DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, February 2, 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.

12:10 GP 1st MOBY WARRIOR (#3, 6-1) dons shades, drops to bottom, appeared to handle Tapeta well in recent work. Looks spotted for best yet third off the layoff. -Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:39 GP 2nd MELLIFLUOUS (#3, 12-1) could be worth a flyer at the price in wide open MSW turf dash. Has some breeding for the going and made nice impression in first local drill. Johnny V. takes the call. -Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:50 AQU 1st TERESA (#2, 5-1) took a hard bump at the start and then did not appear to handle that wet track when stretched out for her most recent start; prior effort sprinting was a good one while making late ground after a wide trip; rebound chance cutting back a bit. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:20 AQU 2nd TO A T (#4, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:35 TAM 3rd ALMA PURA (#3, 6-1) did well to rally for 4th in her latest, as she was trying to overcome a controlled pace, with the two speeds in the field completing the exacta; now back down to the level of the claim in her debut and eligible to run them all down late given an honest pace and a clean trip. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:25 LRL 5th GOODAFTERNOONOSCAR (#7, 6-1) gave a good try when wired by favored Full Irish in open first-level allowance last month. Settled into a decent position stalking by himself behind that solid pace, saved ground on the turn, eased out into the stretch, then never stopped trying while cutting into the winner's lead. Demand value as he has lots of minor awards on his page, but he should get a good pace to run at when it counts. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:26 OP 3rd PLEASINGLY (#1, 4-1) has speed and the rail and will be first Lasix. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:33 TAM 5th BUFFALO SPIRIT (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:51 AQU 5th RALEIGH ST. CLAIR (#6, 8-1) was the lone firster in that field when showing speed to contest the pace before tiring late on debut; caught a wet track last time and ran well again while appearing to jump tire tracks early on which left him further back off the pace; can take another step forward with Lasix on. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:01 OP 4th HUMOR ME JIM (#6, 4-1) made her dirt debut last out and popped a career-high Beyer Speed Figure. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:20 LRL 7th MOONBOOTS (#3, 20-1) scored off a 91-day break to win her 2023 debut, so don't think she'll be too rusty returning from 70-day layoff this afternoon. She had no chance in the Politely against the likes of Intrepid Daydream, who returned to run second in Gulfstream's Grade 3 Sugar Swirl with a 91 Beyer, and gets a class reboot this afternoon. Think she's adaptable to race flow for barn that went 4 for the last 10 (40%, $6.78 ROI) with dirt horses returning from two- to four-month layoffs. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:24 AQU 6th SUSPENDED CAMPAIGN (#5, 8-1) has not been in top form recently, though she did eventually get untracked two back when rallying too late, and she was probably in too tough off the claim last time; went well in a prior stint for Rudy last year and is dropping back to the right level in a race that is not short on early speed. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:37 GP 8th BUSY MORNING (#4, 8-1) back to grass off good showing last time on Tapeta. Continues to train forwardly for third start of current form cycle. Best on surface too good for these. -Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:50 LRL 8th PEPPERMINT CLASS (#4, 10-1), listed as a Laurel vet scratch on 12/17, earned respectable Beyer two back when beating two next-out winners at Delaware. Sat the pocket that day, eased outside to go after the favorite over three furlongs out, then gamely held off the closer. Steadied hard going into the first turn last time out, she saved ground in midpack, then only finished evenly behind the gate-to-wire winner. Think she's more adaptable to race shape than it appears on paper. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:40 TAM 9th UNCLE KENNY (#5, 10-1) rallied mildly in that last one, finishing behind three of these same runners on the wire, but was only two lengths behind the winner after racing further off the early pace than usual; should be close-up from the start this time around. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:20 GG 3rd In his first start since June, UPSTART YANKEE (#3, 4-1) ran a credible second in a $12,500 claimer for non-winners of two at a mile. He can end a two-race losing streak in this race at the same level. Upstart Yankee set the pace in his comeback on Jan. 6 and has shown an effective style as a stalker. In this field of seven, he is likely to stalk THANKS MAGGIO, who has not raced since a head loss in a race at this level last May when trained by the now-suspended Jonathan Wong. -Steve Andersen | Bet this race with DRF Bets