GLOBEFORM RANKING GULFSTREAM PARK HANDICAP (G2) Race 10 Gulfstream Park – SATURDAY March 7 – 8 furlongs dirt Top ranked horse on 100, with others ranked down in pounds. One length = 2lbs over this distance. Horses presented with sire, best Globeform, most recent placings (l-to-r), jockey, post 100 PRIVATE ZONE (Macho Uno) GF 125?T 024131 M Pedroza 5 96 WICKED STRONG (Hard Spun) GF 119 144120 R Maragh 2 94 EAST HALL (Graeme Hall) GF 112 161125 L Saez 3 93 VALID (Medaglia d'Oro) GF 114 311241 P Lopez 6 92 HONOR CODE (A.P. Indy) GF 111P 12121 J Castellano 1 ? LOVERBIL (Not For Love) GF ? 422111 C Marquez 4 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS PRIVATE ZONE produced by far his best performance when returning GF 125 in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct last November, but the ratings has both a “?” and a “T” attached. The question mark indicating that this may be unreliable form and the T telling us that he was greatly favoured by the way the race was run (favourable Trip). The track had a huge speed bias that day, and he took full advantage. Private Zone had run to GF 120 at his best previously (winning the 6-furlong Vosburgh at Belmont). He has not been given too tough a weight assignment here and comes out best on our ranking, though note that GF 120 would only make him second best. He is a powerful runner on his day, but this is first time out for the year and he may not be fully tuned up at this stage, it is Gulfstream Park (where he has never raced), and he is not guaranteed a soft lead. He looks one to bet against this time. WICKED STRONG returns after a long break since the mishap in the Jockey Club over five months ago, when he clipped heels and was wiped out of the contest. He put together two strong runs at Saratoga in July / August, to win the 9-furlong Jim Dandy (G2) from an unfit Tonalist and lose by just a nose to V.E. Day in the 10-furlong Travers Stakes (G1). Like Private Zone, he is using this race to get a new campaign under way and – though well in on ratings – makes only limited appeal. A mile probably is a bit sharp for him. EAST HALL is well suited by a mile and he has a good record here at Gulfstream (10 2-3-1). He was at his best when winning the Indiana derby (G2) over 8.5 furlongs in October (raced prominently and beat Vicars In Trouble by a length), and close to the same rating when runner-up to Sr. Quisqueyano in the Sunshine Millions Classic over 9 furlongs here in January. Then came the Donn (G1), where he met top class horses and never found an efficient rhythm – he came home a well beaten fifth of nine behind Constitution. VALID seems to be up against it a bit here, but he is an interesting runner, as he breaks one lane to the outside of Private Zone and has early speed. In fact, Valid is at his best when allowed to be part of the pace and he might put pressure on the favourite early on. He was a game winner of the Hooper (G3) at this course and distance last time out – and is clearly in great heart. HONOR CODE is the selection, even sitting second last on our ranking. Ratings are not everything in racing, and spotting the potential improver can be a big part of the game. In this race, well, in this race that's easy. Not only is Honor Code the one runner in the race who can be expected to improve – he is a horse that can be expected to improve significantly. Sidelined for most of the 2014 season, he came back with a visually so impressive win over 6.5 furlongs at Aqueduct. He was far back early in an allowance race and looked a beaten horse for sure as they came around the bend, but picked up in the style of a top class horse and finished fast between horses for what actually became a most comfortable length-win from the second favourite, Maleeh, who was over six lengths clear of the rest. Honor Code earned a provisional GF 110P in this race (P = improvement expected). He ran to GF 111p at his best as a juvenile, when he was second, a neck behind Havana, in the Champagne Stakes (G1), and beat Cairo Prince to win the Remsen Stakes (G2). Honor Code may well be a horse capable of GF 120 plus, and he is a very tempting bet in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Morning Line is 3-1, which is not a bad price. RECOMMENDED BET: WIN 1 HONOR CODE.