It’s an old argument; speed vs. ability in turf sprints. Often it’s speed that will triumph. In Wednesday’s Gulfstream feature, there’s no shortage of it in a five furlong turf sprint, so a late runner would have a tactical edge.
The problem is, however, that the best late run one can expect will come from a close-range stalker, not a rally type.
But the problem with that is do we take a stalker from an outer post who can get a clear shot at the speed, or an inside runner with a chance to trip out by saving ground and finding a seam late. We’re choosing the latter.
There really isn’t much separating Mar Vista Miguel (3-1) from Gran Malbec (5-2) on ability or class. The same goes for the riders,; Luis Saez and Emisael Jaramillo are two of the hottest in the room, and their trainers both show good numbers with recent acquisitions.
We’re going with ‘Mar Vista’ , hoping that Luis will get cover inside and get his shot at just the right moment in midstretch. That’s how we’re playing it, anyway.
Taking Mar Vista Miguel to win at early line odds if available, an exacta box with Gran Malbec, and will sprinkle interesting potential price shot Fully Loaded (6-1) into the super-exotics mix.
SATURDAY RESULTS: Both Channel Cat and Bodexpress finished third; the former a victim of a slower pace, the latter cooked in hot fractions. That’s why it’s called gambling.
