Daily Picks

Gulfstream Park Picks & Predictions — June 28, 2026

Sunday, June 28, 20269 racesGulfstream Park

It's a wet Sunday at Hallandale Beach. Rain is falling and the thermometer is pushing 88°F, which means the Gulfstream dirt is likely to play sealed and fast early before deepening as the afternoon goes on. Mud-loving types and horses with proven off-track form are going to have a serious edge today — and that's a handicapping angle worth keeping front of mind from Race 1 all the way through the nightcap.

We've got a nine-race card on tap, ranging from short sprints on the front end to a mile-and-a-sixteenth closer to finish the day. The conditions are mixed — a pair of maiden special weights, a couple of claiming races, an allowance optional claimer, and a straight allowance that looks like the marquee spot on the card. Plenty to dig into across the board.

Three races are fully unlocked for every TrackWiz reader. The remaining six are part of our premium full-card breakdown. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A clear top-tier trio separates itself from the bottom half of this claiming sprint, but the gap between first and second could go a few ways depending on early pace.

win3AmandeML 7/2

Amande earns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 86.35 — a significant edge over the second-best horse — and posts the highest average speed figure of the contenders at 56. Trained by Happy Alter and sent out under Leonel Reyes, she's at a 7/2 morning line that looks like potential value given how far ahead she grades. Her combination of raw speed and overall rating makes her the most credible winner in this five-furlong claiming affair.

place8Queen KongML 5/2

Queen Kong brings a 33% career win rate into this spot, which is elite company for a claiming field, and her 80.13 TrackWiz rating makes her a legitimate threat to hit the board. Diego Herrera aboard a horse with that kind of tactical consistency is a combination worth respecting, and the 5/2 morning line reflects public confidence in her chances.

show6My Perfect LadyML 3/1

My Perfect Lady carries a 74.46 rating and a 16% career win clip under Carlos David, who has a steady hand with this type of horse at Gulfstream. At 3/1 on the morning line, she's not a steal, but her figures support a board finish, and Samy Camacho gives her a live chance to round out exacta and trifecta tickets.

Race 2

4:49 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

All maidens, no wins, and several first-time starters — this is a wide-open five-furlong sprint where workout patterns and trainer intent matter most.

win5Modern BeautyML 7/5

Modern Beauty tops our TrackWiz ratings at 59.33 in a field where very little separates the contenders, and she's already recorded an average speed figure of 56 — tied for best in the race. Victor Barboza Jr. is a prolific trainer at Gulfstream who knows how to have a horse ready, and Edgar Perez in the irons adds tactical experience. The 7/5 morning line reflects a well-supported favorite, but the rating edge is real.

place3Modo LeyendaML 4/1

Modo Leyenda is trained by the same barn as Modern Beauty — Victor Barboza Jr. — which means this outfit is doubling up with confidence. A rating of 55.00 and a 4/1 morning line make him a live threat to hit the board, even without a published speed figure to lean on. When a top barn fires two in the same race, the second one often outperforms expectations.

show2Gotta Be MadisonML 9/2

Gotta Be Madison checks in at 54.17 on the TrackWiz scale with an average speed of 56 — matching the field's best figures — and Ronald Coy's runners tend to show up ready when they've had time to develop. At 9/2, she's a reasonable third slot in trifecta coverage for a race with a lot of question marks.

Race 3

5:19 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Stella Bionda looks like a class standout in this starter optional claiming route, but the field has enough depth at middle odds to make the exotics interesting.

win2Stella BiondaML 9/5

Stella Bionda's 88.83 TrackWiz rating is the highest in this field by more than ten points, and a 50% career win rate is frankly remarkable at any level of racing. Jonathan Ocasio picks up the mount under Jose Castro, and this combination has the tools to handle a mile and 70 yards on the Gulfstream dirt. At 9/5 on the morning line, she's a short price, but the numbers justify the favoritism.

place5New LifeML 3/1

New Life sports a 77.08 rating and a 20% career win rate for the Victor Barboza Jr. barn, and Samy Camacho is a strong rider who knows this course well. Her average speed figure of 54 matches the pace of this field, and at 3/1, she's a logical second banana if Stella Bionda takes all the pressure.

show4Scarlett's LawML 8/1

Scarlett's Law offers some value at 8/1 with a solid 33% career win rate and a 69.79 rating that puts her squarely in the second tier of this field. Diego Herrera pilots her for Kathleen O'Connell, and at those odds, she's a smart piece to include in trifecta wheels — especially if the pace gets hot up front.

Our three free selections today — Amande in Race 1, Modern Beauty in Race 2, and Stella Bionda in Race 3 — all come out of the gate early in the card, which is actually useful information. If the rain keeps falling through post time, the track surface could shift meaningfully by mid-afternoon. The first few races may play on the faster end of a wet-fast track before the footing gets deeper, so pace and early position could matter more than usual in those sprints. Amande at 7/2 on the morning line carries our highest TrackWiz rating among the free picks at 86.35 and looks like a legitimate value play in that opener. Stella Bionda, meanwhile, stretches out to a mile and 70 yards in Race 3 — her profile suits the added ground and she's our top-rated free selection at 88.83.

The connecting thread across these three? All three top picks figure to handle wet dirt without much concern, which on a day like today is half the battle. Horses that hate slop have a way of finding excuses on cards like this one.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:50 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

Two horses clearly dominate the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden mile, setting up a potential match race between the top pair with a clear drop-off to the rest.

win4Hayden RememberedML 2/1

Hayden Remembered leads the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and draws Diego Herrera, one of the most active and accomplished riders in the Gulfstream colony. Trained by Tareq Moubarak, who also saddles Kingswearcrowns, this appears to be the barn's primary missile. The 2/1 morning line is fair to slightly generous for a horse who grades this far clear, and the one-mile distance sets up nicely for a horse from a trainer who handles routes well.

place5Chemical RomanceML 9/5

Chemical Romance rates second in the field at 83.21 and posts the highest average speed figure at 54, suggesting she's run the best raw numbers in the mornings. Jose Castro's barn has shown up with live horses in this preview, and Jose Morelos keeps the mount at 9/5 — the morning line actually makes her slightly shorter than Hayden Remembered, which tells you the public respects her deeply too.

show1Lost MoneyML 3/1

Lost Money sits at 60.08 on the TrackWiz scale — a healthy gap behind the top two but well clear of the bottom of the field — and Juan Arias has this horse ready off his prep with an average speed of 53. Edgar Perez is a capable handler, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Lost Money has enough going for him to sneak into a wide trifecta as the distant third option.

Race 5

6:29 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Zany Lady is the morning-line favorite but our TrackWiz ratings flip the script — expect a pace scenario that could shuffle the order dramatically in this nine-horse claiming sprint.

win1MithrilML 6/1

Mithril tops our TrackWiz ratings at 81.02 despite being undervalued at 6/1 on the morning line — that gap between odds and rating is the value angle here. Samy Camacho gets the call for Beau Chapman, and Mithril's average speed of 55 is tied for best in the field. A horse who grades this well while going off at twice the odds of the chalk is exactly the kind of overlay you're looking for in claiming sprints.

place2New Lease On LifeML 8/1

New Lease On Life rates 79.79 — second best overall — and carries a 16% career win rate into this spot. Frank Regalbuto keeps Leonel Reyes aboard, and with an average speed of 54 across her career, she's got the raw numbers to compete deep into the stretch of this 5.5-furlong race. At 8/1 on the morning line, she's another horse who grades better than her odds suggest.

show9Zany LadyML 2/1

Zany Lady is the 2/1 morning-line favorite, and while she's third in our ratings at 77.29, a 20% career win rate and Diego Herrera in the irons for Kathleen O'Connell make her a formidable presence. She's worth including in the show position of trifecta tickets — if the pace sets up for closers, she's the one most likely to pick up the pieces.

Race 6

7:03 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The Coromoto dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden claiming sprint, but a sneaky longshot value play lurks in the double-digit odds with Serenity Path.

win4The CoromotoML 2/1

The Coromoto carries an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — a massive lead over the field — and posts a top average speed figure of 56 to match. Victor Barboza Jr. trains her, and Leonel Reyes picks up a live mount at 2/1 on the morning line. In maiden claiming fields, a horse who grades this far above the competition and shows speed figures to back it up is exactly the kind of play you take at face value.

place7Ignis CorML 3/1

Ignis Cor is the other Barboza Jr. runner in the race, and at 3/1, she completes a potentially barn-dominant exacta with The Coromoto. Her 69.78 rating is second-best in the field, and her average speed figure of 57 is actually the highest of any horse in this race — meaning she's shown late efficiency in the mornings that could translate. Diego Herrera riding gives this one serious firepower.

show1Serenity PathML 12/1

Serenity Path opens at 12/1 but rates 68.22 on the TrackWiz scale — third-best in the field and just a tick behind Ignis Cor. Rajiv Maragh in the irons for Michael Morrison means there's some professional intent here, and the raw rating suggests she's been overlooked by the morning-line oddsmaker. In a race with two obvious top horses, finding a live third horse at long odds in trifecta coverage is smart handicapping.

Race 7

7:36 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

Two heavyweight favorites dominate the top of the speed ratings in this allowance optional claiming sprint, but Coffee At K J's offers legitimate value underneath at double-digit odds.

win5Raydar ControlML 8/5

Raydar Control tops the field with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate — both class-leading numbers in what is an allowance-caliber sprint. Rajiv Maragh picks up the mount for trainer Steve Klesaris, and an average speed of 57 ties for best in the field. At 8/5 on the morning line, you're not getting rich, but a horse with a 50% career win rate at any level of racing is a legitimate best bet.

place6Giant TeddyML 7/5

Giant Teddy grades just behind Raydar Control at 86.55 and posts the highest average speed figure in the field at 58 — that's the kind of raw number that wins five-furlong races. Fernando Abreu sends him out with Diego Herrera aboard at 7/5, which means the market likes him even better than Raydar Control. The pace scenario between these two could get spicy, but both are likely to be in the mix at the top of the stretch.

show4Coffee At K J'sML 8/1

Coffee At K J's offers genuine value at 8/1 despite a 77.75 rating and a 21% career win rate — numbers that would make him a 3/1 shot in most fields. Victor Barboza Jr. trains him with Leonel Reyes aboard, and an average speed of 57 puts him on par with the top tier. If the two favorites get into a speed duel, this horse is the most likely one to benefit from a pace meltdown.

Race 8

8:08 PM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

Sweet Dream Lady and Golden Valley are locked in a tight battle at the top of the ratings, making this seven-furlong allowance one of the strongest head-to-head matchups on the card.

win7Sweet Dream LadyML 3/1

Sweet Dream Lady posts an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — highest in the field — with a 25% career win rate and Diego Herrera getting the call for Laura Cazares. She's at 3/1 on the morning line, which is fair value for a horse who leads the field in both rating and presumably in overall quality of form. Seven furlongs on the Gulfstream dirt sets up as her ideal scenario, and this is a well-connected jockey-trainer combo worth trusting.

place1Golden ValleyML 9/5

Golden Valley rates a close 86.41 and carries a 23% career win rate for Armando De La Cerda with Samy Camacho riding. The 9/5 morning line reflects public support, and her average speed of 54 shows consistent output. If Sweet Dream Lady draws off in the stretch, Golden Valley has the profile to hold the place spot comfortably — her consistency makes her a cornerstone of exacta tickets.

show4Frosty BelleML 6/1

Frosty Belle sits at 59.17 on the TrackWiz scale and 6/1 on the morning line, representing the best available value in the bottom half of this field. Collin Maragh trains her with Jose Morelos in the irons, and a 15% career win rate in an allowance field means she's not just filling space. She's the kind of horse who sneaks into trifecta coverage when the chalk gets caught up in a duel.

Race 9

8:43 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

My Foolish Notion headlines this maiden claiming route as the top-rated horse, but Risk looms as a pace factor from the rail, and a field of ten gives trifecta players plenty to work with.

win7My Foolish NotionML 2/1

My Foolish Notion has the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 88.54 — a commanding lead in a ten-horse maiden claiming route — and Jesus Rios gets the mount for Herbert Miller at 2/1 on the morning line. His average speed of 53 is competitive without being exceptional, but in maiden claiming company at this distance, the rating gap alone is a powerful edge. This is a horse whose overall profile stands well above the alternatives.

place1RiskML 9/5

Risk opens from the rail at post one with a 70.40 rating and 9/5 odds — the public's choice to beat My Foolish Notion head-to-head. Diego Herrera rides for Carlos David, and an average speed of 54 gives Risk a slight edge over the favorite in raw speed. The inside post at 1-1/16 miles can be tricky, but if Risk gets a clean trip, he's a strong place contender and the most likely horse to reverse the top-rated horse's advantage.

show4Capt'n PikeML 6/1

Capt'n Pike rates 65.99 for Ernesto Ochoa with Wladimir Rengifo aboard, and his 6/1 morning line makes him a solid value option in trifecta tickets. An average speed of 54 is respectable in this field, and with so many lightly-raced maidens in the mix, a horse who shows legitimate figures is worth including. He's not a win threat, but as a third option in exotic wagering, the price is right.

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Bottom line: the rain is the story at Gulfstream today, and the handicapping edge belongs to anyone who respects it. Amande, Modern Beauty, and Stella Bionda headline the free selections, while Raydar Control is the name to circle at the top of the premium card. It's an unpredictable surface on an unpredictable day — exactly the kind of card where sharp analysis pays dividends. Full breakdown is waiting for subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there.

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