The Raymond Track Report – Friday, December 12, 2025
Welcome to the weekend prep at Gulfstream Park! Today’s card presents fantastic opportunities to capitalize on longshot value and key percentage riders over the shorter-priced favorites. Our analysis is centered on M. A. Vasquez (44% Win Rate) and E. J. Zayas (42% Win Rate), who are poised to deliver several high-paying results.
Let’s zero in on the three best betting angles of the day!
Featured Analysis: Today’s Top Three Betting Angles
Race 1: Maiden Claiming
The Angle: The 20-1 Turf Bomb with Vasquez We are starting the day with a massive value play on the turf. Our top pick is (5) Hurricane Opus (20-1)! This horse is a massive overlay, getting the services of M. A. Vasquez (44%). The favorite (2) Always Ready (7-5) is a must-use for the Place slot with Irad Ortiz, Jr. (40%), but the 20-1 shot provides the payout potential we crave.
- Betting Strategy: Box the 5/2 Exacta heavily. If the 5 fires, this single ticket could generate a score of the day. Include (1) Mappy (9-2) in your Trifectas.
| Pick Order | # | Horse Name | M/L Odds | Jockey (% Win) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | (5) | Hurricane Opus | 20-1 | M A Vasquez (44%) |
| PLACE | (2) | Always Ready | 7-5 | I Ortiz, Jr. (40%) |
| SHOW | (1) | Mappy | 9-2 | J Castellano (30%) |
Race 5: Claiming
The Angle: Zayas and Vasquez in an AWT Duel This route on the All-Weather Track is a high-percentage battle between our two anchor riders. Our Win pick is (1) Pocket Pair (4-1) with M. A. Vasquez (44%). The main competition comes from the favorite, (6) No Time to Wait (2-1) with E. J. Zayas (42%). Both horses are extremely live.
- Betting Strategy: We must play the 1/6 Exacta box. Irad Ortiz, Jr. on (3) White Claw Woman (5-2) is the logical show finisher, rounding out a tight and profitable Trifecta.
| Pick Order | # | Horse Name | M/L Odds | Jockey (% Win) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | (1) | Pocket Pair | 4-1 | M A Vasquez (44%) |
| PLACE | (6) | No Time to Wait | 2-1 | E J Zayas (42%) |
| SHOW | (3) | White Claw Woman | 5-2 | I Ortiz, Jr. (40%) |
Race 8: Maiden Optional Claiming
The Angle: Another Vasquez Longshot Score Closing out the main card, we hunt for another big price. Our primary Win pick is (4) Action Delight (15-1) with M. A. Vasquez (44%). This horse is primed for a massive effort. The biggest threat is (8) Star of the Gun (5-1) with Zayas (42%). This late-day Exacta offers maximum value.
- Betting Strategy: Key the 4/8 Exacta box. The favorite (6) My Voodoo Doll in the Joker slot is our indication that the main money is not on our top two, which is excellent news for our payout.
| Pick Order | # | Horse Name | M/L Odds | Jockey (% Win) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | (4) | Action Delight | 15-1 | M A Vasquez (44%) |
| PLACE | (8) | Star of the Gun | 5-1 | E J Zayas (42%) |
| SHOW | (1) | Simo At the Big A | 4-1 | I Ortiz, Jr. (40%) |
The Fast Track: Quick-Pick Playbook
| Race | Race Type & Distance | Raymond Report WIN Pick (M/L) | Key Exotic Wager |
|---|---|---|---|
| R2 | Maiden Claiming (7F Dirt) | (8) Lovethisbizz (9-2) | Box 8/3 Exacta. Gaffalione (36%) gets the win over R. Maragh (32%). |
| R3 | Claiming (5.5F AWT) | (6) Likely Perspective (8-5) | Box 6/4 Exacta. Zayas (42%) is tough to beat at this short price. |
| R4 | Maiden Special (1M Dirt) | (3) Plum Perfect (12-1) | Box 3/2 Exacta. Gaffalione (36%) provides the key upset value. |
| R6 | Maiden Claiming (1M Turf) | (7) Replevin (5-2) | Box 7/2 Exacta. Vasquez (44%) gets the nod over Zayas (42%). |
| R7 | Claiming (5F AWT) | (7) King Julien (5-2) | Box 7/3 Exacta. Vasquez (44%) over Irad (40%) in the sprint. |
Your Winning Ticket: Exotic Wager of the Day
LATE PICK 4 (R5-R8)
This Pick 4 uses our high-value picks to maximize the potential return before the main card ends.
- Leg 1 (R5): 1, 6 (Our two high-percentage riders in the Exacta)
- Leg 2 (R6): 7, 2, 5 (Coverage of all top three riders)
- Leg 3 (R7): 7, 3 (Vasquez and Irad)
- Leg 4 (R8): 4, 8, 1 (Longshot play covering our top three picks)
Total Bet: (2 x 3 x 2 x 3) = 36 combinations
Good luck and bet smart!
