DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, June 18, 2026

2:43 BAQ 4th BLESSEDNOTBOTHERED (#6, 10-1) not only has plenty of works to indicate a foundation but a number of those are brisk hinting at speed. -Michael Hammersly | Get Past Performances for this race

3:00 WO 1st SECRET LOAD (#5, 9-2) ran four-wide throughout over an inside-favoring track while closing for third in her seven-furlong comeback on the Tapeta. Her turf form is pretty good and the stakes-placed 5yo can break through with the aforementioned tightener under her girth. -Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

4:47 BAQ 8th LESLIE'S STAR (#8, 5-1) tailed off last fall but after a layoff came back with a good run in a race washed off the turf here May 25. That hints she's doing well after the freshening and she'll likely appreciate the return to turf and routing. She got her diploma on this inner course routing a year ago. -Michael Hammersly | Get Past Performances for this race

5:08 WO 5th SERIOUS GREEN (#1, 7-2) was protected by waiver when beating $10K maidens after a stalking trip May 22. This second race off the sidelines vs. non-two rivals could be even better with the talented Maragh back in the saddle. -Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

5:29 CD 2nd FIFTY CENT DOLLARS (#7, 7-2) claimed for $16K two back, earned a tidy profit for these connections winning first start off the claim - so why not get aggressive and come right back in another $12.5K race, this one also offering vast riches for the class level? Got the ideal draw to make the most of whatt he has, and I'd expect something similar to his last race. -Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

6:27 CD 4th Decent debut on turf for HAMLET (#3, 15-1), who showed zero last fall in his second and most recent outing, a KEE MSW dirt route. I look at this $30K MCL comeback race as a career reset. Strong work pattern. Likely value. Turf to dirt, MSW to MCL for KUCH, whose grass route speed could serve him well staying out of dirt kickback. -Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

6:56 CD 5th SWILL (#13, 10-1) needs scratches to draw in. Can we cross off his last six starts? I think we can - none on turf, and he's a grass sprinter. There aren't many of those here! First pass through the race, I kept toggling back to the conditions to see if I'd made a mistake, and this was a dirt race - so many dirt horses! -Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

8:04 CBY 5th GIULIO CESARE (#4, 4-1) just didn't fire last out but he was shipping in from Tampa. This guy runs best when near the pace and that wasn't the case in his most recent so out the window it goes. He should be more acclimated today. He is bred to like the green with his 322 turf Tomlinson and ran well in three of four starts on the green at Tampa. Fuentes gets a leg up and is 2 for 6 for team Fuentes. -Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

9:34 CBY 8th SHOTGUN RUNNER (#6, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get Past Performances for this race