Presious Passion captures the Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 2/21/09. Ridden by Elvis Trujillo

Today’s race of the day is from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fl. and we’ve added a weather channel widget to help you plan for the races.

Remember the importance of knowing what the track will be like by starting with the weather.

We’ve already looked ahead for tomorrow’s race and they expect 40% chance of showers tonight but clearing by tomorrow and we expect the G2 Mac Diarmada to go as carded over the distance of 1 3/8 miles on the turf course.

It looks to be a great race!

Last years winner, Precious Passion, competes again only this time he’s not the same guy he used to be. What do you think? Nothing has changed but his age. In his defense his last win at the distance was a gate to wire sprint on a hard Monmouth surface last summer. But after that he ran in the Arlington Million and was soundly beaten by Gio Ponti and others. Signs of weakness emerged in his last race, the McKnight at Calder going 1 1/2 miles, when he finished a disappointing fifth at 4 to 5 odds. That race followed two tough attempts to win gate to wire at Santa Anita winning the Clement L. Hirsch and narrowly being defeated for the ‘crown’ by Conduit in the BC Turf. He’ll be the favorite tomorrow and we hope he is because we’re going to beat him with our free horse racing selection for the race of the day.

Just to mention a few others in the race tomorrow there’s Feel’s All Right for Biancone and it’s good to see Corey Nakatani riding the circuit on a regular basis this year. The horse gets lasix for the first time and it’s classic Patrick Biancone with a young seemingly talented and recently stateside runner from France. Only this time it appears Biancone is doing things the right way again winning with 20% of his runners at GP so far.

Johnny V. can only do one thing with Gabriel’s Hill going 1 3/8 tomorrow and that’s GO! And if he does as expected he’ll put the added pressure on Passion to set the race up for our selection.

Julien Leparoux is perhaps the best rider in America today. He’s young and extremely talented. Tomorrow he rides Expansion for Chad Brown and even though he’s 0 for 6 when teaming up with the trainer — his win in the G2 Red Smith at Aqueduct at tomorrow’s distance gave him the highest last race Beyer Speed Figure and makes him our top selection.

Selections:

8 – 1 – 2 -  7

Gulfstream Park Past Performances

Check out the Race of the Day analysis now! Today’s race of the day is a good optional claiming allowance race bringing together some of last years three year olds like Break Water Edison, Imperial Council, Warrior’s Reward and others.

The field is well balanced and Imperial Council will be the likely favorite at post time.

Good luck!

Gulfstream Park Past Performances

Today’s race of the day free past performances are courtesy of DRF.com — America’s Turf Authority.

#1 Star Plus — This guy is 7 years old so he’s getting up there and hasn’t raced since the G3 River City at Churchill for Kenny McPeek. This is his second trainer and sixth different rider since arriving here from Argentina in ‘07. Gets the services of Maragh and his current trainer, Angel Penna, is 33% winners for the meet so far. Ran at these conditions in his first race in the States and seems to have improved on paper but he has health issues but he’s versatile to win on dirt, synthetic and turf. Highest last race Beyer and Maragh is no dummy.

#2 Auction Watch — Another old timer for Jonathan Sheppard who’s in for the claiming allowance tag of $80K. Sheppard hasn’t won any yet but Castanon is 19% winning rides at the meet. Penn. bred is second choice. All of his wins have come on turf with three at today’s distance.
Last three wins were all at Philly and Sheppard takes this horse down south. Appears this is the first time the horse is in for a tag. Don’t like the price.

#3 Valtrus — Lezcano has this favorite who’s dropping back in for a claiming price in this OC$80K with a $53K purse. These days 60% of the purse plus the claiming price for a horse who has won six races and $220K isn’t a bad cash out. That’s what it looks like Bruce Brown is doing here after claiming this one four back for $50K He has four wins on the turf but none here in two attempts. Not sold.

#4 Sr. Henry — NW four lifetime and “o-fer” on the lawn in 11 attempts. Desormeaux and McPeek have this one in the barn and makes you wonder why? On paper the horse “looks” good but you know what they say about those. If the track came up off we’d say maybe but the forecast calls for sunny skies in Hallandale. Has one at Gulfstream just not on the turf.

#5 Florentino — Has two wins over GP turf. His maiden victory was here at the distance. He’s speedy and has run in four graded stakes in the last five starts. Caught Get Stormy the last two times.Garcia for McLaughlin but the horse is still NW4.

#6 Slambino — Got beat 3/4 lengths to Furthest Land here last January. Castellano looks to get run from this one but it’s going to come late in the race. Broke his maiden here in ‘08 over the slop beating Zambezi Warrior. Late.

#7 Sam P. — Ran in all the big races as a three year old. He’s still eligible for NW4 lifetime and has competed at this level on several occasions. Leparoux rode him to victory in May ‘08 at Churchill and that was the last time he had his picture taken. Went to the lead that day but he can’t do that today. Needs to make one run.

The selection:

#1 Star Plus – Not sure why but we think he’s the one. Morning line is 4 to 1 but he might go lower.

Check back here for the results and the video replay.