DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, February 25, 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.

1:28 GP 3rd FOLLOW ME MOM (#2, 10-1) has already won this condition once and coming off big try despite brutal trip last time. Dons shades, re-unites with Meneses. Plenty of pace signed on here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

2:02 GP 4th SONICUS (#2, 8-1) dueled eventual runner-up Bayern to Run before fading badly at first asking now returns with blinkers Lasix and all important race under his belt. Last work his best yet. May not look back this time. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

2:13 TAM 5th MAPACHE G (#3, 30-1) is kin to a pair of winners in Corps of Discovery and Tocame Linda, the latter a three-time winner on the grass, and though the dam, Touching Beauty, was best on the main track (she won the Grade 3 Comely) she also won her own career debut; this colt is working well enough to suggest there's some ability there and he will be overlooked some with Bill Mott, Chad Brown and Graham Motion all represented in this field. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

2:18 AQU 4th CONNECTED (#1, 8-1) made his first two starts vs. open MSW rivals on turf and did not come close either time as odds of 93:1 and 78:1; that start is not dissimilar to that of his half-brother Joe's Smokin Gun, who spent time on the grass early in his career without much success (also for this trainer), before winning three in a row once switched to dirt. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:47 TAM 8th TWO STEP DANCE (#8, 3-1) was off the board as the 7/5 favorite in his latest but a slow start cost him, as he had to rush up to contend and he gave way late; this is his third start off the layoff and he meets a seemingly average field, at best, for this class level. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:53 TUP 3rd WISHFUL WON (#7, 8-1) has solid figs and drops in class. A no brainer, right? What will trip up many H-cappers is whether this mare can switch to a dirt sprint from a turf route. If she can run figs in the 40 range going short on the dirt at Emerald then that should fit here. The main knock is that there isn't much pace in this race. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

3:57 AQU 7th CINDERELLA'S CAUSE (#1, 9-2) won her dirt debut in a race that was originally scheduled for turf and she sat a perfect trip that day while keeping after a longshot on the lead, before taking over in a race that featured no closing; just went evenly on the drop last time despite being favored; equipment change off the claim for Englehart, who has taken horses from Summers in the past with success. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:26 TUP 4th BUGLER (#3, 5-1) has the best back class as he has already raced at Keeneland and Churchill. Double layoff lines of late are a concern but works are sharp as if all has been corrected. His last race came back key when 2 of 5 returned to win with figs of 78 and 67 (another finished 2nd with a 68 Beyer). We like that connections find a route race and get Vergara to engage once again. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

4:30 AQU 8th SILIPO (#9, 9-2) is the lone entrant with more than a maiden win to his credit and he has won three times already, though two of those victories came out of town; might have run as well as Printrack two back when compromised by a poor start, and he overcame a spot of trouble from the gate last time to post an easy win at Parx; stretch out should be no issue. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:42 GP 9th LUNI SIMA (#3, 5-1) doing well for new connections off the claim. Sheds blinkers, might offer some value in this spot. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

5:00 TUP 5th LUCKY STEPPER (#2, 6-1) is feeling good and just won on this sod. He has worked twice since with his most recent a very nice 4th best of 45. Race flow is more than fair and this mare won't be that far off it. She even draws nicely. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

5:04 OP 7th FLAT LUCKY (#9, 9-2) has back class to call upon as a stakes winner. He also could be sitting on a peak effort in the third start of his form cycle. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

6:37 TUP 8th SPIRIT MISSION (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

8:40 WBS (Harness) 6th HAPPY LOOKER (#6, 9-2) looked poised to sail by the leaders last week but when she tipped wide on the final turn, she went rough briefly and lost some momentum. That may have cost her a win and she could offer some value tonight. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race

8:55 YR (Harness) 7th MOONLIGHT SHADOW (#5, 7-2) was taken off the pace last start and rallied well off tiring cover to be second best; he draws inside that rival tonight and may be able to turn the tables. – Matt Rose | Get PPs for this race

10:40 MED (Harness) 13th HOCKEY HANOVER (#10, 7-2) continues to work his way down the class ladder tonight, and he's shown the ability to leave quickly in the past. He also gets Dexter Dunn to hang around to the last race to pilot him. – Greg Reinhart | Get PPs for this race