 20% with the Tapeta to turf angle, has Irad managing the surface switch in another wide-open leg of the Rainbow 6. 8 BOOMIN’ BELLE, who showed speed sprinting on the Colonial Downs turf last summer, will try to do the same at a mile after setting the pace and finishing second going a mile and a sixteenth on the Tapeta last out. Mark Casse has Tyler doling out her speed. 9 GOATS ON A TREE, bred on both sides of the family tree to relish the turf, the daughter of Bolt d’Oro returns to the turf after back-to-back third place finishes on the Tapeta. Saffie Joseph Jr has Paco Lopez named to ride.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 1-8-9
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 2-3-1-4
Race 9
7 HOLIDAY FANTASY is wheeling back after responding in the first race after the claim by Julie Stormfelt with a second-place finish at this level and distance. Tyler Gaffalione rides. 9 CLASSIFY was given some time off after finishing a troubled fifth (checked) – as the favorite – at this level and distance during January. Saffie, 23% with this type of layoff, has Paco named to ride. 1 MAUNA KEA BOUND is another hoping to bounce back after following the well-meant second at this level and distance two starts back with a stalk-and-fade clunker last out. Bob Hess Jr has Joel Rosario managing the tough inside post.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 7-9-1
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 3-7-1-8
Race 10
9 ST. PATS DAY was impressive in victory when she shook off early pressure and drew clear to score at this level and distance. She is the speed of the speed with Paco at the controls. 6 DONTLOOKBACKATALL is making her first start since finishing a stalk the pace second in the $60,000 Glen Cove at Aqueduct in October. Trainer Christophe Clement has Jose Ortiz atop the versatile daughter of Peace and Justice, who could win from on or staking the pace.
5 WIDE WEST (IRE) breaks from an improved post after departing from the outside when finishing second behind the top choice last out. Tom Proctor has Edwin Gonzalez managing the rematch.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 9-6-5
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 5-6-9-8
Race 11
1 CREED’S GOLD is stretching out to a mile after encountering traffic problems both early and late when getting beat two lengths in her five-furlong turf debut. The daughter of Jimmy Creed is bred to love distance, and hails from a barn that is 19% with two sprints to a route angle. 7 EXHILARATE, a daughter of super turf sire War Front, debuts on the grass after returning from the layoff to finish a screw tightening third going a mile on a sealed sloppy track. Bill Mott adds second-time Lasix and John Velazquez for the surface change. 10 PENDULUM, who showed promise in a trio of turf races last Fall, is going back to the grass after finishing second – in front of a pair of next-out winners – going a mile and seventy yards on the Tapeta. Brendan Walsh has Tyler atop the daughter of Street Boss.
RON NICOLETTI SELECTIONS: 1-7-10 (BEST LONGSHOT)
BRIAN NADEAU SELECTIONS: 4-1-3-10
