Barry Faulkner's US Racing Preview

A couple of races from Gulfstream Park, wrapped around one each from Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park, provide the action for my Thursday betting window this week.

Hopefully the analysis below will guide you to some profitable play but, whichever way you make your picks, good luck everyone! 

Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park races for Thursday 19th March 2026

Gulfstream Park 9 (8.55pm)

Starter Optional Claimer ($35,000 / $35,000) N1X – Fillies 3-year-olds – Six furlongs – Dirt

R Tun Who (3) made his debut four days into 2026, over this course and distance in a $50,000 Maiden Optional Claimer. He finished 6^th of nine in that race,10½ lengths behind the winner, and 9¼ adrift of the runner up, TURKISH PISTACHIO (7).

A month later, he was eased grade into a $25,000 Maiden Claimer, and upped in trip by 110 yards, winning that contest comfortably by 4½ lengths. He earned a significantly improved speed figure for that run and should be able to advance again on just his third start, but he is taking on winners for the first time here.

Turkish Pistachio (7) went into that race against R Tun Who (3) having finished on the board in four of her six starts, earning her best number at that stage for her 2^nd placing there. However, at the end of January, she improved on that when taking another $50,000 Maiden Optional Claimer impressively by 3¾ lengths going six and a half furlongs.

She then hardly lifted a hoof in an entry level Allowance at Tampa Bay Downs eighteen days ago but looks a much better fit in this company.

Mo Hijinx (4) won on debut here in the middle of July last year, getting up in the final furlong to take that Maiden Special Weight by ¾ of a length. Four weeks later, she had a crack at a Black Type Stake but could only manage to finish 5^th, beaten 9¾ lengths after getting tightened up in the early strides, with Dakota’s Lil Auror (6) 6½ lengths ahead of her in 3^rd.

However, after a poor run in an entry level Allowance Optional Claimer on her return three days into January, she enjoyed the ease in grade into a $35,000 Claimer just under three weeks later. Leading from ‘flag fall to that’s all’, she took that by 3¾ lengths, getting her revenge on the runner up Dakota’s Lil Auror (6).

Selection: Turkish Pistachio (7)

Oaklawn Park 8 (9.10pm)

Allowance Optional Claimer ($50,000) N2X – 4-year-olds and upwards – Six furlongs – Dirt

In his ten races since the beginning of last year, Goodasiwonswas (3) has only finished out of the frame once, and that was a 4^th place in an eleven-runner race. He collected five wins in that time and is going for a hat trick here.

In November, he won a $62,500 Claimer at Churchill Downs, despite getting jostled at the start, keeping on well to take that by 1½ lengths. He was off for three months after that, before reappearing to win a $50,000 Claimer here just under four weeks ago. Unlike his prior score, he was part of a speed war all the way in that race, before battling to a neck victory. Snagged out of that, he has joined a trainer with a very strong ‘first off the claim’ percentage.

Baddest Good Boy (5) started his career here just before Christmas 2024, winning a Maiden Special Weight going six furlongs. The following month he added a victory in an entry level Allowance stepped up to a mile and half a furlong. His three other races last year were at that trip, with his best performance coming when he finished 2^nd in this grade in April.

His 2025 campaign came to a close the following month after a poor effort at a similar level at Churchill Downs. Having switched barns, he returned at this trip in the middle of last month in a second level Allowance. Despite getting away on terms, he was well behind by the first call, before rallying to finish 4^th beaten 4 lengths.

He gets blinker today in an attempt to sharpen him up, but they may have a job on to manage it, on what he has shown so far.

ZERO SUGAR (7) is another who reverted to sprinting on his most recent start, for the first time since his debut here in February last year when he finished 2^nd in a Maiden Special weight. His first win came in that grade at the end of March going eight and a half furlongs. However, he was away from action for eight months after that, before reappearing with a cracking effort over the same trip in the valuable Listed Zia Park Derby in November, when he was beaten by just ½ a length into 2^nd.

He came here after that for a couple of runs over that distance, first in a State bred Stake at the beginning of January, then an entry level Allowance a month later. Eighteen days ago, cut back to this this trip, he won an entry level Allowance by 1½ lengths, despite getting a bump early on. His time and accompanying speed figure were strong but he is another who must prove he can match it up in grade.

However, I think he may be the class of this group and he gets the nod from me.

Selection: Zero Sugar (7)

Fair Grounds 8 (9.15pm)

Allowance Optional Claimer ($20,000) N2X or N3L – Louisiana bred Fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upwards – Seven and a half furlongs – Turf

After three runs on dirt, Diva Beach (4) had her first go on grass, here, just under a year ago, finishing 5¼ lengths 4^th to SWAMP QUEEN (5), after fading and getting nabbed late, after pressing the pace in a $50,000 Maiden Claimer for local lasses. Since then, she has run five times, finishing in the frame one each occasion and winning a couple.

At the end of January she won an entry level Allowance Optional Claimer, getting on top late to score by ¾ of a length, despite meeting trouble in running. She has been given just over shy of seven weeks to get over that effort.  

Swamp Queen (5) got her only subsequent victory since her maiden breaker when winning an open entry level Allowance Optional Claimer, going six and a half furlongs on dirt at the tight Delta Downs track at the beginning of December. She then put up a cracking effort to finish 1¼ lengths 3^rd in one of these, over this course and distance, on Boxing Day.

She had another go over a mile a month later but was roughed up on the home turn and was eased out of it. And that is the issue with her, she is a deep closer who must hit every light on green when making her challenge. However, at their respective morning line prices of 5-2 for Diva Beach and 6-1 for Swamp Queen, the latter would be carrying my modest investment.   

R T’s Gem (2) would come into it if there was a surface switch but her turf form does not match that of the two fillies discussed above.

Selection: Swamp Queen (5)

Gulfstream Park 10 (9.25pm)

Maiden Special Weight – Fillies 3-year-olds – Five furlongs – Turf

With six runs under her girth, Delightful Darling (7) is clearly the most experienced filly in this field, two more that the other nine combined. Five of her races were over sprint trips and she has yet to finish out of the frame going short.

After a 4^th place finish at eight and a half furlongs at Aqueduct in the middle of November, she was off for three months before returning over this course and distance just over three weeks ago, finishing ¾ of a length 2^nd in this grade. She earned a speed figure ahead of the par for this level in that race and it is no surprise that she was installed as the Morning Line favourite.

IGNIS COR (6) made her debut in that race and finished 2½ lengths behind Delightful Darling (7) in 4^th place, getting going too late. However, it was a promising first start and, with a sharper break, she should get closer here. Her trainer Bryan Lynch’s barn have been red hot at this meeting and his record with second timers is excellent, so I’ll take her to find the necessary improvement.  

Pearl of Pearl (9), on her second start, was also involved there but was another who broke tardily, although but not as slowly as Ignis Cor (6). However, she did not have as strong a closing effort as that filly.

Wesley Ward has entered a couple of newbies, Ez Connect (1) and Go Grace Go (4), with the former, a $350,000 yearling, looking the barn’s first string on jockey bookings.   

Selection: Ignis Cor (6)