DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, December 20, 2024

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 GP 1st Turf the great equalizer in the opener with majority of field making their first starts over the surface, weather permitting, today. GODDESS SOTERIA (#5, 20-1) has shown some speed with better in both previous starts on the main but worked well on the synthetic track for turf bow and her dam, Silver Sashay, was a 6 time surface winner. Worth a look at the price. – Mike Welsch

12:40 TAM 2nd CALLER (#2, 6-1) makes his third start of the form cycle for trainer Eoin Harty after an off the pace fourth over this course last out. Harty has been on a roll the last 30 days winning with 4 of 12 starters for an ROI of $3.31. This includes a pair of Kentucky Derby points races this fall. The Calumet Farm homebred did not have the cleanest voyage in his initial try over the Tampa lawn, but should move forward here as Jesus Castanon jumps aboard. – Scott Shapiro

12:57 LRL 2nd JOYFUL KITTEN (#4, 6-1) (1,083 lbs. on 12/6; +17 from prior start) bobbled slightly at the start two weeks ago, saved ground near the back, split horses with a three-wide bid, then finished evenly with a decent gallop-out behind a runaway. Scored over this course and distance two back and should get pace to attack. – Dan Illman

2:58 LRL 6th SILVERBULLETTWENTY (#12, 8-1) (1,143 lbs. on 11/29; +17 from prior start) broke a beat slow, raced outside in midpack, made a four-wide bid, floated very wide into the stretch, then kept on grinding to prevail in game fashion over a muddy strip. Perhaps last time was the time at 8-1 odds as he had traffic issues two back, but he seems well-entered against this group, and can contend given the right trip and race flow. – Dan Illman

3:00 GP 6th LURE HIM IN (#1, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

3:22 OP 5th FEARLESS LADY (#8, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini).

3:40 TAM 7th POLITICAL RIOT (#2, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Shapiro).

3:56 LRL 8th LIL SEBASTIAN (#7, 7-2) is a DRF Best bet (Dan Illman). |

4:46 OP 8th A competitive group has come together for mile race that will end at the sixteenth pole. AIN'T THAT A KICK (#5, 12-1) is appealing for his consistent nature. – Mary Rampellini