DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, August 12, 2022

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.

1:05 SAR 1st HIGHWAY HARMONY (#5, 9-2) a firster by new sire Mo Town, who started out with potential on dirt before becoming a Grade 1 winner on turf; this filly is from the female family of Megan's Bluff, a multiple graded stakes winner on the grass; Abreu having a strong meet up here so far and he is excellent with first-time starters. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:43 LRL 3rd THE LAST SCIP (#9, 6-1) has been knocking on the door and now cuts back significantly in distance while adding blinkers. Tracked a fast pace from the pocket last time, made a three-wide bid entering the turn, took the lead in upper stretch, then tired in the final eighth. The fifth-finisher from that race returned to place second in an off-turf $36,000 maiden seller with a 67 Beyer. Expect him to take back and make one run. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:00 MTH 1st MALIBU RUMBLE (#7, 4-1) is out of a dam who was winless in two starts on the turf but her lone starter to date, Mudslide Wicked, won a couple of races on the grass and was best sprinting; this gelding has some works that suggest he has some ability. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:42 LRL 5th AT THE GATE (#8, 8-1) took a slight step forward in recent foray to Colonial Downs. Saved ground behind a solid pace, ran right up onto heels in traffic on the turn, split rivals in upper stretch and got up for third. Must do better than in her last race at Laurel, a spot where she was 35-1 and faced minor traffic in upper stretch before flattening out. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:49 SAR 4th JANNIE MAE (#8, 10-1) prepped in a sprint off the layoff, then improved in his second start back while making a solid pace and only weakening late in her first route attempt at this level; facing a similar field right back at the same level and there isn't a ton of pace in here. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:55 GP 1st COLONEL JACKSON (#7, 5-1) was beaten just a neck in this same sort of race after making all the running; worth noting he was 14-1 that day, so he's out to prove the effort was no fluke when forcing all the pace again today. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:09 WO 5th HERE BE DRAGONS (#1, 8-1) blew the break before rallying from seventh for third at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special. The son of Liam's Map is bred to be a miler and could put it all together here going seven-eighths. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:21 SAR 5th COMMANDER COMPTON (#5, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:24 MTH 4th SWING LOW (#7, 6-1) scored in his first start vs. winners last time out, which marked his first start off a short break, and he did it despite having to close into some mild early splits; meets better today but perhaps good enough if he gets a quicker pace to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:52 MTH 5th CHANGING THE KARMA (#3, 6-1) somehow found traffic trouble against only four rivals in that last one, which was against open company, as he steadied into the first turn while a bit rank; he was far up the track there but he wasn't asked to run at all from the top of the turn through the wire, and if that race is ignored, his prior Beyers -- earned at this same level -- put him in the mix with these. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:02 GP 3rd ASTONISHING ANABEL (#3, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marty McGee). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:46 GP 6th The five-time winner ASSERTIKO (#2, 7-2) relishes a good fight, and he's likely to get one when mixing it up with some of these other capable starter types; well-timed move by leading jock Vasquez from the tricky 2-hole is on order. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:51 WO 10th DIXIE BOUND (#10, 6-1) ran decently at first asking, but a slow break and a wide trip led to his downfall most recently in another OS/$40K event. The son of Astern is adding Lasix for the drop to $25K and might enjoy a one-turn sprint on the main course. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:18 GP 7th Ralph gives NIC'S BRO (#4, 4-1) the added ground he said he wanted in his first try when coming favored, and the fact the colt is by Mshawish makes that a logical move; he and Edwin will need to take it easy early, given the presence of other speed types; five works since the June 18 debut surely were meant toward that end. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:13 SAR 10th FIST FULL OF DICE (#2, 15-1) was off the layoff when gamely making a short lead and then weakening late earlier in the meet; improved through racing last year and can take another step forward here after that useful run off the bench. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:40 WBS (Harness) 6th TEXACO MAN (#1, 6-1) has improving form as well as improving late speed. He can mow these down if he is closer at the 3/4 pole; price play. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets