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Free Gulfstream Park Picks & Predictions — August 17, 2026

August 17, 20269 racesAll Gulfstream Park picks

It's a scorching Monday at Gulfstream Park — clear skies, 91°F, and a nine-race card that has something for every type of player. The South Florida heat has been unrelenting this August, and that kind of consistent weather tends to produce a fast, reliable dirt surface. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets today.

The card mixes maiden claimers, allowance optional claiming spots, and straight claiming races across both dirt and turf, giving you plenty of angles to attack. Three of today's races are fully open for all TrackWiz readers, and our analysis surfaces a couple of prices worth circling — including an 8/1 morning-line shot in Race 1 that our model genuinely likes.

3 Free Races at Gulfstream Park

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer on the dirt sprint where the morning-line favorite is overshadowed by our top-rated horse at 8/1 — price players, take note.

win3Bernardo's LegacyML 8/1

Bernardo's Legacy lands at the top of our TrackWiz ratings with an 87.79 score in a field where the next-closest contender sits nearly 17 points lower. Trainer Joseph F. Orseno puts Edwin Gonzalez in the irons, a competent pairing for a 5½-furlong dash. The 8/1 morning line represents serious overlay territory given that rating advantage — in a maiden field where everyone is looking for their first career win, raw ability often tells the story. If Bernardo's Legacy fires anywhere near his ceiling today, he should be tough to beat.

place8IronML 2/1

Iron carries the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 62.37 and posts the best average speed figure among the top contenders at 55, giving him a legitimate edge in the speed department. Trainer Sal Santoro sends Jonathan Ocasio out at 2/1, making Iron the public's second choice, and that market confidence is not misplaced. He's a solid place anchor in exotics given his speed profile in a short sprint.

show4Smell of MoneyML 9/5

Smell of Money is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 with a 58.67 rating and a field-leading average speed of 58 — that pace edge could push him to the front early in this 5½-furlong sprint. While our analysis prefers Bernardo's Legacy at the top, Smell of Money's speed figures suggest he won't be far from the action at the wire. He's a reasonable show inclusion, especially for bettors looking to round out a trifecta.

Race 2

4:54 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

No More War's 37% career win rate towers over this starter optional claiming turf mile, but Quizler at 7/5 sets up a battle at the top that could spring the 10/1 Always True loose on the board.

win1No More WarML 3/1

No More War is the standout value play here — a 3/1 morning line on a horse with a 37% career win percentage is exactly the kind of overlay TrackWiz analysis targets. That win rate is the best in the field by a wide margin, and his 87.08 rating reflects consistent, high-level performance on the turf. Trainer Bobby S. Dibona hands the reins to Jesus M. Rios, and over a mile on the lawn, experience and class tend to surface. This horse has won before and won often — that matters.

place6QuizlerML 7/5

Quizler is the morning-line chalk at 7/5 and backs it up with the field's top average speed figure of 56 — no small thing over a turf mile where sustained pace is rewarded. A 74.90 TrackWiz rating slots him firmly second in class, and Pedro Pena is one of the more reliable turf pilots in the Gulfstream colony. Even if No More War gets the better of him, Quizler has the profile to hit the board consistently.

show4Always TrueML 10/1

Always True is the value addition to this ticket at 10/1 morning line, and a 64.68 TrackWiz rating is enough to suggest she belongs in this field. Trainer Dante Zanelli keeps Edwin Gonzalez in the tack, and with a 15% career win rate, this runner has shown she can find the winner's circle. At double-digit odds she represents real overlay value for the show spot and deserves a look in exacta and trifecta construction.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The top of this maiden claimer on the dirt is legitimately contested — List's dominant 87.81 rating clashes with Come On Poppi's 75.73 in a race where pace and class separators will matter over 1 1/16 miles.

win1ListML 5/2

List carries the highest TrackWiz rating in this field by more than 12 points and goes at a fair 5/2 morning line for trainer Tareq Moubarak. Jockey A. Rahim Jasim gets the call, and while the average speed of 52 is modest, the overall rating dominance in a maiden field of this caliber is hard to overlook. Over 1 1/16 miles, a horse that outclasses the field on paper tends to find a way to the front — and maiden claimers often go to the most talented horse.

place5Come On PoppiML 2/1

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.

show6Not One LessML 5/1

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.

Our three free previews today cover Races 1, 2, and 3 — and they represent a nice cross-section of the card. On the dirt, Bernardo's Legacy opens the day as our top pick at 8/1 morning line in a maiden claiming sprint. That kind of price in a short field is exactly where value hides early on a card, and our TrackWiz rating of 79.79 gives him a real edge over what looks like a beatable group. Race 3 shifts to a longer maiden claiming route at 1 1/16 miles, where List (5/2 ML, rating 87.81) profiles as a class-solid contender worth backing. In between, No More War takes our top spot on the turf in Race 2's Starter Optional Claiming mile — a rating of 87.08 makes him one of the stronger-rated horses in any free race today.

The connecting thread across the free races: pace setup. Today's card looks speed-friendly on dirt in the earlier going, which could help closers catch their breath before the turf routes where stalking trips have historically paid off at Gulfstream in summer.

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Race 4

5:54 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A competitive allowance optional claiming turf route where Junction Road's top rating meets a field loaded with experience — Team of Rivals' 33% career win rate adds a dangerous wrinkle to the pace scenario.

win2Junction RoadML 5/2

Junction Road tops our TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 — tied for the highest single-race mark on today's card — and goes at a fair 5/2 morning line for trainer Rohan G. Crichton with Diego A. Herrera in the irons. A 21% career win rate gives this horse proven credentials at this level, and on the Gulfstream turf over 1 1/16 miles, that combination of rating and experience is hard to beat. Herrera is one of the better turf jockeys working the Gulfstream circuit, and this looks like a prime spot.

place7Paris SurpriseML 8/5

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.

show4Brigade CommanderML 6/1

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.

Race 5

6:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A ten-horse claiming sprint at 5 furlongs where Kate the Smate's dominant speed figures set her apart, but a contentious early pace with multiple speed horses could set things up for a closer to come flying late.

win3Kate the SmateML 5/2

Kate the Smate is the clear top choice with the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 and, crucially, an average speed figure of 57 — a full tick ahead of the next-best group at 56. Trainer Bobby S. Dibona sends out Miguel Angel Vasquez, a polished rider who knows how to place a sprinter. A 11% career win rate may seem modest, but in a tough claiming field this horse's raw ability numbers stand out significantly. At 5/2, she's the right price to anchor your exotics.

place9Fire On the WireML 7/2

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.

show8Do I Look WorriedML 9/2

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.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Kinetic Stone's 85.62 TrackWiz rating separates him from this six-horse claiming field, but the even-money Cross Haste creates a fascinating pace battle in a 6-furlong dirt sprint.

win5Kinetic StoneML 4/1

Kinetic Stone is our top selection in Race 6 with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — well clear of any rival in this six-horse field. Trainer Beau J. Chapman is one of the sharper claiming trainers working Gulfstream, and Miguel Angel Vasquez is a quality rider who handles dirt sprinters well. An average speed of 56 ties him at the top of the field, and going at 4/1 in a spot where his rating dominates, this looks like a genuine overlay. Chapman runners in claiming sprints should always get your attention.

place2Cross HasteML EVN

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.

show4SimoML 9/2

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.

Race 7

7:30 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

The 5-furlong turf sprint in Race 7 is headlined by Great Venezuela's elite rating and 45% career win rate, but Sunglow's 50% win percentage makes this the most statistically loaded top-two matchup on the card.

win8Great VenezuelaML 9/5

Great Venezuela is a standout on paper — a field-best 88.83 TrackWiz rating combined with a 45% career win rate puts this horse in elite company. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. is already on the card multiple times today, and Diego A. Herrera gets the mount. An average speed of 58 ties for the best in the field, and at 9/5 on the morning line, the market agrees this horse belongs at the top of the ticket. When a horse wins nearly half its career starts, you don't need to overcomplicate the analysis.

place6SunglowML 7/2

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.

show5Coco AbarrioML 6/1

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.

Race 8

8:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Zozan's 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the highest of any horse on today's entire card — makes this one-mile dirt claimer look like a standout single, though Willing One at 6/1 provides legitimate exacta value.

win3ZozanML 8/5

Zozan tops the entire Gulfstream card today with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating, and at 8/5 on the morning line, there's still a fair price attached. Edwin Gonzalez gets the call for trainer Reynaldo Yanez, and a 23% career win rate establishes this horse as a legitimate winner at this level. An average speed of 54 in a route race is competitive, and the sheer magnitude of the rating gap over the rest of this field — nearly 25 points clear of the third horse — makes this one of the stronger singles of the day.

place6Willing OneML 6/1

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.

show1Blue Slide ParkML 9/2

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.

Race 9

8:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

The closer this card gets to finale territory, the more intriguing it gets — One More Duke and I Wish You Love sit within a point of each other at the top of a wide-open 1 1/16-mile turf claimer, with the morning-line favorite Megacles lurking as a potential trap.

win4One More DukeML 9/2

One More Duke is our top pick at 9/2 — a genuine overlay given a 84.90 TrackWiz rating that leads the field, even outpacing the morning-line favorite. Trainer Michael Yates puts Miguel Angel Vasquez in the irons, a savvy turf combination over a route distance where pace management is everything. A 6% career win rate is the one modest note, but TrackWiz analysis weighs the full rating profile over raw win percentage, and on a turf course over 1 1/16 miles, One More Duke has the numbers to outrun his price today.

place5I Wish You LoveML 5/1

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.

show3MegaclesML 9/5

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.

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Today at Gulfstream is a card that rewards preparation. Between the heat-baked dirt, a pair of solid turf cards, and a handful of legit overlay prices, there's real money to be made if you've done the work. Bernardo's Legacy and No More Duke headline our best value angles, while Zozan stands as the strongest-rated pick on the board. Want the full picture — pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and every premium race broken down? It's all waiting for subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there, and play smart.

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