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Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Dave Bond

Las Vegas, NV -- The Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes come our way this Sunday, February 19th from beautiful Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A competitive field of seven Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward will race 6 1/2 furlongs for the $150,000 purse on Gulfstream's dirt track. The Hurricane Bertie is the 10th race on Gulfstream's Sunday schedule with a post time of 4:45 PM ET.

The field is strong but there are a few that stand out as the ones to watch. Here is a breakdown of the seven horse field and their past results.

The Favorites:

Her Smile - Her Smile will race for the first time since finishing third at the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November 4th behind the likes of Musical Romance. Her Smile has shown well in big races - a win at the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes at Belmont in July proves that notion. New trainer Chad Brown and new jockey Javier Castallano hope to start the Four Year Old's season in style.

Hurricane Bertie Stakes horse betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Strike the Moon - Strike the Moon has a knack of placing in races she's entered - doing it nine times in her 11 career starts. She was second to Belle of the Hall last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 20th and recently finished a respectable third at the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream on December 10th. Impressive showings in 2011 include a huge win at the Charles Towns Oaks in September and second at the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks in July.

Pica Slew - Pica Slew most recently ran a close second to Pomeroys Pistol in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream on December 10th in her first start in 11 months. Prior to that was a sixth at the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita in January of 2011. Trainer Brian Lynch has a good track record at the Bertie - he was a winner in 2008. Lynch loves the way Pica Slew has looked leading up to this race - she should be a factor.

The Others:

Belle of the Hall - most recently won an Allowance Optional Claiming at this distance over Strike the Moon at Gulfstream on January 20th after a disappointing 5th at the Elmer Heubeck Distaff at Calder in November. Belle of the Hall could be the surprise of the race.

R Holiday Mood - R Holiday Mood has four wins in seven career starts including the Ocala Stakes on January 8th at Gulfstream and the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May. Don't take your eyes off R Holiday Mood!

Funny Sunny - last time out Funny Sunny won an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream on January 8th after an unflattering sixth at the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland in October. Funny Sunny has three wins in seven career starts.

Ms Vanenzza - Cleary the long shot at the Hurricane Bertie. Last time out, Ms Vanenzza was fourth at the Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct but won an Allowance race at Belmont in September.

The Hurricane Bertie Stakes is Race 10 on Gulstream's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:45 PM ET.

Post

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

ML Odds

1

Pica Slew

L. Contreras

B. Lynch

5-1

2

Belle of the Hall

E. Trujillo

T. Albertrani

4-1

3

R Holiday Mood

J. Velazquez

T. Pletcher

6-1

4

Strike the Moon

E. Prado

M. Trombetta

7-2

5

Funny Sunny

K. Desormeaux

R. Hess, Jr.

6-1

6

Ms Vanenzza

R. Maragh

J. Vazquez

8-1

7

Her Smile

J. Castellano

C. Brown

5-2

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