DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, April 16, 2021
Daily Racing Form has served as the most trusted source of news and information about the sport since 1894, and moving forward we have decided to provide a free daily playbook – something that both hardcore horseplayers and casual observers can reference to get informed of each day’s action.
2:00 OP 1st SHIP IT RED (#4, 9-2) gets the nod as the owner of the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:17 TAM 5th PRINCESS JAVONCIA (#8, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:40 GP 4th RUNNING MEMORIES (#1, 9-2) hard to fault off first two tries including troubled but strong effort in the Melody of Colors when beaten less than two lengths by Ward’s G3 placed, even money Wink. Back on Lasix for this one. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:53 AQU 4th SEVEN LILIES (#5, 12-1) has quietly improved since returning to sprint races last year, and his two most recent wins over this track are efforts that would give him a chance in this spot, including that top figure effort in January where he came with a strong finish to win going away in this condition; there is some pace in this race to set up his run and he will be a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:02 OP 3rd HUG THE MUNNY (#7, 5-1) makes his Oaklawn debut and like the half-mile move he turned in over the local strip April 3. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:18 KEE 5th Always give an extra look for first-timers purchased off the bargain rack that get a debut in MSW company, and CALLIE’S CANDY (#6, 10-1), who cost a mere $5K, starts off not just in an MSW, but one at a marquee meet. Race didn’t come up very strong. Quick recent works for Sims barn, which often has live ones at KEE, the home base. Speaking of live at KEE, the run trainer B Colebrook has been on since this meet’s inception is remarkable. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:23 TAM 7th BELLARIFIC (#1, 9-2) will have to deal with the rail for her bow, and that can be a challenge for an inexperienced runner, but she makes her debut for a barn which excels with firsters, especially in maiden claimers; dam won two races, both dirt sprints, and she produced a six-time winner in Leap to Glory, who was also best in short races on the main track. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:33 OP 4th CATDADDY (#6, 9-2) appears to have more natural speed than a number of these and that could give him a tactical advantage. He goes from a mile to a mile and a sixteenth and could show the way or track a runner like sprint-to-route prospect RULER OF THE NILE, who breaks to his inside. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:46 GP 6th DASSULT MIRAGE (#1, 12-1) will have to move forward from a Beyer standpoint off game maiden win but working well off that effort and likely to offer some real value in very wide open affair. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:56 TAM 8th MARKET (#10, 8-1) goes long and tries turf for the first time but while he lacks pedigree power (he’s out of an unraced dam who has produced three winners, all best on the main track) he figures to use his tactical speed to get position from the start, despite his outside post; steadily improving in terms of Beyers and now makes his third start with Lasix. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:01 AQU 6th FLAT AWESOME JENNY (#8, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:29 TAM 9th GRAZED (#1, 6-1) is out of a dam who won her turf sprint debut in her fifth career start (at 40-1) and he hails from a barn which excels with firsters, and with turf sprinters; needs an alert start from the hedge but given that he figures to be a threat right out of the box. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:34 AQU 7th JUST RIGHT (#1, 9-2) stepped up to this level last time off the claim and finished gamely for third behind a progressive winner; continues to hold his form and gets a positive rider change for a trainer who rarely reaches in, but is 3 for 3 second off the claim since ging out on his own; projects to have some pace in front of him here. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:50 GP 8th TIL THE END (#1, 8-1) goes from impossible post 12 to the rail while perhaps getting some class relief returning with state breds off series of open claiming efforts. Veteran beat this same kind while always right in mix at the level last season. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:57 KEE 8th NEVER FORGET (#9, 10-1) showed her chops as a closing sprint, albeit going 7f, with a good third in the 8 Belles last year. Her only grass race was two turns, which I don’t think she really wants, and off a solid comeback run last time she’s sitting on something better than her odds trying a turf sprint for the first time. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:03 KEE 10th UNCLE DUKE (#4, 12-1) has gotten in two races (liked the synth more than the dirt) before this move to turf, which, on pedigree, should really move him up. Sire Uncle Mo’s more capable runners often prefer grass and this horse is a brother to G1 turf winner Mr. Speaker, G3 turf winner Fire Away, listed turf winner Vigilantes Way, and multiple jump-race stakes winner Snap Decision. Hoping for higher than the listed odds. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:10 OP 9th HEATED ARGUMENT (#3, 6-1) was an impressive debut winner back in February and is bred to be a runner as a daughter of Tapiture and the mare Heated Debate, a stakesplaced winner who produced Ministry ($303K), a past winner of this race, the Rainbow Miss. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets