2012 Gulfstream Park Handicap at Gulfstream Park

Las Vegas, NV -- The 70th running of the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap comes our way this weekend - Saturday March 10th from beautiful Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. $300,000 is on the line for horses four years old and up that are willing to go 1 mile on Gulfstream's main dirt track.

A small but talented field of six will go in the eighth race on Gulfstream's Saturday schedule with a post time of 4:35 PM. The Gulfstream Park Handicap features multiple stakes winners and will share top billing on the day with the Grade 3 Swale Stakes.

Here is a rundown of the six contenders and their recent performances.

Gulfstream Park Handicap Race Favorites

Mucho Macho Man - has been very impressive in his last two races - a win at the Florida Sunshine Millions Stakes on January 28th followed up a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Aqueduct in November. Last year's third place finisher in the Kentucky Derby is a multiple stakes winner who appears to be peaking right now. The Katherine Ritvo colt has four wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 13 career starts.

Gulfstream Park Handicap horse betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Jackson's Bend - is a definite contender in this race after a win at the Grade 2 Hal's Hope Stakes on January 14th and a third place finish at the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs in November. Fan favorite Jackson's Bend is a multiple stakes winner with a host of runner up finished in big races. Jackson's Bend has a huge heart and could emerge victorious on Saturday.

Remaining Field Entries

Tackleberry - is the defending champion in this race which was just one of three stakes wins for Tackleberry last year. Recently, the gelding has not fared all that well finishing ninth last time out at the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in May at Belmont and fourth in the Grade 3 Charles Town Classic Stakes in April of last year. This will be Tackleberry's first race since last May.

Cajun Breeze - only has four career starts but has one win (a Maiden Special Weight race at Gulfstream on December 30th), two seconds including a runner-up finish last time out in the Florida Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes, and a third place finish. Cajun Breeze is fast and could be the surprise of the race.

Soaring Stocks - is another fast under-the radar horse heading into Saturday's showdown. Todd Pletcher trained Soaring Stock has three wins in five career starts including the last two in a row - at the Florida Sunshine millions Sprint Stakes on January 28th and an Allowance race on January 12th - both at Gulfstream.

Clean Shot - is the long shot in this race and has a third and fifth place finish in Starter Allowance races the last two times out.

Gulfstream Park Handicap Entries

Race 8 on Gulfstream's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:35 PM.