Friday 7/3/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 09:13 AM

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Friday, July 3, 2026

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 09:14 AM

Al Cimaglia: Northfield Park Spot Plays

July 3, 2026 | By Al Cimaglia

Northfield Park has a 15-race card. The Spot Plays for tonight are in Race 2, Race 8, and Race 14. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.

Race 2 (6:22 PM EDT)

7-Bestiesforresties (5-1)-The last 2 starts came on a sloppy track and cashed smaller checks. Hasn't hit the board in 4 tries on a wet surface but has hit the board in 3 of 9 at HoP with 1 picture. Stays at the same level, did come a game 3rd from the 9-hole and didn't have the best of trips. Posted a win 3 back starting from post 1. Will look for better on a fast track at a square price.
9-Tella Babe (8-1)-This 5-year-old makes only its 4th lifetime start and could offer a juicy price. Just about came to a stop back in April in its debut. Lost all chance with broken equipment on 6-7 and then went off-stride in the slop on 6-14. Braiden Rhoades drove in a qualifier on 6-25 and finished 3rd on a "Good" track. Tried to go gate to wire and faded but did stay flat. Will look to beat the 3/2 choice, #4-Ms Marshamarsha. Showed improvement in the last tune-up and will use with one above in Exactas versus a suspect field.
7-9-4

Exactas 7,9/4 and 7/9 Box

Race 8 (8:34 PM EDT)

2-Win After Whisky (5-1)-The 3-year-old has looked good since arriving in town (3-1-2-0). Likes to go gate to wire and tried that plan in last but faded. Odds-on chalk could make amends tonight at a square price and will look for better here. Raced last on 6-20, but that start came after a sick scratch and was off almost a month.
2-3-1

Playing #2 Win After Whiskey to Win

Race 14 (10:4 6 PM EDT)

7-Crosswinds Sweetpe (7-1)The John Ciocca trainee posted 8 wins last year and is only 1-8 in 2026. But should offer a price and may have met a beatable field. Came off the bench 3 back on 7-7, and was in too deep. Then dropped to a soft spot and popped on a sloppy track. Missed a start, then made a double step up and didn't cash a check racing in the slop again. Has the gate speed to be forwardly placed and on the drop in class can be a player with a sharp steer.
7-2-3

Using #7 Crosswinds Sweetpe in a Win Bet.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 09:14 AM

Gulfstream Park Pick 4/Friday, July 3

July 3, 2026 | By Frank Carulli

Gulfstream Park Late Pick 4
Friday, July 3

A field of eight 2-year-old fillies – five coming off Maiden Special Weight victories – will get their first stakes try in the $100,000 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park this Friday, July 3. The featured race kicks off a 50-cent Late Pick 4 that shapes up this way:

Gulfstream Park 6th Race (3:06 EST)

BOOTS impressed in her debut, now enters the barn of trainer Carlos David, who is 37-for-185 (20 percent) the last three years with 2-year-old fillies. She was reluctant to load but sped to the front and inched away from 4-to-5 choice Celtic Dispute, who came back to beat the boys in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on the turf. ELEGANTE MIZ sustained a 4-wide rally from the far turn to the 5F finish line and surged late to win despite losing momentum while drifting in the stretch. She should get a good pace flow to rally into, but might show more speed off a fastest-of-47 workout since her first race. Speaking of fast workouts, first-time starter CANDY COLE sandwiched a pair of gate preps around a :48 bullet that was a full second or more faster than all but three others at 4F on June 15.

Gulfstream Park 7th Race (3:48 p.m. EST)

IFYOUSAIDSO dueled for the lead while inside of two rivals who finished behind her in the Grade 3 Mamzelle Stakes on the Churchill Downs lawn. There’s speed in this field, too, but she deserves a second look considering the deep closers in her last start were led by Cy Fair, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, and Slay The Day, who returned with an easy win and a 93 Beyer speed figure in Grade 3 Soar Softly at Saratoga. CALYPSO MOON salvaged inside position from post 8, tracked a torrid pace and found room 3-wide in early stretch. She appeared to have the embattled leaders measured but was denied victory in the 5F allowance by a nose.

Gulfstream Park 8th Race (4:10 p.m. EST)

ROAR OF THE BEAST plays catch-me-if-you-can at a distance which he boasts a 10-length maiden win and 13-length allowance victory off similar rest. STEAL SUNSHINE, a winner and runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G-2) the last two years, might have lost a step at age 7. But he rallied 6-wide to finish second to the pace setter in a five-horse allowance last out and has posted a 90-plus Beyer in half of his 38 lifetime starts. LIGHTNING TONES, his $400,000 Gulfstream Park bankroll intact, started from an outer half post position in 8 of his last 10 starts this year, but he draws the rail today and looms a late-running threat.

Gulfstream Park 9th Race (4:42 p.m. EST)

GANADOR got the jump with a 3-wide bid into the stretch and beat four follow-up winners when he last raced on turf in March. The last time MEGACLES ran this distance on turf, he set the pace to the stretch on short rest in a stakes race for Florida-breds dominated by closers. The race produced a stakes runner-up and two next-out winners, including Maiden Special Weight runaway Serac. Use him as a longshot on the Pick 4 ticket. MALCOLM X steadied sharply off heels and dropped back to last on the backstretch, but recovered to finish second in the same spot two starts ago. DAVID PEPPERMAN beat GANADOR to break his maiden, but he seeks his first win since February for trainer Daniel Hurtak, who is on a 12-for-80 run since late March with a $11 average win mutuel.

Suggested Pick 4
GP 6th Race: 4, 5, 7
GP 7th Race: 5, 8
GP 8th Race: 1, 6, 7
GP 9th Race: 3, 4, 7, 10
Cost for a 50-Cent ticket: $36

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 02:11 PM

Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks

Presque Isle Downs - Race #6

#7 Strike D'Oro	Tactical type should get a good run right up near the splits in a race without a ton of serious early burn, and she's dangerous here with reliable form and some reasonable upside in the second start back.
#4 Right Now	She looks for her fourth in a row here while finding a tougher group waiting for her, but she's another with enough positional pace to find a decent spot in this group. In the mix.
#2 Icona Mama	There are a couple of pretty nice names on her page, and she has run pretty well here in the past. One of the ones in a tough race.
Race Summary	Enjoyed diving into a pretty fun Late Pick-3 starting here. Strike D'Oro should get the right kind of trip while always close, and a small step forward in her second start back might be enough to land this right back.

Presque Isle Downs - Race #7

#6 Spirited Sol	Tougher test for him today, but I love how reliable his form is, even if that leads to him settling for shares behind a couple of good names along the way. Deep waters today, but let's see if he can just chase and stay again while trying better at a big price.
#5 Nobals	Classy guy is tough from close range here and makes his second start off the layoff. Better stuff probably does the trick.
#7 Jean Valjean	He has often found stakes company a bit tough, but I think his fairly committed pace could work in his favor here in a race with mostly pressing/chasing types. Has a go for it?
Race Summary	Spirited Sol might be a bit of a reach here after a long string of underneath shares with softer, but I wonder if he might show up with something competitive by staying on late when a few others quit.

Presque Isle Downs - Race #8

#7 Fleur Delacour	She has a lot of fairly competitive local form that might help her step forward off a couple of decent enough starts on the turf at Penn. Midrange price chance.
#9 Wherever We Are	Tactical speed draws well for an outside spy, and she might be ready to step into the better part of her form cycle here in this third start back.
#5 Emblaze	Finisher has shown some talent through three starts and fits here while trying the local footing for the first time, but I'm a bit worried that the price is going to get short with the New York form looking back.
Race Summary	Fleur Delacour might get overlooked just a bit here, but he has pretty honest form over the local course and might be ready for better while returning off the turf.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 02:12 PM

Frank Carulli's Daily Picks

Gulfstream Park - Race #1

#8 SHINYHAPPYGROOVY (3-1)	Ran second to recent allowance winner in lone grass route try.
#1 HIGH LATEEN (10-1)	Unseated rider in post parade, no factor in debut, returns in new barn as gelding.
#7 CASE LAW (5-1)	Took some money, showed some late interest in debut MSW sprint, goes long.
Race Summary	SHINYHAPPYGROOVY edged closer to the two favorites on the turn but ‘lacked a clear path’ in the stretch and finished third on turf two back. He also ran second in his debut on the lawn at today’s distance, a performance that was upgraded when Resurgo, the race winner, won a 2x allowance in his most recent start with an 87 Beyer at today’s distance. Bet to win and place and play 8-1 and 8-7 exactas.

Gulfstream Park - Race #4

#3 GRANT ME PEACE (6-1)	Late foot in well-bet debut, adds blinkers, dam liked the grass.
#1 MOONSHINE HONEY (7-2)	Hesitated, ‘moderate’ late interest; sire had two 100+ Beyers in long sprints early in career.
#5 CRYSTAL RIVER (2-1)	Money likely to show for high-percentage barn with these types.
Race Summary	GRANT ME PEACE took serious money in her debut but was no threat to the odds-on winner. She lagged far back under urging but ‘improved with interest’ in the lane. She adds blinkers, stretches out to a long sprint and switches to turf, a surface over which her dam, Belladini, was 6-for-22 with $116k in earnings. Bet to win and place and play a 1-3-5 exacta box.

Gulfstream Park - Race #5

#2 IMPERIA BLUE (2-1)	Ran 3/5 of a second faster than same-day $62,500 optional claimer in win.
#1 GEAUX AMY (3-1)	Gets brave if she gets to lead, won twice on Tapeta for barn that re-claimed her.
#4 THUNDER PRINCESS (9-5)	Plays to a steady beat at this level, handles any type of track.
Race Summary	IMPERIA BLUE met six next-out winners in four starts at this level – all with 60-plus Beyers – before she capitalized with a class-dropping win as the favorite. She raced closer to a faster pace en route to the top speed figure of her career. Bet to win and place and play 2-1 and 2-4 exactas.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 02:12 PM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

Penn National - Race #5 - Post: 7:28pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $22,000 Class Rating: 68

Rating:

#4 PAINTMYMASTERPEACE (ML=5/1)

PAINTMYMASTERPEACE - This jock and conditioner have a positive return on investment when they join forces. Maiden is moving over to the dirt, and may not have liked the turf last out. Has a good chance to be a first time winner.

Vulnerable Contenders: #1 WALKERS BEACH (ML=8/5), #5 KING OF SALSA (ML=5/2), #2 RINGING FIRE (ML=4/1),

WALKERS BEACH - I don't normally play a probable favorite that hasn't been to the track in the last two to three weeks. KING OF SALSA - This colt recorded a speed figure in his last event which likely isn't good enough today. RINGING FIRE - Can't play this runner in today's sprint of 6 furlongs. Hasn't even finished in the money in a sprint contest recently.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	Bet on #4 PAINTMYMASTERPEACE to win if you can get at least 1/1 odds
EXACTA WAGERS:	Skip
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Pass
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:	Pass

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 02:13 PM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

Saratoga - Race #5 - Post: 3:25pm - Allowance - 5.5 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $120,000 Class Rating: 91

Rating:

#9 ONE MORE GUITAR (ML=9/2)
#3 PAULA'S A STAR (ML=4/1)
#6 ONE LAST KNOCK (ML=6/1)
#2 NEXT ON STAGE (ML=6/1)

ONE MORE GUITAR - Based on morning drills, I look for this filly to run a big race. This one could be a potential overlay in this event at odds of 9/2. Finished sixth in last race at Belmont at the Big A but was close at the end. Proctor adds Lasix to this one today. I'd look for improvement. Came home fast last out at Belmont at the Big A. That type of move bodes well for her chances in this event. PAULA'S A STAR - Santana rode this thoroughbred for the first time in the last race and comes right back today. This thoroughbred is for real on the turf. TrackMaster turf rating in last race at Saratoga was tops in this bunch. ONE LAST KNOCK - A filly like this one, almost always on the board, usually makes an excellent trifecta key horse. Had a powerful closing move last out, running the last quarter in less than 25 seconds. A similar performance today, and it's straight to the winner's circle. Brion adds Lasix for the second time today. Could make the difference in this race. NEXT ON STAGE - Franco and Rice have had great success together over the last year. Average class figure is tops in this group. I think that is a big advantage for a turf race. I have to like this mare's chances of winning at the shorter distance.

Vulnerable Contenders: #1 MINUTE BY MINUTE (ML=7/2), #7 OSCAR'S ENCORE (ML=5/1), #8 KILBY GIRL (ML=8/1),

MINUTE BY MINUTE - Today's race is 5 1/2 furlongs. Hasn't finished in the money in a short distance clash in the last sixty days. Not the best of signals. Showed very little in the last event. Really don't see any hint of improvement today. OSCAR'S ENCORE - Should probably pass on this youngster, she hasn't had enough experience to win this kind of race. KILBY GIRL - I find it hard to play this pony this time around. Make her show you something in a sprint event before you bet on her in a race of 5 1/2 furlongs. Tough to back a sophomore meeting older for the first time. Probably needs more seasoning. This questionable contender ran a run-of-the-mill speed figure last race out. She shouldn't run much better and will likely suffer defeat in today's race running that figure.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The Turf Man - PAULA'S A STAR - This noble animal figures to be competitive against these ponies in this event. She has the top speed rating in turf sprints.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	#9 ONE MORE GUITAR is going to be the play if we are getting 5/1 or better
EXACTA WAGERS:	None
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Pass

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-03-2026, 02:15 PM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred)

PURCHASE
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 2 - SO - 5.5f on the Dirt. Purse: $26000 Class Rating: 99

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $20,000 OR LESS IN 2025 - 2026 OR CLAIMING PRICE $25,000. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 126 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $25,000.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
	# 7 SOI NGERN 6/1
# 6 REXFORD 5/1
# 2 HEY BROTHER 7/2

SOI NGERN looks to be a decent contender. Should compete quite well in the pace contest which bodes well with this group of animals. It's a good sign that Brinkerhoff is using Bautista on this entrant. Have to bet on this money-making jockey and trainer twosome. REXFORD - He looks strong in this slot and I expect will be on the lead or close at the midpoint. One of the strongest win percentages between this jockey and conditioner make this gelding dangerous. HEY BROTHER - Is a key contender - given the 93 Equibase speed fig from his most recent race. Barocio has a solid win percent with horses racing in dirt sprint races.