Gulfstream Park Picks & Predictions — August 17, 2026

Come On Poppi posted the field's best average speed of 54 and carries a solid 75.73 rating, making her the logical place pick behind our top selection. Pedro Pena is a reliable pilot in these conditions, and trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has built a reputation for having horses ready. At 2/1 she'll likely be heavily bet, but that price reflects real talent — she's worth including in exactas.

Not One Less slots in at 5/1 with a 67.21 TrackWiz rating and draws trainer Antonio Sano, whose name carries genuine credibility at Gulfstream. Marcos Meneses takes the mount, and while the average speed figure of 52 isn't eye-catching, the class indicated by Sano's involvement and a competitive rating makes this horse a worthy show inclusion. At 5/1, there's genuine price here for exotic bettors.

Paris Surprise is the morning-line second choice at 8/5 with a 76.96 rating, and trainer Victor Barboza Jr. — one of the most active and successful conditioners at Gulfstream — is always worth following. Leonel Reyes takes the mount on a horse posting an average speed of 55 in a field that mostly clusters around 54. She's got the tools to be competitive here and should run a strong second if Junction Road gets the jump.

Brigade Commander at 6/1 presents real value with a 76.02 rating that sits only a sliver below Paris Surprise, yet he pays nearly four times as much at the windows. Trainer Nicholas J. Tomlinson gives Micah J. Husbands the assignment, and a 10% career win rate in allowance company tells you this horse has mixed it up at this level before. He's the kind of horse who fits perfectly as the show leg of a trifecta at a price that makes the ticket worthwhile.

Fire On the Wire draws the eye with an average speed of 56 — matching the field's best alongside Do I Look Worried — and a 74.74 TrackWiz rating that makes her a legitimate threats to hit the board at 7/2. Pedro Pena takes the mount for trainer Victor Barboza Jr., who excels in sprints with tactical speed horses. She's got the profile of a horse who can track a fast pace and pounce late in a five-furlong dash.

Do I Look Worried is right there in the mix with a 71.83 rating and that same 56 average speed, going at 9/2 for Beau J. Chapman and Diego A. Herrera. Chapman regularly conditions runners that run their best in claiming company at Gulfstream, and a 12% career win rate suggests this horse does finish first occasionally. She's the third speed type in the race and should be a factor in pace-dependent scenarios — a great show ticket anchor at a fair price.

Cross Haste is the morning-line even-money favorite, which speaks to market confidence, and a 64.29 TrackWiz rating supports that status despite being notably below our top pick. Victor Barboza Jr. keeps Pedro Pena in the irons, a combination that repeatedly hits the board at Gulfstream. A 17% career win rate shows Cross Haste has crossed the wire first before, and she should be competitive enough to secure a place finish even if Kinetic Stone proves best.

Simo goes at 9/2 with a 51.58 rating and a strong 23% career win rate — the third-best in the field — giving her credibility as a show alternative. Trainer Georgina Baxter keeps Wladimir Rengifo aboard, and with an average speed of 54, she won't be burning up the early fractions. In a race where two speed types could take each other on, a horse like Simo with a patient profile can collect a show check while the leaders tire.

Sunglow brings a jaw-dropping 50% career win rate to the table at 7/2, which is honestly the most impressive win percentage you'll see in any field today. Trainer Joseph F. Orseno — the same barn handling Bernardo's Legacy in Race 1 — deploys Edwin Gonzalez, and with an 81.31 TrackWiz rating, Sunglow is legitimately dangerous. This horse wins half the time it runs — if Great Venezuela stumbles or gets into traffic, Sunglow will be right there to collect.

Coco Abarrio at 6/1 offers a compelling value angle with a 74.95 rating and a 30% career win rate — matching Greenfield Cougar but at a potentially better price on the board. Trainer Carlos Luis Perez hands Edgar Perez the mount on a horse posting an average speed of 58, tied for the field's best. In a short turf sprint where pace and position matter enormously, a horse with a 30% win rate and top-tier speed figures is worth placing in your exotics.

Willing One is our place pick at 6/1 — an overlay given a 65.71 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate that demonstrates consistent competitiveness. Trainer Kathleen O'Connell sends out Miguel Angel Vasquez, and O'Connell has a knack for running horses to their ability in claiming routes. If Zozan can't be caught, Willing One has the profile to sit just off the pace and hold on for the place spot.

Blue Slide Park at 9/2 rounds out the ticket with a 60.90 rating and a 17% career win rate — respectable credentials in a seven-horse claimer. Pedro Pena picks up the mount for trainer Pedro Garcia Jr., and an average speed of 54 keeps this horse competitive with the field's midpack. He's not a flashy pick, but the price is right and he fits naturally as a show leg when paired with Zozan on top.

I Wish You Love sits just a point behind at 83.90 and goes at 5/1 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. — who fields his fourth runner of the day, a sign of a barn in full gear. J.G. Torrealba takes the mount, and a 16% career win rate is the most encouraging win record among the top three contenders. This horse profiles as a stalker type who can sit behind early pace and unleash a late run on the turf, which is exactly the style that plays well going long on the lawn at Gulfstream.

Megacles goes as the public's morning-line favorite at 9/5 with a 78.04 rating and an 11% career win rate, making him the horse to beat in many eyes — just not ours. Diego A. Herrera takes the mount for Ronald B. Spatz, and while we prefer One More Duke and I Wish You Love on pure rating, Megacles is experienced, proven in this class, and capable of picking up the pieces if the pace heats up. He's a logical show play for bettors who want to cover the favorite without committing to him on top.