DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, December 17, 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.

12:20 AQU 1st LONDON GOLD (#9, 15-1) raced greenly while outrun over a wet track in her MSW debut back in September, and she could not get into contention late after trying to make a run around the turn; drops for her second start looking to build on that experience, and she has some pedigree to be a runner; will be a price in a nondescript field. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

12:58 GP 2nd DALIO (#6, 8-1) reportedly has been gelded since winning maiden in wire to wire fashion back in September and training like a horse who can move forward off that effort. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

1:26 GP 3rd SHES ALL WOMAN (#1, 8-1) comes up for straight tag while returning to preferred surface. Nicely spotted to get back on winning track for first time in over a year. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

1:54 GP 4th SPICY HONEY (#2, 8-1), the day's best, finished mid-pack in a super key race in N J finale won by well backed Chad Brown first-er and which produced four next out winners including Vandrill, who won a maiden $50K route on Tapetta here last month. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

2:39 AQU 6th SARATOGA KISSES (#6, 5-1) improved with each dirt start before blowing out state-bred maiden claimers at 3/5 two back, then tried a stake at Finger Lakes last time and failed to factor in the slop; drops back down. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

2:45 TAM 5th FADE AWAY (#1, 10-1) was up the track in his return from a short freshening but that was on dirt, and against better, and he clearly figures to improve with the move back to his preferred surface; owns three wins over this course, and while he's a closer reliant on pace he should get an honest tempo to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:26 GP 7th RAKASA (#1, 5-1) dons shades, working forwardly for local bow. May prove one to catch if away clean from the fence. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

3:37 AQU 8th FIRING CAROL (#7, 10-1) steadily improved before breaking her maiden over the summer on the cut back with a game late run and a new top figure; back in the right spot for the first time since then, after getting in way too tough in her last four starts. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:51 OP 6th IN DREAMS (#4, 7-2) kind of pops off the page with the 85 Beyer Speed Figure he earned last out for a dominant maiden win at Churchill Downs. He led throughout and has a chance to do the same here, or track runner to his immediate outside. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

4:04 AQU 9th OUCH OUCH OUCH (#8, 12-1) returned to the main track last month in a fast-pace race and tired after showing brief speed; might simply be a turf horse but willing to give him one more chance on this surface as he comes back at the same level. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:15 TAM 8th WILLOUGHBY GAP (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

4:50 TAM 9th MYRA FLEENER (#2, 15-1) doesn't boast a lot of pedigree power when it comes to turf -- the dam only raced three times, all dirt sprints, and none of her three other starters tried the grass -- but trainer Alison Escobar does well with horses trying the surface for the first time; off the board in her latest but she was running well through the lane and she galloped out nicely past the wire. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

5:13 OP 9th FUNANDFUNNY (#4, 9-2) owns a competitive series of Beyer Speed Figures. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

6:00 RP 1st UNBRIDLED GUY (#1, 20-1) kicks off closing day so why not start with a 20-1 shot? This gelding has some speed in a race without much pace. Jock switch to help shake things up. Wire please. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

8:54 RP 7th THUNDERHEART (#4, 10-1) is by a 11% debut sire. His dam was un-raced. Two of three sibs won including a multiple winner of 66K. Works are well spaced while gate bullet on the 20th stands out. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

10:57 RP 11th HITS PRICEY LEGACY (#7, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race