PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   
   
Date:  1/5/2023 
   
Featured Track/Race:   Gulfstream Park – Race 8 
   
Race overview:  A deep and competitive 35k claimer going 7Fs on dirt that has a potentially false favorite (#1 Collaborate 8-5), who is plunging in class and seems to be going the wrong way fast. 
   
Pace:  Surprisingly, there’s not much here at all, which means early speed should be a big asset. 
   
Trends:  As a general rule, you want to be close sprinting on the dirt, though the 7F races have a bit more potential to be won from off the pace. 
   
Best Play:  #4 AMERICAN PRINCE (5-1): Expected pace player made first run into a wild pace last time and paid the price late, in a race that was a graded stakes quality field, and yet he’ll be a decent price here because #1 Collaborate (8-5) beat him and will be bet off the board, even though this one is a lot easier to trust on the drop. 
   
Bet Types:    Aggressive WP bet and a must-use/potential single in the late Pk5/Pk4 as well. 
   
Meet/POD Stats:  GP Champ. Meet: 57-12-13-8 ($1.26/$4.42 through 1/1) 

GP Champ. Meet POD: 6-2-2-1 ($1.97/$6.93 through 1/1)