The Lead:
We head back to Gulfstream for the second straight Saturday and spotlight the Florida-breds in the Sunshine Turf. The 1-1/16 miles grass test goes as Race 9 and immediately precedes the co-featured Sunshine Sprint. Both stakes will be part of the Sunset Pick 6 wager with sister track Santa Anita. Also note both races will be part of the Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest this week, which features racing analyst Michelle Yu as the public's target to beat.

Horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET be sure to opt in and take part in the Pegasus World Cup Bankroll Builder promotion. Bet $25 on Gulfstream Park's Saturday card and get a $5 wagering credit to be deposited prior to the huge PWC card later this month.

​​Field Depth:
Stakes winners in the cast include CLASSIC OF COURSE, SEMINOLE CHIEF, TANK and NEOEQUOS, the latter Grade 1-placed. That quartet also has faced the strongest company lines overall and hold the class edges.
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Pace:
OUR SUPER HERO and TANK have shown consistent speed on turf, while NEOEQUOS brings dirt sprint speed to the mix. SEMINOLE CHIEF can show early foot more often than not as well. The pace should be solid and give a strong finisher every chance if he fires.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-SCARECROW : 2-for-2 on synthetic, this Jorge Delgado trainee seeks his first turf win in his fourth try. This will be his first try against elder stakes horses, but the newly turned 4YO has been battling in open company. Solid finisher gets a good pace set-up and should save ground under Edgard Zayas while returning from 11 months off.

#2-CLASSIC OF COURSE: Only 3 of his 17 starts have come on grass, but 1 of those was a win against open company last spring in the local Cutler Bay Stakes. Exits a fourth-place finish against top-class locals in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday on dirt for trainer Patrick Biancone.

#3-ECHO LANE: Pace presser/stalker may be chasing some heat and take pressure from those outside him given the post draw. Claiming Crown winner last out retains consistently good form and has run well over the course. A lot depends on the trip, but after being favored in 4 straight, the price should be more intriguing. Consistent sort over this course.

#4-SEMINOLE CHIEF: Appleton winner over this course last spring got the pace set-up last time in a return from the bench but didn't fire strong enough late. Typically, has improved in second-off-the-layoff situations like this and a step forward puts the Jack Sisterson charge right in the hunt under John Velazquez. Good draw, versatile style, but showing some patience would help in this set-up.

#5-MISTER ABARRIO: Deep closer has found success when dropped in class a bit and this will be his toughest assignment in some time. The Husbands-Saffie team hits 28% together locally and the pace set-up works in his favor, but still prefer others.

#6-ADIOS COLE: Sixth in this race last year when in arguably better form than currently, he looks to snap an 0-3 mark over this turf course. Rarely embarrassed, but figures to catch several in here that are a touch better.

#7-OUR SUPER HERO: White-hot trainer Mark Casse looks to keep his roll going with War of Will colt who has won 2 straight and steps up in class. He's never run a bad race in 5 starts but will take on stakes competition and classier elder foes. Regular rider Edwin Gonzalez sticks aboard one of the race's key pace players.

#8-NEOEQUOUS: Last year's Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth third-place finisher settled into a sprint pattern after last year's Kentucky Derby bid. Not only will the turf be a new twist, but his 3 wins to date are at 5, 6 and 6 furlongs. He's trained well enough on the synthetic surface, but turf is another hazy scenario. Sire Neolithic is a very solid 17% winner with his offspring on the Gulfstream turf, boasting a noteworthy $1.23 ROI for every $1 bet. Can't dismiss classy colt even with question marks for Saffie & Gaffalione.

#9-IRON HAND: Third in last summer's Bears Den at Gulfstream over a turf mile before tiring on the lead in September's Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs. Makes return from 4-month break for a Jose D'Angelo barn that has been ice cold at Gulfstream in recent weeks. Wider draw and pace pressure have me looking elsewhere as all 4 wins have come on the Tapeta.

#10-BRAWN: Winless in 9 turf starts (all at Gulfstream), he was no match late in the Appleton last March against return rival Seminole Chief. Low percentage trainer Ruben Sierra seems to have found a better home for this one on the synthetic.

#11-TANK: Trainer Carlos David's runners have been cooking at Gulfstream recently and this Tropical Park Derby third-place finisher will have to overcome a tough post and pace scenario to keep that going. Won the English Channel and Not Surprising over this turf course last year, but appears to have some pace dependence. Good turf speed jockey Javier Castellano will have to be aggressive.

#12-ANAMNESTIC: Longshot was claimed for $25,000 last out Dec. 11 and looks to snap a 9-race losing streak. He did finish third at 16-1 in this race last year when the race was taken off the turf and moved to the Tapeta. Fast synthetic work for this, but hasn't tipped in the afternoon that he's capable of this from the far outside draw.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
SEMINOLE CHIEF is 4-for-4 in the trifecta over the Gulfstream turf and hits a key point in his form cycle while drawn well.

Best Longshot Contender:
TANK was 21-1 when third in the Tropical Park Derby and trainer Carlos David has been winning in droves of late.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$40 win SEMINOLE CHIEF. $10 exacta key-box SEMINOLE CHIEF with NEOEQUOS, OUR SUPER HERO, ECHO LANE ($60).