Gulfstream: Exotics Plays for the Azalea Stakes

A total of seven sophomore fillies will run seven panels on the Gulfstream Park dirt in Saturday’s $75,000 Azalea S. Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) runner-up #5 Anna’s Promise owns a pair of wins and a second from three tries on the oval and cuts back in distance for this affair. 

Azalea Stakes Exotic Bets

• $10 exacta 5 with 1,3 ($20)
• $2 trifecta key 5 with 1,3,4 ($12)
• $.10-cent superfecta 1,3,5 with 1,3,4,5 with 1,3,4,5 with all ($7.20)

Azalea Stakes Expert Analysis

Trained by Carlos David, the chestnut filly was claimed for $50,000 in February and has risen her level since switching barns. The daughter of Promises Fulfilled defeated allowance foes in sharp fashion in her first go for the barn prior to coming home a clear second in the Oaks, before ultimately finishing a solid fifth after being close to a rapid pace in the subsequent Kentucky Oaks (G1). 

She didn’t run her best race when a distant third in the Monomoy Girl S. in her latest endeavor, but the sophomore faces a more reasonable task in this heat and will also appreciate the move back to one-turn racing. Edwin Gonzalez will guide the Kentucky-bred and have her close from the opening bell. 

The speedy #3 Andrea is a stakes victress on the oval and comes off a game second in the Game Face S., most recently for conditioner Safie Joseph. Thousand Words filly has not been ultra-consistent to this stage of her development, but the Kentucky-bred has looked good in her last pair of outings and is a sure win threat on Saturday with her best effort. Miguel Vasquez picks up the mount and will have the filly forcing the pace from the opening bell. 

Joseph’s #1 Luvumorgan ran off to a fine tally in the Game Face in her debut with winners and registered a stout 102 Brisnet Speed figure in the process. Kentucky-bred daughter of Union Rags has now won two races in succession by open lengths and seems perfectly suited to thrive at the seven-furlong voyage, too. The rapidly developing bay will save ground and do her best work in the stretch with Edgard Zayas in the stirrups. 

#4 Unchained Elaine is not the easiest of horses to figure out, but the Patrick Biancone pupil can be quite good on her best day, and the Any Limit S. queen will be included in the vertical exotics with Ocasio on board.