Gulfstream Park's Late Pick Four features a pair of allowance optional claiming races that feature runners in good form and some that have the class but come in off long layoffs.

The sequence fires up in the seventh race and ends with the 10th. The suggested ticket this week tops out at $72. Here's a look:



7th Race (4:14 p.m. ET, optional claiming allowance)

PALOMITA has been on the shelf since December and goes from Chad Brown to David Fawkes stable. Has a long list of workouts for her return and is probably ready for some afternoon action.

She didn’t win last year as she raced against top-flight company in Kentucky and New York, but she held her own as she was on the board in six of seven and was second five times. Inactivity would be the only reason to try to beat her, and that’s always a question.

On her best day, she should romp against these, but there’s a question if she can have it be her best day with the time off. A couple of others are worth a look as well.

Others on the ticket: LORILOUPIES, AWESOME ANNMARIE.


8th Race (4:48 p.m. ET, claiming)

MONTANA MAN takes a class drop that could very well put him over the top. He’s twice been claimed for $50,000, most recently two races back by Happy Alter. He was second in an allowance optional claiming last out and takes a drop in claiming price and is now eligible to be claimed for 40 percent of the price he had on his head when haltered.
That should be an attention getter and a reason to shop around in this one. While Montana Man clearly has the talent to win, but he's in the bargain bin for the day as far as claiming price goes.

Others on the ticket: BUENISIMO, THENORTHREMEMBERS, TELLINGTON.


9th Race (5:22 p.m., optional claiming allowance)

GLORY OF FLORIDA is on again, off again and tried the turf in the Mr. Steele last time. It didn’t work out as he finished sixth, and now he’s back to allowance optional claiming on dirt. He’s a decent miler, as he’s been first or second in eight of 15 attempts as the distance. There are several to seriously consider, and in the interest of not letting the ticket price getting out of hand, I’ve settled on a trio of runners.

Others on the ticket: COOL ARROW, QUENANE.


10th Race (5:56 p.m., claiming)

GUACO rates the slight edge in a mile race for conditioned bottom claimers, and this one could require a handful of numbers to get it done on the ticket. He takes a class drop and moves over to the dirt, has taken on much better, and his form could get a nice boost today. Still, this looks like a spread race, and three others are included.

Others on the ticket: HERE COMES BULLET, ALASTOR, EXCALIBUR.

My Ticket

Race 7) #3 Loriloupies, #4 Awesome Annmarie, #7 Palomita.

Race 8) #2 Buenisimo, #4 Thenorthremembers, #6 Tellington, #10 Montana Man.

Race 9) #5 Cool Arrow, #6 Glory of Florida, #7 Quenane.

Race 10) #2 Here Comes Bullet, #3 Alastor, #8 Guaco, #11 Excalibur.

Total Ticket Cost) 3,4,7/2,4,6,10/5,6,7/2,3,8,11 = $72 for $0.50