DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, December 9, 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.
12:10 GP 1st SWAN LAKE (#5, 9-2) could have an advantage over a few other contenders with a couple of two-turn races under his belt; hasn't been all that great about passing rivals down the lane, and yet he'll be forwardly placed behind the stretcher-outers before bidding in; live prospect for E. Dobles and the Imaginary folks. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
12:50 AQU 2nd FLASHING RED (#2, 5-1) actually ran pretty well routing on dirt early in her career, before cutting back to break her maiden over Saratoga's main track as a 3yo; made her next eleven starts on turf - with some success - before gaining late ground behind a front-running, odds-on winner in her final start of 2021; looked like she might have needed that first start back from the long layoff when chasing and tiring at Parx last month. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:46 AQU 4th SEAN THE HAMMER (#1, 8-1) ran very well in his dirt debut off the layoff back in April when rallying to the lead and just getting nailed at this level; missed more time after that and had his fitness tested right away in a fast-paced race last time while protected by Rudy; chance to rebound while finally putting races together. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:55 TAM 4th SHIMMERING LIGHT (#2, 5-1) goes one turn on the main track for the first time in his career and this elongated sprint may be just what he's looking for; prompted the pace in a race where the closers dominated last time out and he rushed up following a slow start in his prior try on the dirt. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
2:14 AQU 5th CASH IN A FLASH (#5, 6-1) has been involved on fast paces while facing much tougher fields in his first two starts off the claim; ran faster races on all three surfaces earlier in the year and looks like a much better fit here as he drops again. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
2:20 LRL 5th MI YAYIS (#10, 15-1) looks off form therefore will be a good price. The best speed horse is one that looks off form. What? When a horse looks off form the other speeds often let the horse go in the early running in the belief that it is no real threat. What happens is said speed horse gains confidence on the front end and runs quite well. Wire please. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
2:26 OP 3rd BOLT FOR ALLISON (#3, 5-1) adds blinkers in what is a high percentage equipment move for Hartman, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. This one also draws a much-improved post over her most recent start. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race
2:28 TAM 5th This claimer for non-winners of two is completely devoid of pace, which likely means those runners who are on or near the lead will have the edge on the closers, who figure to have a tough time making up ground. The problem is identifying the possible speeds, as none of these runners are established frontrunners, but the best guess is that REINER (#6, 12-1) makes the lead; he comes off a race where he chased some quick fractions, albeit going longer, and if he can get clear and dictate the tempo he could prove tough to reel in. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
2:51 WO 4th IT WORKED (#10, 10-1) is going long for the first time off a fast (71 Beyer) maiden score and is bred to go long on the dam's side. Fukumoto will ride the homebred again. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
2:58 TAM 6th FEEL LIKE GUESSING (#5, 6-1) was no threat to the winner in her latest but that was an exceptionally fast sprint, with the winner controlling the pace from the start on a loose lead and posting a winning Beyer of 65 where the average winning figure for the class and distance is 46; this filly posted a career-high Beyer in that race but she can improve here if she gets a contested pace to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
3:25 TAM 7th WAR CROSS (#9, 10-1) just missed with a late run in his seasonal debut last time and looked good doing it; he moves outside after getting the rail in that last try, but while he's widest he has the tactical speed to get position in the early stages, once again. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
3:35 GP 8thHave to think Ralph has been eager to get OGLALA (#8, 6-1) back on the turf, and now that it's once again available, here she is, ready to roll; nice set of local works precede this; slight edge in what's clearly one of the deeper races of the day. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
4:08 AQU 9th MASON MANIA (#9, 6-1) tried it on the lead last time and wound up contesting the pace in a race that went to closers; paired up 78 Beyers while winning his prior two starts from off the pace; 3yo switches to Englehart with upside. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
4:36 WO 7th GUNS N' ROJAS (#2, 10-1) saved ground on the live inside part of the track until nearing the quarter pole before closing wide to beat OS/$40K maidens a month ago, from which runner-up Mr Speed exited to win an open maiden special with a 72 Beyer. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
4:46 GG 3rd At first glance, MONEY MUNCHER (#6, 9-2) did not seem to run very well when fourth by 7 3-4 lengths in a field of five in a starter allowance at a mile on Nov. 12, but the performance may be better than looked. O B's won that race by seven lengths, and returned to finish third in the Gold Rush Stakes last Saturday. Third-place finisher Mother's Prayer and runner-up Hot Journey returned to finish first and second in a starter allowance on Nov. 27. Money Muncher may fare better in this $12,500 claimer. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race
6:10 WO 10th SPARKLING SILVER (#10, 10-1) set a slow pace before fading to third when extending to a route in her improved third start Nov. 13. She could put it all together on the drop from $25K to $15K in this seven-furlong event. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
6:39 WO 11th EXECUTIVE GIANT (#12, 6-1) wound up third in each of his last two outings vs. $10K NW3 stock. He could mow down all the speed at a decent price in this bottom $5K conditioned tilt. BIG LEAGUE is coming off a front-running second in a shorter sprint at this level for hot connections. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
7:00 LRC 8th SUGAR SUGAR (#8, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Michael Hammersly). | Get PPs for this race
7:42 GG 9th GENTLEMAN'S SECRET (#7, 8-1) has finished well in his last two starts to be second in races at five furlongs and should be helped by this slightly longer distance. Gentleman's Secret was second to DARKSABER in a conditional $3,200 claimer on Nov. 13 when that rival led throughout. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race
8:20 WBS (Harness) 5th SHEPLAYSFORKEEPS (#5, 5-2) dropped down for the opening leg of this series and raced just ‘okay’ considering she got a perfect trip, but she was claimed by a high-percentage barn. Expecting improvement tonight. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race
9:03 RP 3rd WITSEC (#4, 9-2) rallied some last time in a race that was light on speed, and two back she pressed the pace vs. a race flow that favored the closers (note pace symbols in DRF pp lines); improvement likely given a trip where she gets a better pace scenario. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
9:35 YR (Harness) 9th BEST HEAD WEST (#7, 9-2) gets an interesting change to leading driver Jason Bartlett and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this classy mare firing hard from the gate. – Matt Rose | Get PPs for this race
10:27 RP 6th VALENTINA LIL (#4, 12-1) has had her chances but she has been against the race flow in most of her recent tries, including her last three; win percentage is lacking but this is not a deep field. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
10:55 RP 7th LITTLE ROCK (#9, 6-1) finally gets off the inside and she lands in a seemingly paceless race after running in short sprints since the start of her career; may be able to last on the lead if she can shake loose in the opening stages. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
11:51 RP 9th MISS LONG LEGS (#1, 6-1) switches back to the main track after a pair of turf tries and this is a good angle for trainer Jesse Oberlander, who scores at 21%, with a $3.43 ROI, with this move; should be well spotted from the start given the inside draw and her tactical speed. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race