It’s another big day at Gulfstream Park with a 10-race card featuring a true mixed-surface test — fast dirt, firm turf, and races on the Tapeta All-Weather track. Cards like this demand flexibility, surface-specific insight, and strong pace reads. Rich and Terry break down all 10 races with: 🏇 Race-by-race Gulfstream analysis 📊 Smart Sheets insights tailored to surface switches 🔥 Benny and the Bets angles 🎯 Terry’s Best Bet 💡 Pick 4 structure ideas for tricky sequences ⚡ Horses positioned to thrive on dirt, turf, or Tapeta When multiple surfaces are in play, trip, running style, and adaptability become critical — and that’s where today’s analysis shines. Three surfaces. Ten races. One sharp breakdown. Let’s get to work at Gulfstream Park.
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Terry’s Picks
Gulfstream — 01-08-26
Race 1-Female
7 – Always Ready – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high-percentage winning trainer and jockey.
2 – Only You – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high-percentage winning trainer; Lasix added.
1 – Cairo Comedy – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Switches to a high-percentage winning jockey; Lasix added.
Longshot:
9 – Greatest – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Likes distance; Lasix added.
Alternate:
5 – Sushi
Race 2
1 – Risk Factor – Finished in the money in 4 of last 5 starts, including 2 wins; early speed suits the shorter distance; trainer and jockey have high win rates.
4 – Nero Tulip – Won 1 race out of 2 starts at Gulfstream Park; Drops in class today; Has a high % winning jockey.
9 – Sabian – Won 3 race out of last 5 starts: Switches to a high % winning trainer; Bullet 4F workout (Dec-31).
Longshot:
7 – Shear Magic – Won 2 race out of last 3 starts: Trainer and Jockey also has a high win percentage.
Alternate:
8 – American Farmer
5 – Wasamattafoyou
$.50 Pick 4: 1,4,7,9/3,5,7/4,7/1,3,6,7 – Cost $48.00
Race 3-Female
3 – My Girl Nina – Third last out against similar; drops in class; high-percentage trainer and jockey; adds Lasix.
7 – Coded Elegance – First time starter whose Dam has 5 winners from 6 starters; Has a high % winning trainer who wins 25% of the dirt starts.
5 – Viable Asset – First time starter whose Dam has 2 winners from 3 starters; Has a high % winning trainer who wins 23% of the debut maiden claim race.
Longshot:
1 – Cheri Cheri Lady – First time starter; Rail post is winning at a 25% clip; Has a high % winning trainer.
Alternate:
6 – More Applause
2 – Here Comes Petal
Race 4-Female
7 – Plum Irish – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
4 – Speightfulelection – Drops in class today; Highest last race speed rating; Highest speed figure at today’s distance.
2 – Sara’s Rose – Finished in the money in 3 of the races out of 5 starts, winning 2 races; Drops in class today; Has a high % winning trainer.
Longshot:
3 – Goodys Girl – Ran 2nd vs tougher (on Dirt) in last race; Drops in class today; Has a high % winning jockey.
Alternate:
1 – Not Guilty
$.50 Pick 4: 4,7/1,3,5,6,7/1,4/1,2,3,5,7 – Cost $50.00
Race 5
6 – Eyes On the Ground – Ran 2nd in debut race; Drops in class today; Best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie); Has a high % winning trainer.
3 – Simo At the Big A – Third last out against tougher; shares top dirt speed today; drops class; trainer and jockey have high win rates.
1 – Spectacle – Ran 2nd vs similar in last race; Rail post is winning at a 25% clip; Has a high % winning trainer who wins 25% of the maiden claiming races.
Longshot:
7 – Turbo Fire – Can improve while returning to dirt and a sprint; Lasix added.
Alternate:
5 – Sim Sala Bim
Race 6
1 – Sticky McShnickens – Ran 2nd vs similar (on AW) in last race; High-percentage trainer and jockey stats.
4 – My Voodoo Doll – Has a 67% in-the-money and 33%-win rate at Gulfstream; handles distance with a 40% in-the-money and 20%-win rate.
6 – Java Buzz: Has placed in the top three in the last four races, including one win; matched for fastest turf speed today and is paired with a successful trainer and jockey.
Longshot:
2 – Quizler –Has a high % winning trainer who wins 17% of the races when taking a horse from a route to a sprint and has a high % winning jockey.
Alternate:
5 – Neophyte
7 – Corso’s Pick
Race 7
7 – Coffee At K J’s – Finished 3rd vs similar in last race; Best AW speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie); Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
2 – Transactional Guy – Drops in class today; Early speed running style helps chances so the shorter distance will be a plus; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
5 – Adversary – Ran 2nd vs similar in last race; Has a high % winning trainer who wins 17% of the races on an All-Weather surface; Has a high % winning jockey.
Longshot:
1 – Valiant Winter – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
Alternate:
3 – Mila’s Wish
6 – Pancho Slips Away
$.50 Pick 4: 1,2,5,7/4,6/6,8/1,3,4,6,8,10 – Cost $48.00
Race 8
4 – Ramses the Great – Won last race at Gulfstream Park by 6-lenghts; Best AW speed is fastest among today’s starters; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
6 – Not Now Nick – Finished in the money in 3 of the races out of career 4 starts winning the last race at Gulfstream Park; Lasix added.
8 – Complexed – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning jockey.
Longshot:
7 – My Favorite Bird – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer.
Alternate:
3 – Manoah’s Glory
Race 9-Female
6 – Contrary – Second last out against stronger competition; shares fastest dirt speed today; drops in class; trainer and jockey both have high win rates.
8 – Domino Vitali: Won her debut race at Tampa Bay Downs; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey; Has a bullet 5F workout (Dec-27).
2 – Sherbini – Switches to a high % winning trainer; Has a high % winning jockey; Drops in class today.
Longshot:
7 – Royal Poppy – Ran 2nd in last race; Best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie).
Alternate:
5 – Street View
3 – Puckered
Bet: $30.00 Win: 6 – $10.00 Exacta Box:6/8 – $10.00 Exacta: 6/2,5,7,8 – $10.00 DD: 6/1
Race 10-Female
1 – Catalonia – Won only turf start at this distance at Gulfstream Park; drops in class; matches top turf speed; trainer and jockey have strong win rates.
8 – Pulstar: Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
4 – Nonna’s Love – Placed in 2 of 2 career starts, winning last at Aqueduct: trained by a top-percentage trainer with a high-winning jockey.
Longshot:
3 – Epic Lady Luck – Finished in the money in the last 3 races winning last race; Trained by a high-percentage trainer; Lasix added.
Alternate:
10 – Chucky’s Ride
6 – Ifyousaidso
Best Bet of the Day at Aqueduct – 9th Race – #6 – Contrary
Rich’s Picks
Race 1: 1 Mile Turf – Bias: Stalkers, 22% w2w – PP: Inside Out
8 – IMPERIA BLUE – should be off the pace – better EP – 1st time LASIX – and will close
4 – NEW LIFE – better EP and Fractions – maybe most upside in just 3rd start
7 – ALWAYS READY – won her last despite the jockey Irad Ortiz losing the crop – 2nd up
6 – REINA DEL VIENTO – moving up the speed ladder – if she can translate AW to turf
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 4,6,7,8
Race 2: 5 ½ Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 41% w2w – PP: Rail Fair, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Bonus, Inside a Little Better
9 – SABIAN – Lone EP – drops as Top TOTAL PACE – been off more than a year – bullet and go
1 – RISK FACTOR – Top PAR+ – much better EP in last – cutting back from a route to a sprint
7 – SHEAR MAGIC – is your SIM FAV – with the best C ZONE by a decent margin
4 – NERO TULIP – likely pacesetter where 41% go w2w – 1st up record is spotty
$0.50 Pick 4: 1,4,7,9/2,3,5,7/4,7/3,6,8
Race 3: 6 Furlongs – Bias: Early Speed, 37% w2w – PP: Inside Out
7 – CODED ELEGANCE – Top Rated 1ster vs all noes – NOV 30 work 4f in 46 – back bullet
3 – MY GIRL NINA – 1st Lasix helps what’s likely to be the favorite – how low does she go
5 – VIABLE ASSET – Irad Catching a 1ster
2 – HERE COMES PETAL – 2nd highest rated 1ster with the best debut trainer #s
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 2,3,5,7
Race 4: 5 Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 38% w2w – PP: 1-7 Fairish, 8+ Bonus
4 – SPEIGHTFULELECTION – SIM FAV and Pacesetter
7 – PLUM IRISH – repeat of last race would be good enough – tr 32% with repeat claimers
2 – SARA’S ROSE – Top TOTAL PACE and should be out front too
6 – SMOOTH CLARET – has a strong LP edge – maybe cutting back in distance helps
$0.50 Pick 4: 4,7/3,5,6,8/1,4,6/2,5,6,7
Race 5: 6 Furlongs – Bias: Early Speed, 37% w2w – PP: Inside Out
6 – EYES ON THE GROUND – 2nd Race Upside puts him well past PAR
3 – SIMO AT THE BIG A – Only YES horse – Irad on the drop
8 – BEAU BLACK – 2nd race upside – speed in debut and fade – 1st Lasix and more stamina
5 – SIM SALA BIM – Only Pure MSW dropper – 2nd race upside – decently bet in debut
$5 Exacta Key Box: 6/1,3,5,8
Race 6: 5 Furlongs Turf -Bias: Early Speed, 48% w2w – PP: Mostly Fair
6 – JAVA BUZZ – best chance to be pacesetter where ½ go w2w – best C ZONE
4 – MY VOODOO DOLL – TLRSP# +3 – Irad * but has regressed in 2nd ups
1 – STICKY MCSHNICKENS – as consistent as can be – will be involved from gate to wire
2 – QUIZLER – run back to last GP 5f turf race and he has a great chance – move to Tyler G
$5 Exacta Key Box: 6/1,2,4
Race 7: 5 Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 38% w2w – PP: 1-7 Fairish, 8+ Bonus
7 – COFFEE AT K J’S – Big SIM FAV and Top Total Pace
5 – ADVERSARY – Only YES horse
2 – TRANSACTIONAL GUY – pacesetter with top C ZONE
6 – PANCHO SLIPS AWAY – biggest class dropper that could be out front too
$0.50 Pick 4: 5,7/4,5,6,7/2,3,6,8/1,4,8
Race 8: 1 Mile 70 Yards AW – Bias: Stalkers, 22% w2w – PP: Mostly Fair
5 – CHICKEN DANCE – 2nd Race upside past Par
7 – MY FAVORITE BIRD – stomped in last better in 2nd up with 1st Lasix
4 – RAMSES THE GREAT – pacesetter with Irad in 3rd career run – boom or bust
6 – NOT NOW NICK – another that fired in last and 1st Lasix could add more fuel
Race 9: 1 Mile – Bias: Early Speed, 21% w2w – PP: Strong Rail, 2-7 Discount, 8+ Best
8 – DOMINO VITALI – SIM FAV and Top TOTAL PACE – pacesetter – 2nd race upside
6 – CONTRARY – TLRSP# + 8 – Better ATB
2 – SHERBINI – Maybe horse vs mostly noes – should be involved early with some LP
3 – PUCKERED – Big Overlay with the most LP
Race 10: 5 Furlongs Turf -Bias: Early Speed, 48% w2w – PP: Mostly Fair
4 – NONNA’S LOVE – strong effort in last – 1st Lasix – boom or bust in 3rd career race
8 – PULSTAR – should be involved from start to finish
1 – CATALONIA – SIM FAV – strong PAR+
6 – IFYOUSAIDSO – longshot that shows up solidly across the Smart Sheets
