Animal Kingdom Preps for Dubai!

Back again for another big day of racing at Gulfstream Park on Donn Handicap day.  The Donn has shaped up to be a very good race full of legitimate contenders.  I will give you my selections in the Donn later, but the race I want to talk about is the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Ok, I can hear you now,"Oh Jeez Chalk Eating Weasel! Why do you want to talk about this race with a paltry 6 horse field which will be dominated by Animal Kingdom and Point of Entry?" I get it but hear me out.

Yes, it is true that Animal Kingdom and Point of Entry are the ones everyone has talked about since this race was filled, for good reason as both of these are on their game and the proven class of this field.  The form and class are confirmed by the 8-5 and 9-5 morning lines on these two.  But I think there is a chance to beat these two and here's how.

Point of Entry has been a monster since he finished 4th in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park last February.  That race was 9 furlongs.  He won the his previous at GP, an Allowance for n1x.  That race was at 11 furlongs.  Every race after the February race was at a distance of 10 furlongs or more.  Point of Entry seems to be one of those that just needs to race over more ground.  Now I'm not saying that Point of Entry can't win this race, simply that it is not his best distance.  Do we really want to take a short price on this?

Well, what about Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is a lightly raced but highly accomplished 5 year old.  The Kentucky Derby winner two years ago, but most think he does his best running on grass as confirmed by his brilliant, in defeat to Wise Dan, BC Turf mile effort last out.  Yet it is no secret that Animal Kingdom is going to Dubai for the big prize.  So, you have to ask yourself if he is going to be all out to $180,000 here when there is so much more to shoot for just ahead.  Maybe, maybe not.  The truth is that Animal Kingdom may not need to be fully cranked to win this race.  But I'm not interested in 6-5 to find out.

There are two others of particular interest to me here.  Todd Pletcher puts out Salto who will be ridden by Joe Bravo.  Look for Salto to try to wire this formidable opposition as he is the one who seems most likely to inherit the lead from a bunch that generally doesn't care to do much running early.  There is none better than Joe at rating a horse on the lead.  I swear he has a clock in his head. But Salto has never proven himself at this level.  A capable horse, but is he good enough?

There is one in here who has earned his salt lick as a G1 winner which is Unbridled Command.  Unbridled Command overcame a slow start and tight quarters to win the G1 Hollywood Derby last out.  Winner of 5 in a row, he also sports a G3 victory from Saratoga last Summer.  He is versatile with regard to running style, meaning he'll have the tactical speed to keep up with Salto.  And he has top turf jockey Javier Castellano on his back.  The 15-1 Morning line looks very tasty.  I don't think he'll be let go at that, but anything around 10-1 makes him a go.

GP Turf Hdcp

4. Unbridled Command
6. Animal Kingdom
2. Point of Entry

The www.publichandicapper.com races

Donn Hdcp

1. Bourbon Courage
2. Flat Out
7. Csaba

Suwannee River
4. Hard Not To Like
5. Channel Lady
8. Abaco

GP Sprint Championship

6. Bahamian Squall
2. Travelin Man
5. Fort Loudon

San Marcos @ Santa Anita

1. Interaction
11. Fun with Fire
13. Slim Shadey

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