Gulfstream Park – 2nd race: 3-Gentle Breeze (9/5). Post time: 1:21 ET

Trainer Ralph Nicks boasts a superior record with first time starters (23%, powerful ROI) and appears set to add to his totals in this maiden $25,000 claiming sprint over five furlongs on the main track. The son of Cajun Breeze has looked like a win-early type in a series of morning team drills when showing good speed without really being asked for his best, and in a race in which the known element doesn’t impress and the other debut runners apparently haven’t shown much, this juvenile colt looks cranked up to wire the field. At 9/5 on the morning line, he’s a win play and rolling exotic single.

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Woodbine – 7th race: 3-Up and Down (5/2). Post time: 4:28 ET

We’ve always been partial to the route-to-sprint angle and this lightly raced sophomore filly contains the classic pattern in this year’s edition of the Alywow Stakes. A closing fourth in a maiden turf dash at Saratoga in her only previous one turn event, the daughter of Creative Cause most recently loomed a strong threat but lost her punch late when fourth in the Hilltop Stakes over a distance of ground at Pimlico last month. Today, she faces an easier group while turning back to an extended sprint. The Chad Brown-trained filly projects to settle in mid-pack and then blast home under the meeting’s far-and-away leading jockey Kazushi Kimora, and at 5/2 on the morning line she’ll offer good wagering value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.

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Ellis Park – 9th race: 7-Sassy Walker (5-1). Post time: 3:55 CT

She has burned money in her first two starts as a beaten favorite, so this daughter of Munnings may be a hard one to trust, but we suspect the talent is there, and in her first try on grass we’re willing to give her one more chance at what should be a decent price. The Phil D’Amato-trained sophomore continues to train like a filly with plenty of speed and ability, and with a bullet main track breeze at Churchill Downs just seven days ago (5f, 1:00.2b, fastest of 26) we’re hoping she can put it all together in this abbreviated maiden sprint that came up softer than expected. At 5-1 on the morning line, she offers a strong win gamble and an enticing single in rolling exotic play.