Late spring is here, we are in that gap between the Preakness and Belmont, and it’s a chance to focus on the tracks you know the best. 

And with Gulfstream Park racing over a vast majority of the year, you have handle on everything, right? Not so fast. 

The 2-year-olds just began running, the Championship Meet is long gone, and there’s a blend of horses that have made several starts this season, some that are coming off a shelf after a long vacation, and those that have established if they’ve liked (or not liked) the south Florida environs. 

Regardless of the time of the year, there’s always the issue of the late Pick 4, and that’s our target again. 
Gulfstream’s late Pick 4 on Saturday runs from races 9 through 12, starts with solid turf horses and ends with a promising group of freshmen in the last. In between, there’s an dirt sprint and another turf test. 

Here’s a look at the four races, along with suggested ticket for $36: 

Race 9: Right off the bat, the two-turn turf event for conditioned claimers presents a challenge. Eliminating horses off your list is easy for some races and difficult for others. This is the latter. Shidoshi, fresh off a narrow loss while 2nd in a similar race, looks like the one to beat. He’s been away from the winner’s circle since Sept. 22 of last year and is long overdue. He may have found his bunch to beat, but others should be seriously considered as well. Included on the ticket are Spa Jazz, Too Stormy and Manhattan Project. 

Race 10: Gnarly and Glory of Florida are included from this group of Florida-bred sprinters. Gnarly has been knocking at the door and was an even 3rd last time. From an inside post he’ll likely get a good trip and has the speed to save position. There’s plenty of pace here and a stalking run would probably make him very tough. Glory of Florida makes his 1st start vs. winners after getting a maiden score in his 5th score. He’s been in some very good races and this step up in class is not a real stretch. 

Race 11: Turf distaffers get together for this one, and a trio of good ones rate the edge over the others. Cha Cha Heels is the most eligible to improve. She’s been with tough allowance and graded stakes company and last time failed in a race that came off the turf. Staying on the turf is a big thing for her and hopefully she’ll get to show that today. Subsidiary scored nicely against claimers last time out and gets her 1st attempt at turf after races on fast dirt, slop and all-weather. She’s ready to try the two turns on grass and should like this change. Yako finished 3rd in her last three and hasn’t run any bad ones lately. She won a starter stakes and was 3rd in a similar event and looks like she has the class to be a strong player for these conditions. 

Race 12: Only one of the eight entrants has started. Poe ran 3rd in his only start, which came in a quick race. That experience should help, and is also helps that he has speed – always a factor going five furlongs. Several others have shown promise through good workouts. Chance It and Smash Factor look like they’ve excelled during training and can be in the mix in their debut. 

Here’s a suggested ticket for the Pick 4 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday: 

9) #4 Shidoshi, #5 Spa Jazz, #7 Too Stormy, #9 Manhattan Project. 
10) #1 Gnarly, #6 Glory of Florida. 
11) #3 Cha Cha Heels, #4 Subsidiary, #7 Yako. 
12) #3 Poe, #5 Chance It, #6 Smash Factor. 


Late Pick 4: 4-5-7-9 with 1-6 with 3-4-7 with 3-5-6 ($36 for 50 cents)