The Nomination Is In: Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park, a Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Prep

Vincey Girl reelin' in Haulin Ice

Welcome Friends to The Turk Blog, where I  (usually) handicap Turf Racing and build Exacta Bets.  When you start to get to this time of the year, the number of good Graded Stake Turf races starts to dwindle.  The next few weekends, but especially Saturday September 27 and Saturday October 4 are really the last few big prep weekends prior to Breeders' Cup.  When I started thinking about what I wanted to blog this weekend, I had the Ginger Punch here at GP, a few races at Aqueduct and JRA, but nothing excited me too much.  We do, however, have a Breeders' Cup win and You're in dirt sprint at Gulfstream,  The Princess Rooney Grade 3.  As I was handicapping and watching video, I forgot how fast these sprints are run at, and look no further than the opening 1/4 mile in The Sheer Drama below at  :21.7  Anyways, this is a horse racing blog, I'm a Turf, Dirt and Synth handicapper, so let's get it on!

16 August 2025; GP; The Sheer Drama $75K; 7f on fast dirt

22 June 2025; GP; The Musical Romance $75K; 6 1/2 F on good dirt.  

Haulin Ice and Vincey Girl, wow.  Contrasting styles, complimentary combatants.  

9 August 2025; Cnl; The Tyson Gilpin $103K; 7f on fast dirt

Reputation, at, 3 YO, is $450,000 Bolt 'd Oro filly who has won 3 of 4 races in 2025, including the Tyson Gilpin by 6 lengths.  Deeper waters today.  

22 August 2025; CT; The Pink Ribbon $250K; 7f Fast Dirt. 

Another beast, Mystic Lake.  only four horses, slow fractions, glorified workout.  

21 June 2025; CD; The Chicago Handicap G2; 7f on Fast Dirt

Claret Beret with a long sustained drive up the straight, including a very game final 1/16, just beaten as 10-1.  yes, this race is missing Vahva.  

What to do with this all?

Mystic Lake was entered at PRX  for today as well.  I find it incredibly frustrating that they don't scratch sooner when its known the horse will be thousands of miles away at a different track on the same day.  Whatever!  

I'm just looking for value here and Ultimate Authority has an incredible closing kick.  I'm looking for her to stay close long enough to unleash it.  It will be a tall order as Claret Beret and Haulin Ice can sustain over 7f, while tactical Vincey Girl and Reputation will be ether as well. 

3 OVER 1-2-5-8, a $2 exacta for $8. 

The tracks should be Fast.  You can find scratches, changes and track condition here.

Have fun friends, Turk Out!

Timeform Early/Late US Pace