Handicapper's Corner: Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII)

Uncle Mo’s Big Day  -   Handicapping the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII)

By: Michael Amo — ThoroFan

Positioned as the stepchild to this weekend’s Florida Derby, the Gulfstream Park Oaks has some interesting connections to its big brother.  The seven horse field, mile and a sixteenth race for fillies provides the 2016 debut for Gomo. She is a the daughter of sire Uncle Mo. Uncle Mo is also the sire of Nyquist who runs in the Florida Derby later on the Saturday’s card. The pair are trained by Doug O’Neill and appear to be coast-to-coast traveling companions. Nyguist comes to take on Mohaymen and a chance for the $1,000,000 Fasig Tipton bonus. The pair are owned by premier racing ownership, Redman Racing LLC. With the millions on the line for Nyquist he clearly is here to win. But what about Gomo? 

1   Paola Queen (Flatter) is bred well but is coming off only a maiden win at Gulfstream. Will be a speed factor from the rail, but not likely to win.

2    Double Entendre ( American Lion) is another Gulfstream winner of a maiden race hoping to move up. She is one of three in the race with some distance experience. May be a longshot value in the exotics.

3    Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper) is another trying to break into graded company. In her case distance may be her biggest obstacle to success. 

4    Mo’ Green (Uncle Mo) hails from south Florida with a 1 for 2 win record over the track, albeit at the maiden level. Will be trying to make presence known in the stretch.

     

Gomo (Uncle Mo) is making her 2016 debut from an impressive 2-year-old campaign winning the Alchibiades at Keeneland in October. Working solidly at Santa Anita for this effort. She is listed 5^th in the 2015 Experimental Free Handicap for fillies with a weight of 118 pounds, only seven pounds under the top filly Songbird. Likely winner.

     Hold On Momma (Hold Me Back) gets Lasix for the first time, however distance may be her problem.

7 

Off the Tracks (Curlin) has royal breeding and won a grade 3 at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velasquez this girl could be the threat to Gomo. She has won a stakes race this year at Gulfstream.  Beyer followers may like her better than Gomo.

With little speed in the race and only a few with distance experience, this race should be a jockey’s race. Combing distance and class it seems like this may be a two horse race.

Picks:

     1.   Gomo (5)

     2.   Off the Tracks (7)

     3.   Double Entendre (2)

     4.   Hold On Momma (6)

Bets;

$40 Exacta Box 5 and 7 ($80)

$20 Exacta 5 over 7 ($20)

Good Luck, but keep the day job!