DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, February 5, 2021

1:53 LRL 4th WHAT THE FLASH (#6, 5-1) showed some late interest in first start off the Gonzalez claim. He raced midpack in between horses behind a quick pace, saved some ground at the three-eighths, angled three wide turning for home and finished just behind next-out winner Swing Your Sword (56 Beyer in Charles Town maiden special weight). It will be interesting to see if he can avoid being outrun early as he cuts back to 5 1/2 furlongs. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

2:17 TAM 5th Thought SIX CIDER (#3, 6-1) ran a very good race in defeat last time, as a slow start left him with a lot to do and he rushed up quickly down the backstretch to get position, then made another move on the turn to threaten; he was still moving well late while forced to race down inside and he can run these down in the lane given a clean start and with one move off the turn. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

2:47 TAM 6th Trainer Derek Ryan doesn’t win often with firsters, sporting a 1-for-51 record with debuting runners before Miss Tourista scored here back on January 20th, and while the barn’s record first time out made for apprehension the fact is that filly was sporting some nice breezes for that bow. SEARCHING FOR GOLD (#1, 12-1) makes her debut for Ryan today and she also has been working well, and in fact may have been working in company with Miss Tourista, and more than holding his own; dam’s first two starters were both multiple winners on the grass, including the stakes-placed Reversethedecision. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:18 TAM 7th YEUDIEL (#5, 8-1) had little chance to rally in that paceless sprint last time, and making it even more difficult for him was the fact that the race came up fast, with the winner posting a 65 Beyer (average winning figure for the class and distance is 53); this gelding’s stock will rise if the winner of that race, Battle Rags, wins or even runs well in today’s 4th race, as that would validate the figure. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:23 LRL 7th LARIMAR (#5, 10-1) steps up sharp following two consecutive wins after being transferred to the Jeremiah O’Dwyer barn. Exits a fast race for that class level at Penn National on December 22. Pushed odds-on pacesetter Proposition from the outside and wore that one down in the lane. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:25 AQU 5th NEW YEAR’S WISH (#3, 4-1) returning from a long layoff in this spot, but she looks like the main danger to favored KANSAS KIS, with several figures in her pocket that would be tough for this field to match; has fired fresh twice previously, including that 85 Beyer win following an eight-month break in November of 2019 over this track. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

4:15 GP 7th HUSHED HIJINKS (#10, 12-1) got lost in all sorts of traffic facing this same kind for first time last time and catching a field loaded with speed if able to work out a cleaner trip for new pilot today. As good as any at what should be a fair price. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

4:29 LRL 9th MARU’S RAVEN (#1, 10-1) hasn’t raced since March 20, was listed as a vet scratch at Tampa Bay and must cope with a 322-day layoff. It’s also likely not a good sign that this will only be his third start in the past 825 days. That being said, he exceeded the Beyer par for this level when last seen at Laurel Park (the winner of that race returned to score again, this time with an 88 Beyer) and seems well-entered in this bottom conditioned event. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

4:46 GP 8th CAJUN COMMANDER (#4, 9-2) an impressive winner at first asking last fall beating subsequent SW Big Thorn in the process. Getting Lasix for 3yo bow. Might be this good. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

5:09 OP 7th TEMPT FATE (#8, 8-1) has kept some quality company in his young career, among his rivals Empire of Gold, who would go on to run fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2020. As for this one, he has reason to move forward here in his second start since May. He’s also back with Arkansas-breds with the meet now on at Oaklawn. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

5:48 GP 10th NOW A JAGUAR (#4, 8-1) looks like the sort who might prefer switch to turf from his action and breeding being kin to a couple of grass winners. Could offer a bit of value in turf bow. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

6:10 OP 9th SYCAMORE RUN (#13, 9-2) is on the also-eligible list, but would be a chief player were he to draw into the body of the race. He is appealing from a class standpoint, as he has been facing steeper. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

6:45 SA 7th EARLS ROCK (#2, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

7:16 SA 8th A J ROCK (#3, 7-2) goes sprint to route in a maiden-20 that came up light. Though unproven around two turns, ‘ROCK ran okay both recent sprints, while earning figures within range of par for this level (58 Beyer). Expect her to be forwardly placed, or on the lead outright. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF