DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, December 8, 2023

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.

12:25 LRL 1st ESPERANNNA (#5, 8-1) is sharp, likes this dirt, loves this distance, draws fine, keeps rider, and goes for a barn that is 26% in routes (flat bet profit). That works for us so let's move on. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:38 GP 2nd TRIBUTE (#1, 20-1) has changed hands since last via claim box and note that bullet 3/8's in lone published work since the switch. Ran relatively big numbers here vs. better earlier in season. Might spring the surprise if able to get away clean, secure good early position from inside draw. -Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:54 LRL 2nd DR. RUSTY RAYMOND (#6, 10-1) drops in class and has won on this dirt before. We know that he likes sprinting. Recent form at Chucktown is poor though. What if he just hates it at Charlestown? We see it more often than you might think. Race flow isn't fast but it isn't pace-less either. We think we get a decent price even on the class drop. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:12 TAM 2nd REPAYNT (#8, 15-1) drops in her second career start, and though she didn't take any money in her bow and she finished last she did have some subtle excuses, as that was a race lacking speed and won in gate-to-wire fashion, and the inside paths and speed were best on that opening day card; class drop and even strip could be just what she needs. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:18 AQU 3rd BEHIND THE COUCH (#7, 5-1) earned a career and field-best 84 Beyer when scoring first off the claim for this trainer earlier in the year; hasn't won again in limited starts since, though she hit the board in two sprints vs. tougher recently; drops leaving from a perfect post with tactical speed. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:30 OP 1st MOTOWN COLLECTION (#2, 4-1) is a class play on the move to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time on form. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:42 TAM 3rd MAJOR FRONTIER (#7, 20-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:14 AQU 5th MIDNIGHT WORKER (#4, 6-1) hasn't won a race since dropping in class over a wet track back in January, though he was also cutting back for that race and that might be the key for this 4yo, who has been kept mostly to longer races throughout his career; appears to be better sprinting but has to be ready off the bench. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:20 LRL 5th GABRIEL SEVEN (#9, 20-1) beat zero home in his debut but he earned race experience and that is what matters most. He faced 10 foes in his return and was 2nd at the 1/8th pole before tiring late. You try running seven furlongs off a layoff in only your second start and see how you do. He cuts back a full furlong today all while running for a barn that is 21% second off this type of layoff. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:42 AQU 6th THE DELAWARE BOYZ (#7, 6-1) finished behind three of these same rivals when debuting for this tag last month, that after breaking a bit slowly and then carrying a long run before flattening out; took some money that day and can improve quickly with that experience behind him. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:45 TAM 5th CROWNED JEWEL (#3, 10-1) is in for a tag for the first time in his fourth career start and he returns to the grass, which does seem to be his best surface, given the maiden score two back; that was a game win, and though he may well need to post a better Beyer to win this he has lots of room to improve in only his second try on the green. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:54 OP 4th CITY LEGEND (#11, 9-2) was third last out in a key race. The fourth-place finisher, Alejandro, and the fifth-place finisher, Late Nite Radio, both came back to win conditioned allowances at Remington Park with respective Beyer Speed Figures of 88 and 80. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:03 WO 5th WHITING FIELD (#2, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:30 LARC 1st FINAL STORM (#4, 9-2), a son of multiple G1 SW Blame, has worked well and frequently for this first run for a trainer who has super debut-win numbers. All 3 sibs are winners including Gemstone Gal (25-7-4-2, $213K, 1 SW, 3 SPs). -Michael Hammersly | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:08 AQU 9th RED BUTTERFLY (#2, 5-1) has concentrated on turf to this point but thought she ran well when rained off to the main track two back; rallied to just miss second after getting off the inside late in that race; entered for dirt this time after a short break. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:16 LRL 9th RUSTYS GFIVEFIFTY (#6, 6-1) ran evenly off the layoff while team Magee is 33% second off this type of layoff. We know that this 4YO likes this dirt. He has some tactical speed to help the trip but still figures to chase his next door neighbor. He draws fine and figures a solid price. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:32 GP 10th PRIX DE WEST (#6, 9-2) didn't disgrace himself in defeat in N Y finale when dueling Bad Larry into stretch before fading to finish fifth of 10 in lower level state bred claimer. The latter flattering the effort when coming back to beat same kind with a pretty good 67 Beyer in his next start. Drops to weakest level yet for local bow, might just prove the right fit vs. this relatively soft bunch in finale. -Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:36 OP 8th BACKYARD MONEY (#4, 7-2) is appealing for her tactical speed. She also has reason to move forward in her second start since last December. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:45 TAM 9th CALISUE (#10, 8-1) was just off the board in her first start since February but that was hardly a poor effort, as she was beaten a little over a length after racing well back early on, and she was moving very well late along the inside; big threat to run them down on the wire if she can move forward and avoid a regression in her second start off the bench. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:43 GG 5th LYING GHOST (#5, 8-1) was beaten a neck in a conditional $8,000 claimer at a mile on Nov. 17 and a repeat of that performance would make the 4-year-old gelding dangerous at the same level in this field of nine. Lying Ghost can be handy for jockey Frank Alvarado, and is likely to race from slightly off the pace. -Steve Andersen | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:43 GG 7th IMPLICITLY (#9, 10-1) had a rough trip in an optional claimer-starter allowance at 1 1-16 miles on Nov. 27, and deserves another chance in this race at the same level at 5 1-2 furlongs. Implicitly started from the rail on Nov. 27 and raced in traffic, losing all chance. He was a good second to rival DICK BEST in the same sort of race on Nov. 4 at a mile on turf. Importantly, Implicitly won two sprints earlier this year. -Steve Andersen | Bet this race with DRF Bets

9:59 RP 5th POET LAUREATE (#3, 4-1) won off the layoff three back and did so at 5-1. She then ran well versus open claimers and did so on the grass around two turns. She broke 10th in her most recent all while catching a muddy track yet still beat half the field home. The added furlong can only help, right? This filly did win her only try at this distance (5 back). -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

11:23 RP 8th REBELENA (#7, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Bet this race with DRF Bets