Rocket Blast Our Pick in GP Finale

Today, we are starting our regular "Gettin' Out Alive" feature in which we handicap the day's last Race at Gulfstream Park.

This morning's rain led to the ninth race, the day's finale, and four other scheduled-for-turf races to be moved to the dirt--now listed as Good.

It is a $25,000 maiden claimer with a $29,000 purse for 3-YO and up. It was scheduled for one mile on turf, and now will be one mile on dirt.

The GP Finale is down to five starters: Rocket Blast (2), My Sierra Cat (3), Chitu (4), Kid Lee (5) and Diligent (6).

Rocket Blast loomed as the favorite on turf. He showed early speed in his last two starts--finishing third and second at five furlongs on turf at GP.

There's reason to think that the son of Curlin can stretch out on dirt against this field.  Miguel Vasquez rides for trainer Ralph Nicks.

Diligent is a son of turf sire Temple City, and on the bottom is out of a turf winning mare by sprinter Henny Hughes.

Thus far, Diligent has just a fifth and seventh place finish but also had some of the better Brisnet numbers in this field. Karl and Kathi Glassman and astute trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. thought enough of him to pay $325,000 at the April 2019 OBS sale. You have to wonder about running him at this level. But he is worth a stab here.

Kid Chitu has a fourth and second place finish at1/16 miles on turf at Tampa. Leonel Reyes for trainer  David Fisher.

We are going with the favorite Rocket Blast to win, and hedging with  aRocket Blast-Chitu-Diligent exacta box

* $5 Win  2     $5

* $2 exacta box  2  4  6   $12

* $1 tri part wheel

2 with  4 6  with  4  5  6  $4

total   $21