DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, December 12, 2025

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.

Post Time: 12:40 ET
Track: Aqueduct 1st
Horse: NEVER SAY UNCLE (#4, 6-1)

NEVER SAY UNCLE debuted in a turf sprint that was run at a quick pace, where he took no money and was never a factor; drops right away while switching to the main track, and he is eligible to be more comfortable over this surface as a half-brother to two dirt winners, including stakes-winning sprinter Bold Fortune (89 Beyer top). – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 12:49 ET
Track: Gulfstream (2nd Race)
Horse: SPECTACLE (#5, 4-1)

SPECTACLE cost 500K and is now in for 25K. The good news is that team Mott are 36% going special weight to maiden claimer. Let's see if Alvarado can make a difference with this 2YO (21% here with this barn). Yet to try seven panels but that is a positive as connections search for the winning combo. – Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 1:58 ET
Tack: Oaklawn (3rd Race)
Horse: KAVA (#10, 5-1)

KAVA has been effective on both dirt and turf and now returns to the Arkansas-bred ranks with the meet on at Oaklawn. As for the recency she gives up to some of these, Riecken barn wins at an above average rate with runners returning from layoffs of 61-180 days, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. – Mary Rampellini | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 2:18 ET
Track: Gulfstream (5th Race)
Horse: PRINCESS IRENE (#5, 7-2)

PRINCESS IRENE didn't fire last out but she was facing winners for the first time and trying the local turf for the first time. We bet she is more acclimated now. Class drops looks like a winning one. – Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 2:25 ET
Track: Oaklawn (3rd Race)
Horse: FIRST PLAYER (#2, 4-1)

Just opening here with a reminder that mile races at Oaklawn end at the sixteenth pole. FIRST PLAYER has put together a strong series of Beyer Speed Figures over his last several starts, while racing at both one and two turns. He goes for Asmussen, who recently reached a milestone of 11,000 Thoroughbred training wins in North America. – Mary Rampellini | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 2:40 ET
Track: Aqueduct (5th Race)
Horse: POP GOES THE WIZ (#1, 8-1)

POP GOES THE WIZ looked good working 10.1 last May before selling for $85k, but he never got started as a 2yo; went a bullet from the gate back in October, and has just compiled a series of easy breezes since; the dam was a debut winner sprinting on dirt (79 Beyer), and Duggan is capable with first-time starters. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 4:10 ET
Track: Aqueduct (8th Race)
Horse: VIOLIN (#3, 12-1)

VIOLIN is a $117k yearling by excellent first-out sire Violence (19% with juvenile first-time starters), and is a half-brother to NY-bred stakes winner Valtellina, who was a debut winner sprinting on dirt as a 2yo; trainer had a debut winner here last year with a 20/1 shot, also for this owner. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 4:59 ET
Track: Los Alamitos Race Course (4th Race)
Horse: NOBEL GARY (#8, 7-2)

NOBEL GARY comes here in good form including a sharp 2nd in a race like this here Sept. 14. He has enough speed to flee this outside slot and get a nice stalking trip, particularly with blinkers added. – Michael Hammersly | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 6:06 ET
Track: Woodbine (4th Race)
Horse: DONTGOBACKONURWORD (#4, 8-1)

DONTGOBACKONURWORD was gelded during his time off and the son of hot young sire Vekoma can fire when fresh as evidenced by his first-out score in June, for which he earned a 74 Beyer. – Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

Post Time: 6:38 ET
Track: Woodbine (5th Race)
Horse: MONDAY MORNING (#4, 4-1)

MONDAY MORNING is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get Past Performances for this race

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