DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

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.

1:10 SAR 1st PAY MONTHLY (#6, 5-1) is by the crack turf sprinter Golden Pal (nine debut winners already from his first crop of runners; 21% with turf sprinters); the dam was a winner on turf, and she is a sister to two turf stakes winners, including the excellent sprinter Four Wheel Drive, who won all three starts as a 2yo, all in stakes races, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; bred for this, and goes for an excellent debut barn. - Mike Beer  | Get Past Performances for this race

2:00 MTH 1st DANCING DEANNA (#4, 12-1) will be a huge price in this opener but she's worth a look at a major pace upgrade candidate, coming out of several consecutive races where she was against speed-friendly race flows (note "S" symbols in DRF pp lines), including her first and only try on the turf; that was easily her best race in terms of Beyers, and while it's a little light compared with the top contenders she has lots of room to improve if she gets a favorable set up. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

2:06 WO 3rd ROYAL QUALITY (#7, 20-1) was in fine form prior to his penultimate race, where he got fried in a speed duel when moving out to a route. He missed the break from the rail before racing wide in a large field most recently, another race you can draw a line through. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:49 SAR 4th NORMANDY COAST (#8, 4-1) was on a class drop when sitting behind pace-setting NORWICH and closing that rival down under strong handling when they met in a seven-furlong race earlier in the meet; moves into a protected spot to make his first start off the claim, and breaking from the outside is to his advantage. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

3:23 SAR 5th BLUEGRASS PRINCESS (#2, 4-1) made her debut routing on dirt, where she bobbled at the start to wind up last, then raced greenly at the back of the pack before putting in a late run for third; likely gained the experience she needed in that run, and she is bred for the grass. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

3:44 MTH 4th STARVIEW TWINKLE (#1, 8-1) stretches out off a pace-filled sprint and she gets the hedge, which should mean she's involved from the outset; she was off the board in both of her two starts at this distance last year but those races were against open company and she only weakened late. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

4:10 CNL 8th EDGERTON (#7, 5-1) shipped to Colonial with an obvious winning chance last time out, having run in tougher company at Saratoga in June; the gelding was squeezed at the start in Virginia, however, and then had little offer late while chasing a glacially slow pace; Stidham will enter him right back against familiar rivals this time, and the stretch to 1 1/8 miles seems to benefit him more than some others with less experience going longer. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

4:42 CNL 9th CITRINE (#5, 5-1) dropped in class at Delaware last time out and improved dramatically on turf to finish fifth by two lengths with a 62 Beyer; Motion has targeted another reasonable maiden claimer this time, and the deep closer might benefit from staying in touch on a new surface; he still seems to be figuring things out. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

4:47 MTH 6th TYRUS (#3, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get Past Performances for this race

4:51 WO 8th SANHEDRIN (#1, 6-1) was knocking on the door at this level on the inner turf before a surprisingly flat performance most recently. He figures to rebound under the capable bug Douglas, who loves saving ground, and his inside draw should be a plus. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

6:02 DMR 3rd Six furlongs can be a testing distance for summer 2yo maidens, but the longer trip should be perfect for I KNOW NOTHING (#2, 4-1). The no-speed filly rallied from far back to finish third last out at five and one-half furlongs, which was her first start at DMR after a pair of closing efforts in Kentucky (second, fourth). - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

6:15 SAR 10th Turning back from a route to a sprint on turf isn't always easy, but STORMY BIRTHDAY (#7, 12-1) is already proven going short, and he just ran a very good race going a mile at a big price; his overall record is a bit uninspiring, though he has had some trips along the way, and he looked like he needed that first start off the layoff in May. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

7:58 RP 2nd NJUSTLIKETHAT (#8, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get Past Performances for this race

9:22 RP 5th CHOCOLATE PRALINE (#4, 8-1) is a threat by default for trainer Robert Diodoro, who has gaudy stats with 2-year-old firsters in dirt sprints at Remington, winning with six of 13 such starters (46%), with two seconds and a third and a $2.77 ROI; kin to four starters, three of them winners. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

10:18 RP 7th IT'S NOT UNUSUAL (#7, 5-1) debuts for trainer Joe Offolter and that's been a 23% angle since the start of 2025, which makes this gelding easy to like; dam won her own career debut and she produced a pair of winners, including Elusive Power, a five-time winner who totaled five victories. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

10:46 RP 8th GIVEITASPIN (#1, 4-1) wasn't getting the best of race flows prior to the break but she made the most of it, getting a win in her latest when she rated just off the leader in that short field; figures to be nicely positioned behind possible pacesetters DEN'S DAZZLER and CYNDI LOPER, and given that scenario she could be tough to stave off late in this Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Handicap. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race