Gulfstream Park FULL CARD Hotlist - January 23

Today’s Gulfstream Park Hot List fullcard selections
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021
Pegasus World Cup Day

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

Hot List Key:
 A: A preferred horse to watch  B: Secondary horse to watch
*C: Went down 2 or more betting notches and finished 1st through 3rd
*D: Went down 2 or more betting notches and finished 4^th or worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race – (1) Apurate was hurt by a wide trip last time when she faded to fourth. Can navigate a winning trip from the rail. (11) Holyanna returned from a year layoff when she closed fast to finish second at Woodbine. Might have been the top pick except for a tough post. (2) Moral Reasoning stretches out for new connections after a wide trip and should be a factor. (3) Two Cent Tootsie returns to turf where she won her last two starts.

2^nd race – (11) Dynamic One was a game and clear second to an impressive maiden winner. Today’s his turn to graduate. (9) Ridin With Biden missed by a neck in his debut and should be the main rival. (3) American Law should benefit from a third-place effort in his debut. (2) Another Duke was third behind the top pick and should be in the picture once again.

3^rd race - (2) Beau Luminarie has been freshened since his turf debut, in which he was second by a head. He’s been second in his last four starts but seems poised to reach the winner’s circle here. (11) Junkanoo fell too far back and then was forced to rally too wide while finishing third. Can move forward with a better trip here. (12) Microsecond might be fast enough to overcome the outside post and be a factor at the finish. (8) Bray was second last time and could be tougher in his debut for Maker.

4^th race – The Fred W. Hooper Stakes - (1) Performer didn’t fire on a wet track in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile but should rebound here on a dry surface. (5) Phat Man won this stakes last year and figures to be the main threat. (4) Dream Maker ships in from Canada after winning on a synthetic surface but he’s done well enough on dirt to be a contender here. (2) Eye of a Jedi edged out Phat Man for second last time and should not be discounted  .

5^th race – (3) Malibu Mambo has been racing strongly on synthetics and should be able to make a successful switch to turf. (2) Emaraaty has been away for more than a year but will be formidable if he’s ready to run. (12) Olympic Runner is coming off a pair of seconds and should appreciate a little more distance here. (8) Winters Back won his last two in frontrunning fashion and could be tough to catch in this spot.

6^th race – (10) Stage Raider is a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify who seems ready for a top try in his debut for Brown. (12) Traveller debuts for Pletcher and could have enough speed to be a top threat. (9) Full Court Press is another talented firster who should be watched. (4) Exalted Charm is also making his debut and carries a lot of appeal here.

7^th race – The Marshua’s River Stakes - (10) Sweet Bye and Bye drew a rough post but has enough speed to avoid being carried wide and looks best in this spot. (2) Our Bay B Ruth contested a quick pace and tired in the stretch but might hang on in this spot. (3) Zofelle has not raced since June but can handle these on her best try. (4) Vigilantes Way won nicely in a stakes here and can make her presence felt against this group.

8^th race – The La Prevoyante Stakes - (7) Heavenly Curlin is another Canadian visitor who can make a smooth adjustment to turf and land in the winner’s circle. (1) Always Shopping should be well-suited by the 1 ½-mile distance and looks like the one to fear. (5) Lovely Lucky faced tough company in her last two starts and should be OK at the distance. (3) Irony of Reality has an interesting pedigree for the distance.

9^th race – The Inside Information Stakes - (2) Cinnabunny lacked room while trying to close at six furlongs and had to settle for third.  Can make a winning move here at a longer distance. (7) Sally’s Curlin disappointed in her last two tries but can perk up here. (3) Bronx Beauty was second ahead of the top pick last time and will be a main contender today. (4) Thissmytime comes off two solid wins and cannot be ignored.                   

10^th race – The W. L. McKnight Stakes - (1) Doswell was second to a top threat in the Pegasus Turf and might be tough to reel in at this distance from the rail. (11) Channel Cat turned in a beneficial comeback effort behind the top pick last time and should move forward off that race. (5) Sadler’s Joy is highly consistent, especially at this distance, and belongs in the exotics. (6) Sir Sahib was second in a Woodbine Grade 1 stakes at this distance and merits a close look.

11^th race – The Pegasus World Cup Turf - (6) Largent was an impressive winner of the Fort Lauderdale Stakes in quick time and can score a $1 million touchdown against this field. (9) Cross Border had trouble closing at shorter distances but should revert to top form in this spot. (12) Social Paranoia had a great prep race for this and will be a handful if he can overcome the outside post. (11) Say the Word ships in from California in excellent form and should be a serious threat in the final furlong.

12^th race – The Pegasus World Cup - (4) Knicks Go has turned into a monster for trainer Brad Cox and should be able to win on the front end over a speed-favoring surface. (7) Tax was an impressive winner over the track in a sharp prep and figures to be the main rival for the top choice. (10) Code of Honor has plenty of talent but landed a rough post on this track. (6) Kiss Today Goodbye closed with gusto to win the San Antonio at Santa Anita and is a big threat to sneak into the superfecta.