DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, April 28, 2023
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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.
12:18 TAM 1st ASSERT DOMINANCE (#3, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:40 GP 1st FACE THE MUSIC (#7, 5-1) showed some promise when she finished third in her debut and the runner-up came back to win a race on turf at this level with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. Music hit the gate at the start and seemed a bit intimidated running on the rail. She drew a better post and figures to move forward for Joseph who has strong starts with second-time starters. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:48 TAM 2nd HAMMER LANE (#3, 10-1) was well off the board in each of his last two starts but slow starts cost him each time, and he was in against better; given a clean getaway he could well be the main speed, and if he can shake loose he could prove tough to reel in. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:09 GP 2nd KITTY QUICK (#7, 4-1) has been away since she beat two next-out winners in an open first-level allowance-$75K claiming optional race on turf Dec. 16 and makes her initial start for D'Angelo who since 2019 has a 31% strike rate with claimed horses coming back between 61-180 days. She won her previous race on dirt so expecting her to be fine running over Tapeta the first time. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:00 AQU 4th ANILEATE (#5, 9-2) was returning from a long layoff when posting the lone win of her career last October and thought she ran well that day while working hard and staying gamely after a wide trip; lone turf start since came vs. much tougher; properly spotted as she returns to turf for her second start off the layoff. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:11 GP 6th COURAGEOUS COPPER (#4, 9-2) set fast fractions before coming up empty late in his latest in a $35K claimer for 3-year-olds and could take them all the way with the drop into a conditional claimer while adding Lasix. Other speed won't make his task easy but he is lightly raced so he may be able to stalk if he doesn't break on top. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:26 TAM 7th RED OCTOBER (#7, 15-1) deserves another chance at a square price, as a slow start cost him his best chance last time and he was moving well enough in the lane two back; should offer some value against likely favorites THE BEARRISH ONE and BIALYSTOCK. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:32 AQU 5th ROYAL REALM (#6, 20-1) was kept to a hold early while racing wide last time going longer and wasn't under pressure through the stretch when clearly not going to make an impact; questions to answer now but he proved that he can still run a bit when winning three back and he has the right running style for this race. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:40 KEE 6th SUCH SOUNDS (#1, 20-1) is by the good grass sire Cairo Prince and out of a good grass mare whose many offspring to race mainly have preferred turf. Her career debut and lone previous grass start came over the KEE course last fall, and she didn't run badly at all. Immediately regressed when switched to synthetics, and would expect a career best now coming back to grass. 20-1 on the line and even if lower than that she's going to generally be overlooked. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:06 AQU 6th NO PAYNE (#6, 6-1) has been pretty consistent as a turf sprinter from the start but didn't get a real chance to improve last year while only managing three starts on this surface; last ran on the grass in August at Saratoga, where she came away second-best to Train to Artemus, who went on ton win five of her next six starts, including a stake at Tampa; threat if ready off the bench. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:12 KEE 7th Uncle Mo is a very good turf sire but on the bottom side of the pedigree there's every indication that GOLD GHOST (#10, 6-1) should be a dirt horse. Debuted on Tapeta and ran just fine while hooking a sharp B Cox-trained front-end winner. Broke from post 1, didn't have much space to operate, came off the bridle at bit around the far turn, finished with good energy. At 6-1 with a fast KEE work for trainer W Ward? Sign me up at that price - though we know the morning lines this meet have been far from an accurate guide. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:22 OP 7th ROUNDER (#11, 6-1) has moved forward with each of his starts at the meet and could be sitting on a peak effort in his third out since December. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:32 TAM 9th MAJOR DEAL (#2, 8-1) gets back on the turf, and he broke his maiden over this very surface three back, in what was his only try on the green to date; he has a proven late kick and he lands in a race which seems to feature a good amount of early zip, which should mean he's well set up. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:38 AQU 7th BIG ENGINE (#5, 6-1) wheels back quickly after getting wired last week and lands in a race that projects to be run at a much more favorable pace with plenty of speed signed on; needs his best but he is a reliable closer for a barn that continues to go well. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:48 KEE 10th LAVER (#6, 12-1) made his first two starts on turf -- the debut wasn't bad at all, the second race came at quirky Kentucky Downs -- and is out of a turf mare whose best foal to race, Navratilova, was a turf horse. Rusty Arnold trains Laver and trained Centre Court and Navratilova. This is a colt who improved with racing and improved again when adding blinkers, which weren't used in his previous grass starts. Fresh and stands a good chance of outrunning his odds. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets