Photo:

Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

An intriguing nine-race card awaits fans and bettors at Gulfstream Park this Wednesday, anchored by a 1 1/2-mile synthetic track event. Let’s dig into my five favorite races on the program.

Best bet: Native Shaman, race 8

Best value bet: Early On, race 4

Race 3

No. 5 Magnetic Beach (5-2) has run well at levels much higher than this one as recently as November. She got an odd ride at Oaklawn when last seen but Jorge Ruiz gets a leg-up from Kent Sweezey here, and the tandem is firing at a 25 percent clip over their last 16 starts together. No. 6 Candy and Wine (9-5, morning-line favorite) will likely go off as an underlay thanks to trainer Todd Pletcher. The pedigree suggests she’ll improve with added ground, but the debut running line does not, even if the speed figure was competitive. No. 3 Princess Claudia (7-2) finished with interest despite a wide trip in a sprint last time out and lures Luis Saez.

How I’d bet it, based on a $100 budget: $10 exacta 5/6, $4 exacta 5/3, $4 exacta 6/5, $2 exacta 6/3

Race 4

No. 3 Early On (6-1) has had her fair share of early trouble in races, so trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wisely adds distance here. The tune-up work was good, Lasix is added, and Dylan Davis is the new pilot, so there’s lots to like at this price. No. 5 Grayleigh (5-2) does not have high-percentage connections in her corner but is highly logical off her debut speed figure, which could be improved upon. No. 4 Ghanaayem (8-5, morning-line favorite) caught a muddy track at first asking and might take more kindly to a fast strip.

How I’d bet it: $20 win 3

Race 6

No. 2 Puckered (7-2) may have the most losses of anyone in this group, as she’s 1-for-16, but her fast dirt record (4: 1-1-1) is not bad at all. She was a solid second in her return to the main oval after making multiple unsuccessful starts on the synthetic strip. No. 6 Lady O’Brien (9-2) has made only one prior start on dirt, and she was a worse-than-it-looks third after moving too soon and finishing behind a runaway winner. No. 1 Slender Slipper (3-1) figures to make an impact on the class drop and gets in light, but a mile may be asking too much of this daughter of Sharp Azteca.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 2/6, $8 exacta 2/1, $2 exacta 6/2

Race 7

No. 1 Bee a Queen (6-1), no. 2 With Kindness (5-2), and no. 5 Anna’s Promise (7-5, morning-line favorite) all share a similar resume as they each try a new low, cut back from a route to a seven-furlong sprint, and add Lasix. Bee a Queen gets the nod as the best price of the bunch, as she’s not far removed from a third-place finish in a stakes race as a maiden. Her form looks the most dirtied-up from failed route tries. With Kindness was second in each of her sprint starts vs. state-breds before finding routing with open company much too tough. Anna’s Promise’s lone successful sprint came in the slop, so taking a short price with her on top is a bit tough to swallow.

How I’d bet it: $5 exacta key box 1/2,5

Race 8

No. 2 Native Shaman (2-1, morning-line favorite) has reached new heights in his career since switching from dirt to turf, and distance has never been an issue for him in his career. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call for George Arnold as this son of Shaman Ghost looks to negotiate 1 1/2-miles in his synthetic track debut. No. 7 Fuerteventura was rolling late in a similar spot at Turfway Park when last seen – consider. No. 3 Legitimize (12-1) will take them as far as he can under Saez.

How I’d bet it: $7 exacta 2/3,7, $1 exacta box 2/3/7

Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.