Gulfstream Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 12/31/22

The Gulfstream Championship Meet continues, and starting at 12:10 p.m. ET, we have 11 races on Saturday's schedule, including six stakes.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Gulfstream Betting

According to numberFire horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Frank's Rockette and Coppelia, Race 3

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/5 and 9/2
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Race 3 is the $125,000 Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes for fillies & mares sprinting 6 furlongs. The numberFire data picks the favorite Frank's Rockette (4/5) to win followed by Coppelia (9/2) and My Destiny (8/1).

Frank's Rockette is a graded stakes place Mare training well after failing to fire or place in last month's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Coppelia makes her local debut and has a pair of impressive wins and top speed figures her last two races.

2. Colonel Liam and City Man, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 9/2
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Race 8 is the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Colonel Liam (8/5) is numberFire's top pick and he's undefeated on the Gulfstream Turf including in the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf. Top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides for trainer Todd Pletcher from the No. 11 post.

City Man (9/2) is a main challenger off back-to-back stakes wins and 3 of his last 4 starts victorious with strong triple digit speed figures. City Man is a classy New York-bred son of Mucho Macho Man and stretching out to 9 furlongs with strong stretch jockey Joel Rosario riding for trainer Christophe Clement.

3. O'Connor and Skippylongstocking, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 4/1
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Race 10 is the $150,000 Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The numberFire algorithm projects the favorite O'Connor (8/5) to win over main threats Simplification (5/1) and Skippylongstocking (4/1).

O'Connor is making his first start since a terrific 6-length win at Gulfstream 2 1/2 months ago in his North American debut. He's finished first or second in eight straight starts.

Skippylongstocking won the West Virginia Derby, but was no match for superstar Taiba in the Pennsylvania Derby. Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides for EPO trainer Saphie Joseph, Jr., who trains the top picks.