Gulfstream Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 2/18/23

The Gulfstream Championship Meet continues on Saturday with 12 races, including the Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes. Post time to start the day is 12:10 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions with a slight chance of rain.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Gulfstream Betting Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Baby Billy and Mondego, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 8/1
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Race 8 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Baby Billy (5/1) is the top pick by numberFire's data with For the Chief (10/1) and Mondego (8/1) expected to hit the board and finish in the money. Baby Billy can take this if he runs back to his first two races and finishes with better speed figures.

2. Kathleen O and Classy Edition, Race 11

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/5 and 3/2
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Race 11 is the $150,000 Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Kathleen O (7/5) looks tough and gets her season started after winning a pair of Grade 2 races last year (including at Gulfstream) and finishing second in a Grade 3 to close the year. Classy Edition (3/2) has top jockey/trainer combo Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Todd Pletcher. She has four wins in six starts but no graded stakes wins and enters off an Allowance win and top speed figure (102) in her last race.

3. My Sweet Affair and Miss Uproar, Race 12

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 6/1
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Race 12 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old fillies sprinting five furlongs on the turf. The numberFire algorithm projects MIss Uproar (6/1) to win over My Sweet Affair (8/1) and Calabrian Queen (3/1), who has the meet's top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding.

Miss Uproar is sired by Preakness winner Exaggerator, and she ran on the lead in her only start before finishing third at huge odds last fall. A strong workout this month has her ready for a sharp return at a price. Calabrian Queen finished third in her debut here last month from off the pace and should run closer today. My Sweet Affair makes her debut with an impressive work pattern and speed drills.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.