Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Gulfstream Park, February 12, 2026.


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Race 1 Maiden Claiming 8F 70Y Dirt

Win: NEW LEASE ON LIFE (8) – 43% confidence

Place: WORLD BUILDER (9) – 29% confidence

Show: LISA CONNECTS (5) – 29% confidence

Alternative: SODA (4) – 29% confidence

Opinion is heavily split in the opener. While one analyst group favors the class drop of the 9 horse, others point to the debut promise of the 8. There is enough support for the 5 and 4 to suggest this race is wide open at the bottom of the ticket.

Race 2 Claiming 8F Turf

Win: MAGNETIC BEACH (2) – 71% confidence

Place: PEMBERLEY (7) – 71% confidence

Show: LU’S REDEMPTION (1) – 43% confidence

Alternative: SEEKING A PRAYER (8) – 43% confidence

The top of the market is very clearly defined here. Analysts have converged on the 2 and 7 as the primary threats, creating a very high-confidence top-two structure. The minor placings are where the real debate begins between the 1 and 8.

Race 3 Maiden Claiming 8F Dirt

Win: NICE TRY RILEY (4) – 71% confidence

Place: MAGIC RED (7) – 29% confidence

Show: JIMBO BAILEY (1) – 43% confidence

Alternative: R MARKOVICH (3) – 29% confidence

The 4 horse is a standout selection for the win position across the board. While the 7 has some support to overturn the favorite, the consensus suggests the 4 is the most reliable anchor on the card.

Race 4 Claiming 1320Y Dirt

Win: LADY PATRICK’S (3) – 71% confidence

Place: FIVE EYES ONMICHEL (9) – 43% confidence

Show: GOLDEN VALLEY (8) – 29% confidence

Alternative: BEAUTIFUL BOLT (4) – 29% confidence

The 3 horse carries significant weight as the preferred winner here. Analysts generally view the 9 as the logical second choice, though the depth of the field suggests looking at the 8 and 4 for exotic coverage.

Race 5 Starter Optional Claiming 8F 110Y Turf

Win: JUSTIN SMILES (2) – 29% confidence

Place: MY FAVORITE BIRD (1) – 43% confidence

Show: CHICKEN DANCE (3) – 29% confidence

Alternative: HORSE TEN (10) – 29% confidence

This race presents the lowest win confidence on the card. Analysts are scattered, with several different horses receiving top marks. A spread-it-out approach is likely necessary as no single runner has captured the imagination of the analytical group.

Race 6 Maiden Special Weight 8F 110Y Dirt

Win: PROM QUEEN (4) – 86% confidence

Place: HORSE SIX (6) – 43% confidence

Show: SQUANDER (3) – 43% confidence

Alternative: THREE TO G (1) – 43% confidence

The most dominant consensus of the day belongs to the 4 horse. Nearly every analyst has placed this runner in the top spot, making it the definitive “key” horse for horizontal wagers. The battle for the remaining slots is much more competitive.

Race 7 Allowance Optional Claiming 1650Y Turf

Win: ALAKAN (1) – 43% confidence

Place: IMMORTALISED (7) – 43% confidence

Show: DOCTRINE (4) – 43% confidence

Alternative: BRONZE BULLET (8) – 43% confidence

A very balanced race where the top four selections all carry similar levels of analytical support. Analysts seem to respect the debut of the 4 but are leaning toward the experience and recent form of the 1 and 7.

Race 8 Starter Allowance 8F 110Y Dirt

Win: MARY MARGUERITE (1) – 57% confidence

Place: NORTH END LADY (8) – 43% confidence

Show: MOM’S MARTINI (6) – 29% confidence

Alternative: HORSE FIVE (5) – 29% confidence

The 1 horse is the clear preference for the win, though analysts are wary of the 8 following a strong recent performance. This appears to be a two-horse race at the top with significant variance in the show and alternative spots.

Race 9 Starter Allowance 1210Y Dirt

Win: SPICY GUACAMOLE (7) – 71% confidence

Place: BAD GAL PARTY (10) – 43% confidence

Show: AMANDE (6) – 57% confidence

Alternative: LOGISTICS (1) – 29% confidence

High confidence in the 7 horse reflects its recent winning form. Analysts are largely in agreement that the 6 and 10 will be the primary challengers, though the 7 is expected to be difficult to beat if it maintains its current trajectory.

Race 10 Claiming 8F 110Y Turf

Win: SARATOGA FLASH (6) – 43% confidence

Place: BLUFF (5) – 43% confidence

Show: KIGALI (8) – 43% confidence

Alternative: BAY OF BENGAL (1) – 29% confidence

The finale features a tight three-way consensus between the 6, 5, and 8. Analysts are divided on which of these will emerge on top, though the 6 holds a slight edge in win-position frequency.


Recommended Exotic Plays by Race

Race 1

Analysts recommend an Exacta Box featuring NEW LEASE ON LIFE (8) and WORLD BUILDER (9). For a higher ceiling, a Trifecta Part-Wheel using those two on top with LISA CONNECTS (5) and SODA (4) in the third slot is suggested.

Race 2

A straight Exacta 2 over 7 is a popular play here given the high consensus. For more security, a Trifecta Box of MAGNETIC BEACH (2), PEMBERLEY (7), and LU’S REDEMPTION (1) covers the most likely outcomes.

Race 3

Analysts suggest a cold Exacta 4 over 7. For those looking for value, a Superfecta 4 with 7 with 1, 3 with ALL may capture a price in the bottom of the exotic.

Race 4

A Trifecta Part-Wheel 3 with 9, 8 with 9, 8, 4, 6 is recommended. Analysts believe LADY PATRICK’S (3) is the most likely winner, making it a strong anchor for these plays.

Race 5

Due to the fragmented opinion, analysts recommend a wide Trifecta Box using JUSTIN SMILES (2), MY FAVORITE BIRD (1), CHICKEN DANCE (3), and HORSE TEN (10).

Race 6

Analysts suggest a heavy Exacta 4 over 6, 3, 1. Given the 86% win confidence, PROM QUEEN (4) is a candidate for a Superfecta Key using 4 in the first position over the field.

Race 7

A wide Exacta Box involving ALAKAN (1), IMMORTALISED (7), and DOCTRINE (4) is the most conservative approach. For a more aggressive play, a Trifecta Box 1, 7, 4, 8 is advised.

Race 8

Analysts favor an Exacta Box 1 and 8. A Trifecta 1, 8 over 1, 8, 5, 6 is a suggested path to capitalize on the clear top-two consensus.

Race 9

An Exacta Part-Wheel 7 over 10, 6 is recommended. Analysts also suggest a Trifecta Box 7, 10, 6 to cover any variance among the top three choices.

Race 10

Analysts recommend a Trifecta Box using SARATOGA FLASH (6), BLUFF (5), and KIGALI (8). Given the uncertainty, a Pick 3 or Pick 4 ending here should likely include all three of these runners.


Value Play Observations

In Race 1, WORLD BUILDER (9) appears to be an underlaid favorite according to several analysts, whereas SODA (4) offers interesting longshot value if the top two falter.

Race 2 shows MAGNETIC BEACH (2) as a strong overlay if its price holds above 2-1, as analysts are significantly more confident in its chances than the morning line might suggest.

In Race 5, CHICKEN DANCE (3) is identified as a potential value play. Despite being a middle-tier pick for some, its recent form suggests it could outperform its odds in a race where no clear leader has emerged.

Race 7 features ALAKAN (1) as a value play at double-digit odds. Analysts have placed it at the top of their selections, making its morning line price highly attractive relative to its consensus standing.

Finally, in Race 10, KIGALI (8) is noted as a live longshot that several analysts have prioritized in the show and win positions, potentially offering significant value in exotic wagers.


Overall Wagering Strategy

The racing card at Gulfstream Park today is defined by a handful of very strong consensus anchors and a few highly volatile turf sequences. Analysts have identified three races with exceptionally high win confidence: Race 6 with PROM QUEEN (4), Race 4 with LADY PATRICK’S (3), and Race 2 with MAGNETIC BEACH (2). These three runners should serve as the primary foundations for any horizontal wagering strategies, such as Pick 3s or Pick 4s. Using these horses as singles or “must-use” inclusions will allow for more flexibility in the more contested races.

The primary analytical tension exists in the middle and end of the card. Race 5 and Race 7 are the most split-opinion events, where analyst confidence is distributed across four or more runners. In these races, the strategy shifts toward defensive coverage. For multi-race sequences, it is recommended to “spread” in these legs to avoid being knocked out by a secondary choice that still carries significant analyst backing. Race 10 also falls into this category, as the three-way split between SARATOGA FLASH (6), BLUFF (5), and KIGALI (8) suggests a competitive finish to the day.

Exotic value is most prevalent in the starter allowance races, specifically Race 8 and Race 9. While the favorites in these races have decent consensus support, the lack of agreement on the third and fourth positions creates pricing inefficiencies in Trifectas and Superfectas. Analysts suggest using wheeling strategies in these races, pairing the strong win candidates with a broader group of runners in the bottom of the ticket to capture potential upsets.

Track conditions appear stable, with a fast dirt surface and firm turf expected. Analysts have noted that pace patterns in the shorter sprints, like Race 4 and Race 9, may favor those with early tactical speed, further reinforcing the consensus on LADY PATRICK’S (3) and SPICY GUACAMOLE (7). The late turf races may see a slight bias toward outside closers if the early fractions are contested, which supports the case for horses like KIGALI (8) in the finale.

Key takeaways for today’s card prioritize the reliability of the mid-card favorites. Bettors should focus their capital on Race 6 as the strongest conviction play of the day. Secondly, the value in the Allowance Turf (Race 7) is too high to ignore, specifically with ALAKAN (1) offering a potential score at a price. Lastly, for those playing the late Pick 4, ensuring deep coverage in the final race is essential given the lack of a dominant consensus leader.

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