Gulfstream Park Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 1/23/21

t's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 11:40 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Gulfstream Park. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and check the weather and track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)

Always Shopping and Delta’s Kingdom, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 8/1

Race 8 is the $125,000 Grade 3 La Prevoyante for older fillies and mares, and it is going a route of ground at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The top pick of numberFire’s data is longshot English Affair (10/1) followed by in-the-money finishers Traipsing (4/1) and Always Shopping (3/1), the latter being the top pick of Guaranteed Tip Sheet.

English Affair hit a 114 speed figure when winning at Ellis Park back in August but has missed the board in her last two, including the Grade 3 Long Island in her last race two months ago when she was never a factor. She finished fourth behind Delta’s Kingdom in the TVG Stakes.

Always Shopping stretches out after winning last time out for top jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and EPO trainer Todd Pletcher. Horse Racing Radar (HRR) notes she’s a head away from three straight wins, having lost a Grade 3 race two starts back. Always Shopping posted a career-best speed figure of 99 in two of her last three starts and should be stalking the leaders until they turn for home.

Heavenly Curlin (9/2) has won three in a row on Woodbine’s all weather track, according to HRR, and has the highest last-race speed figure as she transfers to the turf. Traipsing will likely be a speed runner up front in the same way she was when finishing second in the Grade 3 Long Island race two starts back. At long odds, she ran hard on the lead and came up just short at the wire at Aqueduct.

Delta’s Kingdom (8/1) has a runner-up and three show finishes in her last four, including just behind Traipsing in the Long Island. The daughter of Animal Kingdom should get a better trip after starting wide in that race. Red-hot trainer Bill Mott picks his go-to rider Junior Alvarado.

Colonel Liam and Social Paranoia, Race 11

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 8/1

Race 11 is the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf for older horses, and it is going 1 3/16 miles. There are 12 runners entered, and numberFire projects Breaking the Rules (10/1) and Anothertwistafate (5/1) to decide the race at the wire.

Breaking the Rules has won 6-of-16 starts but none of his last three. The son of War Front did post his career-best speed figure (115) last race when finishing third in the Grade 3 Fort Lauderdale on this track, which was won by closer Largent.

No surprise that Pletcher has three runners in the race in Colonel Liam (7/2), Largent (9/2) and Social Paranoia (8/1) on the far outside. Leading jockey Ortiz rides the best of them in Colonel Liam, who has won 2-of-3 races since July, including over this course a month ago. The lightly raced son of Liam’s Map is finding his groove and can win in his graded stakes debut. Largent races second off a layoff after posting his best speed figure last race, per HRR. Social Paranoia runs his best at Gulfstream with three wins and a third-place finish in four starts.

After more than a year off from racing, Anothertwistafate got a boost from EPO trainer Peter Miller. Since switching to the turf, the son of the late Scat Daddy has suddenly found his stride, which shows the power of EPO at the distances. He won 2-of-3 since September, including a win three weeks ago at Santa Anita. He’ll likely be running on the lead. His only Grade 1 start was the 2019 Preakness, when he never factored.

Code of Honor and Coastal Defense, Race 12

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/2 and 15/1

Race 12 is the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at 1 1/8 miles. A total of 12 older horses are running, and the top pick for numberFire’s algorithm is Code of Honor (9/2) with favorite Knicks Go (5/2) not expected to hit the board.

The Pegasus World Cup looms large as the winner also receives an invitation to the $20 million Saudi Cup in February. Guaranteed Tip Sheet makes a case for Knicks Go, as he was 3-for-3 in 2020 and ran his best race in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. HRR notes he’s tuned up with a pair of bullet works for EPO trainer Brad Cox this month and looks ready to continue his strong form.

Code of Honor is a top win contender and board hitter for trainer Shug McGaughey, per Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener. He’s won 6-of-15 starts and raced against the best and toughest fields. His last race was a close second-place finish in the Grade 2 Clark as the favorite ahead of Coastal Defense (15/1) and Mr Freeze (15/1), who are worthy longshots to include in your vertical and horizontal wagers like Exacta, Trifecta and Pick 5.