Exotics Plays for the 2026 Azalea Stakes

A well-matched field of seven three-year-old fillies will run seven-eighths on the Gulfstream Park dirt in Saturday’s $100,000 Azalea S. Six of the seven ladies in the dash are coming off wins, making this a wide-open betting event. 

Azalea Exotics

• $6 exacta 3 with 2,4,6 ($18)
• $1 trifecta 3,6 with 2,3,4,6 with 2,3,4,6 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta 3 with 2,4,6 with 2,4,6 with all ($12)

#3 Late Night Text (9-5) is a filly that I liked in a tougher spot before she was scratched a few weeks back, and the daughter of Into Mischief looks like a danger in this more reasonable heat. One of three in the field for trainer Saffie Joseph, the sophomore filly earned a lifetime-best 91 Brisnet Speed rating in her first run since arriving in this barn, and she has trained well in advance of the race. The Kentucky-bred three-year-old was forcing the pace in her latest run, and I envision her sitting a good trip while close every step of the way on Saturday under Micah Husbands. 

#6 Permian Basin (4-1) is a one-turn specialist who comes off a nice win last time against the boys at Tampa Bay Downs for conditioner Chad Stewart. The dark bay daughter of Basin possesses a nice turn of foot and comes in fresh for her stakes debut from a good post near the outside of the field. The Kentucky-bred sophomore will stalk and make one burst in the stretch with the red-hot Diego Herrera in the saddle.  

The lightly raced #4 Sorokin (9-2) has put in strong runs in the stretch in both of her lifetime tries to date and gets a long look in her first appearance with winners. The Saffie Joseph charge was a convincing maiden winner at Tampa over a decent prospect most recently and comes in fresh for a potent layoff conditioner. The bay is not the swiftest from the gate at this stage of her development, but she won’t have too much to do in the lane on Saturday in a race where the early tempo should be modest. Rasheed Hughes will take the reins. 

#2 Flowko (8-1) is the inside pace of the race and will be used in the exotics for Rory Miller. The Brethren bay was a daylight allowance winner on the oval last time that will take a big step up in class, but her best effort will find her hanging around late for a share beneath Samy Camacho.