The 2025-26 Gulfstream Park Championship Meet, starting on November 27 and running through March 29, is a premier winter racing event featuring top trainers, jockeys, and horses competing on three surfaces: dirt, turf, and Tapeta all-weather. Key dates include Pegasus World Cup day on January 24 and Florida Derby day on March 28, both showcasing multiple stakes races. Leading trainers like Saffie Joseph Jr., Jose D’Angelo, Mark Casse, and Todd Pletcher are expected to vie for dominance, while top jockeys such as Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione are poised to continue their strong performances. The meet attracts a high caliber of competition from across the East Coast and Midwest, elevating the quality of racing and wagering through the winter months.
Handicapping trends at Gulfstream reveal a strong preference for early speed on the dirt sprint and mile tracks, with closers rarely winning, especially in sprints where speed horses win over half the races. Turf routes favor stalkers positioned 1-4 lengths off the pace, while front-runners dominate turf sprints, particularly from inside posts. On the Tapeta surface, speed also prevails in sprints, with stalkers having a slight edge in route races. Post position biases vary by surface and distance but generally show little impact except for inside posts being advantageous in two-turn dirt routes and turf sprints. These insights provide valuable guidance for bettors aiming to capitalize on Gulfstream’s unique racing conditions during the championship meet.
