The New and Improved Gulfstream?

The newness at Gulfstream isn't in question; whether or not it's improved is open to debate, and there is plenty of it. Having not set foot there since the renovations, I'll keep my opinions to what I see happening on the track.

Today, a fresh crop of 3 year olds takes to the main track for the Hutcheson (GII), a 7 furlong dash that features plenty of legitimate speed up front. Expect Tiz It (#1), Grand Minstrel (#2), Cool Coal Man (#3), Smooth Air (#5), & Coal Play (#1)0 to all gun to the front down the backstretch, with Coal Play likely compromised by the wide post and hung 3-4 wide in the turn. With the talent in this field, that may be just enough to keep him out of the exacta.

Immediately behind that wave and settling in for a fierce stretch drive will be Halo Najib (#4) and Big Truck (#7). The winner will likely come from this duo, with Tiz It and Smooth Air staying the trip to make it interesting.

At 12/1 on the morning line, we expect Big Truck to be bet down substantially. We don't think he'll be bet down enough to make him an underlay. Exiting a troubled 4th in the Remsen and turning back to a distance he has won at before in stakes company, Big Truck gets a Tagg/Castellano combo that hit at 40% in 2007. He is the pick.

Pinning big hopes on Big Truck, here is the play:

$.10 super 7/1-4-5/1-2-3-4-5-6-10/1-2-3-4-5-6-10 $9.00
$1 exacta key 7/1-4-5 $3
$1 tri key 7/1-4-5 $6
$2 win #7

Total Investment = $20