The Orchid Stakes – Race 8 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 2:56 PM Eastern

Top Win Contenders: Just Basking and Bellezza

For exactas: Ayra Stark, Sultana, Speed Shopper

Just Basking recently won a Grade 3 Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park a month ago. That was her second turf race and her only turf race out of nine tries at the 11-furlong distance, which is similar to this 12-furlong race. In 2024, she won her maiden at 10 furlongs in April and competed in the prestigious Alabama Stakes in August, finishing third just a length behind, so relish this trip. After Alabama, she had a nine-month layoff, after which she finished seventh, followed by another layoff. Her comeback was in January 2026, when she finished third and then won the Very One, earning a career-best 106 Equibase Speed Figure, the highest among the winners in this race, even surpassing Bellezza’s 104 figure when she won the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes last August. She is going to improve after a third layoff, while Bellezza is coming off a five-month layoff.

Bellezza has won two stakes in five races since she was imported from Ireland last May, including her U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Sheepshead Stakes. She finished second and third in two other stakes. In August, she won the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes with a 104 figure. She went from 12th to finish sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She won the Sheepshead Stakes after a layoff and faced easier competition than in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare. She is a tough customer and is the other making a win contender.

Handicapper Picks

Win bets: Just Basking and Bellezza are bets at 2 to 1 or higher.

Exactas: Just Basking and Bellezza and Just Basking, Bellezza, Ayra Stark, Sultana, Speed Shopper

Doubles:

Race 8: Just Basking, Bellezza

Race 9: My Miss Mo, She Be Smooth

The Gulfstream Park Oaks – Race 9 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 3:31 PM Eastern

Top Win Contenders: My Miss Mo and She Be Smooth

My Miss Mo finished second in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes, earning a 79 figure, while She Be Smooth won by six lengths with an 89 Equibase Speed Figure. However, I think My Miss Mo may beat She Be Smooth this time, since that race was three months ago, and she could improve in her second race after the layoff. The maiden win by My Miss Mo in November earned an 83 figure, similar to the 82 figure She Be Smooth posted when winning her maiden. Neither filly has raced in two-turn races. Gaffalione rides My Miss Mo for the second time, and with trainer Joseph Saffie, Jr., has won four of eight graded stakes on dirt in the last three years. Both My Miss Mo and She Be Smooth tower over the rest of the horses in these stakes.

Handicapper Picks

Win bets: My Miss Mo has odds of 5 to 2 or higher.

She Be Smooth can also be considered at odds of 2 to 1 or higher.

The Florida Derby – Race 14 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 6:42 PM Eastern

Top Win Contender: Nearly

Other contenders to win: Chief Wallabee, Commandment

In on third on trifectas: The Puma, Wayne’s Law

The Florida Derby is Todd Pletcher’s race to win, as the Hall of Fame trainer has won seven of the 10 times he started since 2014. Pletcher had no entries in 2016, and one horse finished second. His entry this year is Nearly, who won his second, third, and fourth races. Nearly won his last race, the Grade 3 Holy Bull on January 31, by almost six lengths after a mild drive. His race on January 2 also resulted in a ‘ridden out’ easy, five-length win, and on November 22, he drew clear to win by nine lengths. His race on January 2 earned a 92 Equibase Figure, but he has been able to run faster; in winning the Holy Bull, he earned a 90 figure. Pletcher’s 2024 Fierceness ran in the Holy Bull before winning this race, as did Audible in 2018. Three horses that Pletcher did not train also came out of the Holy Bull—2025 winner Tappan Street, 2022 White Abarrio, and 2020 Tiz the Law, before winning the Florida Derby. Pletcher is nearing another win and is aiming for his eighth victory. Nearly is the top winner contender.

Commandment and Chief Wallabee was first and second, by a neck, in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 28. Both races were their career-best efforts, earning 99 figures. Commandment took the second path in the final quarter, while Chief Wallabee was four paths wide and ran 27 feet further than Commandment. In the Fountain of Youth, Commandment started from post three, and Chief Wallabee from post five; today, with Chief Wallabee getting post two, Commandment moves to post four. Additionally, Chief Wallabee is just running his third race, while Commandment’s fifth race suggests he might perform better, but both remain top Kentucky Derby contenders.

Handicapper Picks

Win bets: Nearly at odds of 9 to 5 or higher.

Commandment and Chief Wallabee can be considered at odds of 5 to 2 or higher.