We turn the page to 2026 the right way — with 10 races at Gulfstream Park as the Championship Meet continues to deliver top-level competition, sharp form cycles, and full-field intrigue. Rich and Terry open the new year breaking down the entire card with: 🏇 Race-by-race Gulfstream analysis 📊 Smart Sheets insights to spot surface and pace advantages 🔥 Early-meet angles and trainer patterns 🎯 Best Bet notes and multi-race structure ideas 💡 Value opportunities created by class moves and trip setups New year. Fresh momentum. Same disciplined approach that carried us through 2025. Let’s kick off 2026 the right way — from Gulfstream Park.
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Terry’s Picks
Gulfstream — 01-01-26
Race 1-Female
1 – Striking Finale – Finished 3rd vs similar in last race; Highest last race speed rating (tie); She has a high % winning trainer; Lasix added.
4 – Vanish – Drops in class today; Breeding suggests she will like the grass; Has a bullet 3F workout (Dec-24).
6 – Angelic Quality – Has a high-percentage winning trainer and jockey; Lasix added.
Longshot:
5 – Blazing Bridgette – Finished in the money in 2 of the races out of 4 career starts; Has a high % winning trainer; a good 4F workout (Dec-27).
Alternate:
7 – Colonial Sense
Race 2-Female
2 – Spicy Guacamole – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Highest last race speed rating; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
3 – Misprint: Won 4 races out of the last 5 starts; Has a high % winning trainer; Can handle the distance.
7 – Happy Ride – Finished 2nd as favorite last out. Trainer wins 24% with beaten favorites; jockey has a strong win rate.
Longshot:
5 – Chloe’s Toy: Performs well at Gulfstream with 59% in-the-money finishes and a 21%-win rate; holds the top speed figure for this distance and features a top-percentage jockey.
Alternate:
4 – Rockets Sister
1 – Fulminate
$.50 Pick 4: 2,3,5,7/3,4/4,5,8/1,2,4,7 – Cost $48.00
Race 3
3 – What It Tiz – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer; Likes the distance.
4 – Guys Trip – Finished in the money in the last 5 races, winning 1 race; Best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie).
1 – He’s a Daredevil – Ran 2nd vs similar in last race; Rail post is winning at a18% clip; Best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters (tie); Has a high % winning jockey.
Longshot:
5 – Friolento – Drops in class today; Trainer and Jockey also has a high win percentage.
Alternate:
2 – Stop Being Greedy
6 – Orb Alpha
Race 4
8 – Operation Torch – Placed in 7 of 9 starts with 1 win; Drops in class; Returns to a route; Top-percentage winning jockey aboard.
5 – Shrug – Drops in class today; Best turf speed is fastest among today’s starters; bullet 4F workout (Dec-27).
4 – Souper Attentive – Finished 2nd as favorite last out. Trainer wins 26% with beaten favorites; jockey has a strong win rate.
Longshot:
7 – Maruvy – Drops in class today; Has a high % winning trainer; Switches to a jockey who has a high win percentage.
Alternate:
1 – Governing Party
9 – Yankee Drummer
$.50 Pick 4: 4,5,7,8/1,2,4,7/5,6/3,4,5 – Cost $48.00
Race 5
7 – Sosua Summer – Finished in the money in 4 of the races out of last 5 starts; Drops in class today; Has a high % winning trainer; Switches to a jockey who has a high win percentage.
1 – Fulanito – Likes Gulfstream, finishing in the money in 78% of the races, winning 33% of the starts; can handle the distance; Trainer and Jockey also has a high win percentage.
2 – El Apagon – Early speed running style helps chances; Has won 2 races out of 2 starts at today’s distance; Has a high % winning trainer.
Longshot:
4 – Fluid Situation – Finished in the money in 3 of the races out of last 4 starts, winning 2 races; Has a high % winning trainer.
Alternate:
5 – Cruzin Man
6 – Louie the Sun King
Race 6
6 – Shape Note – Placed in the money in 4 recent starts, winning 3; High-percentage trainer with a 42%-win rate after a horse’s victory; strong jockey stats.
5 – Hottakejake – Likes Gulfstream, finishing in the money in 75% of the races, winning 25% of the starts; can handle the distance, finishing in the money in 67% of the races, winning 33% of the starts.
4 – High Limit Room: Won 3 of last 4 races; top speed at this distance; gets a high-percentage trainer and jockey.
Longshot:
3 – Fast Fixer – Finished in the money in 4 of the races out of last 6 starts, winning 2 races; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
Alternate:
7 – Nic’s Bro
2 – Snowname
Race 7
3 – Double Neat – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Highest last race speed rating; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
4 – Storm the Streets – Ran 2nd (on Dirt) in last race; Has a high % winning jockey; Can go the distance.
5 – Replevin – Won last race at Gulfstream Park; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
Longshot:
9 – Berlone – Ran 2nd vs similar in last race; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
Alternate:
8 – Dream Dancer
$.50 Pick 4: 3,4,5,9/2,7/2,7/1,3,4,5,7,8 – Cost $48.00
Race 8-Female
7 – Secane – Finished 3rd as favorite last out. Trainer wins 26% with beaten favorites; Trainer and jockey has a strong win rate.
2 – Haute Diva: Finished in the money in 5 of the races out of 6 career starts, winning 1 race; Trained by a high-percentage trainer.
6 – Jetty’s Home – Won last race at Churchill Downs; Trained by a high-percentage trainer who wins 25% of dirt starts; Has a high % winning jockey.
Longshot:
5 – Nycon – Won last race at Churchill Downs at today’s distance.
Alternate:
1 – Vita Mia
Bet: $40.00 Win: 7 – $10.00 Exacta Box:2/7 – $10.00 Exacta: 7/2,3,5,6
Race 9-Female
2 – Dancing N Dixie – Finished 3rd vs tougher in last race; Drops in class today; trainer and jockey have high win rates.
7 – Mama Bella: Finished in the money in 6 of the races out of last 8 starts, winning 2 races; Has a high % winning trainer and jockey.
3 – Charlie’s Wish – Won last race at Churchill Downs; Trained by a high-percentage trainer; Has a good 4F workout (Dec-27).
Longshot:
5 – Oshala – Won last race; Trained by a high-percentage trainer.
Alternate:
6 – For Flying
4 – Show Off
Race 10
5 – Honey Dutch – Finished 3rd in last race; Can improve at the shorter distance; Switches to a high % winning jockey; Has a good 4F workout (Dec-24).
4 – Zeppelin – Won his debut race at Churchill Downs; Trainer and jockey have high win rates; Has a 4F workout (Dec-21).
7 – Glorious Boy – Won 2 of last 3 races; Highest last race speed rating; Has a high % winning trainer.
Longshot:
1 – A Million Dreams– Finished in the money in last 5 starts, winning 1 race; Has a high % winning trainer.
Alternate:
8 – Alpyland
3 – Grand Mahogany
Best Bet of the Day at Aqueduct – 8th Race – #7 – Secane
Rich’s Picks
Race 1: 1 Mile Turf – Bias: Stalkers, 22% w2w – PP: Strong Rail, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Almost Fair, Inside a little better
4 – VANISH – Top TOTAL PACE +17 – 3rd race bounce back
5 – BLAZING BRIDGETTE – better early in last and 1st Lasix could boost late – Only YES
8 – DRUPE – top ranked firster vs all noes and maybes
9 – SALLY J. – a flyer – speed and fade in debut – 1st Lasix and 2nd race upside
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 4,5,8,9
Race 2: 5 ½ Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 42% w2w – PP: Rail Fair, 2/3 Discount, 4-7 Best, 8+ Small Bonus
2 – SPICY GUACAMOLE – TLRSP#+3 – better middle out and chance for more in 3rd up
3 – MISPRINT – consistent with some early pace – in form right now for sure
5 – CHLOE’S TOY – is tied ad the SIM FAV with Top TOTAL PACE – works suggest new barn might push her a little more forward
7 – HAPPY RIDE – going to be forward where the POW says 42% go w2w
$0.50 Pick 4: 2,3,5/1,2,3,4/5,7,8,9/1,6
Race 3: 1 Mile – Bias: Early Speed, 21% w2w – PP: Rail Bonus, 2-7 A little Under Par, 8+ Best
3 – WHAT IT TIZ – could be lone E vs a field that is middle back – top CZONE
4 – GUYS TRIP – some strong works prepping – but trainer 0-19 w/ 46-90 days away
1 – HE’S A DAREDEVIL – strong rail – decent works – ITM 5/7 at the distance – 0/4 at any other
2 – STOP BEING GREEDY – should be better in the 2nd up – lone class dropper
Race 4: 1 Mile Turf – Bias: Stalkers, 22% w2w – PP: Strong Rail, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Almost Fair, Inside a little better
5 – SHRUG – SIM FAV and Top TOTAL PACE – seen tougher and bullet work prepping
8 – OPERATION TORCH – lowest level of career – tr wins 36% first time claimer vs 7% overall
7 – MARUVY – trying turf for the 1st time off the claim for D’Angelo barn – taps Irad
9 – YANKEE DRUMMER – TLRSP#+ 3 – 4 works since – 1st up a little spotty
$0.50 Pick 4: 5,7,8/1,2,5,6/4,6/2,3,4,8
Race 5: 5 Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 38% w2w – PP: Mostlty Fair 1-7, 8+ Big Bonus
6 – LOUIE THE SUN KING – Top TOTAL PACE – extremely consistent – ITM 7/8 at the distance
1 – FULANITO – should go forward – Iran on top for the 1st time – fires in 1st up
2 – EL APAGON – class dropper – won both at the distance – just seems to hang late
5 – CRUZIN MAN – on the gas with the top C ZONE
$5 Exacta Key Box: 6/1,2,5,7
Race 6: 5 Furlongs AW – Bias: Early Speed, 38% w2w – PP: Mostlty Fair 1-7, 8+ Big Bonus
6 – SHAPE NOTE – TLRPS#+7 – Top TOTAL PACE – Top PAR+ and C ZONE
4 – HIGH LIMIT ROOM – clearly in form at the moment – better 5 ways in last
5 – HOTTAKEJAKE – robust effort in last – resume says as good in 2nd up
3 – FAST FIXER – chance to be forward and also has solid LP
Race 7: 7 ½ Furlongs Turf – Bias: Stalkers, 25% w2w – PP: Rail Strong, 2/3 Best, 4+ Hit Hard
3 – DOUBLE NEAT – Irad coming off a dominant win on the grass – does pair strong efforts
2 – DONTSPLASHTHEPOT – SIM FAV at a price – cutting back from 2 miles – should be fit
4 – STORM THE STREETS – consistent for sure – should be forward and drops
8 – DREAM DANCER – Top TOTAL PACE and crushed in only grass go
$0.50 Pick 4: 2,3/5,6,7/1,2,3,5/2,4,5,7
Race 8: 1 Mile – Bias: Early Speed, 21% w2w – PP: Rail Bonus, 2-7 A little Under Par, 8+ Best
7 – SECANE – only YES Horse – bounce back race in 3rd career race after regressing in race 2
5 – NYCON – dominated in her last – another with 3rd race bounce back potential
6 – JETTY’S HOME – Tied for the SIM FAV that should be on the lead
4 – DUNMORE BEACH – will be coming late and moved up the speed ladder in each race
Race 9: 1 1/8 Miles AW – Bias: Early Speed, 3/11 w2w – PP: Strong Rail, 2/3 Hit Hard, 4-7 Small Bonus, 8+ Dynamic
1 – DESIGN – SIM FAV at a price with Tyler G – why not?
3 – CHARLIE’S WISH – shows stakes level LP most of the time – been off a bit – decent works for Top TOTAL PACE
5 – OSHALA – better early, better fractions despite going longer, resume says more in 3rd up
2 – DANCING N DIXIE – definitely been in versus tougher – just doesn’t remember how to win
$4 Exacta Key Box: 1/2,3,5,6
Race 10: 1 Mile Turf – Bias: Stalkers, 22% w2w – PP: Strong Rail, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Almost Fair, Inside a little better
7 – GLORIOUS BOY – going to be closing and coming off a hot work since
5 – HONEY DUTCH – Tied for SIM FAV – will definitely try to go forward and Irad rides
2 – SQUIRE – only YES horse with best C ZONE and we get a big price
4 – ZEPPELIN – got to give this longie a shot – bad start, big rally in debut to win – horse that finished 3rd came back to win next out
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 2,5,4,7
