Exotics Plays for the Captiva Island Stakes

A big cast of 11 fillies and mares will run five panels on the Gulfstream Park turf strip in Saturday’s competitive, $125,000 Captiva Island S. The finale on a good day of racing attracted an excellent group in a deep rendition of the race, and numerous contenders could have a say in the outcome of the heat. 

Captiva Island Exotics

• $4 exacta key box 11 with 1,4,7 ($24)
• $2 exacta box 1,4,7,11 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 11 with 1,4,7 with all ($13.50)

#11 Pandora’s Gift (3-1) has yet to break through with a win in the states after competing in five graded races over the last two seasons, but I expect her to challenge for the victory off the layoff in this affair. Trained by Miguel Clement, the stakes-winning daughter of Churchill didn’t run poorly in three graded runs on the grass in 2025, and this outfit always has them ready off the shelf as well. She will rally from off a heated early pace with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. 

#1 Moon Spun (9-5) is three-for-three since returning off the layoff for trainer Brian Lynch and sports a 7-4-2-1 lifetime line on the grass in total. The fleet daughter of Hard Spun has posted two morning drills leading up to the affair and will be sent from the rail with Javier Castellano taking the reins. 

#4 Great Venezuela (8-1) has won or placed in each of her five lifetime runs on the course and comes in fresh for Barboza. The chestnut daughter of Neolithic sports a 16-9-4-2 career mark and comes in off the break since November, which could be good for a mare who can fire off of morning works. Florida-bred five-year-old has a versatile running style and is a nice exotics piece in this well-matched field with Jorge Ruiz in the stirrups. 

I don’t feel that #7 Flamingo Way (12-1) will upset the race, but the chestnut is among the best closing types in the race and could run into the gimmicks with a well-timed ride in a field with a lot of pace. The Guadalupe Preciado trainee owns a win and a third from a trio of lifetime races at this venue and could improve in her third run off the break with Jose Morelos in the irons.