DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, January 17, 2025

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 AQU 1st I AM EV (#1, 5-1) is a homebred debuting for an underrated first-out trainer - Sacco 17%, $2.56 ROI with first-time starters sprinting on dirt over five years; Joevia was a new sire last year and did not have a winner, but among his five foals to debut on dirt, two finished second; shows some starts and stops on with work tab (#2, 7-2) but has been back breezing steadily since the end of November. – Mike Beer

12:52 GP 2nd ROYALLY BLUE (#2, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

1:10 AQU 3rd STRAND ROAD (#3, 4-1) showed speed and was only second-best in the dirt debut off the layoff in November; can use the sloppy track as an excuse for that last one, though he was also up in class for that race at Parx; drops back down and adds Lasix. – Mike Beer

1:24 GP 3rd OZ (#7, 12-1) obviously a giant question mark after poor debut but did take a lot of support being backed to 7/2 for a $50K tag that day now shows up against bottom level types off near bullet work on the farm. – Mike Welsch

3:10 AQU 7th POWER DRIVER (#9, 9-2) settled early and then gradually wore down maidens to win on debut; has been in too tough in both starts since, including that last one when failing to stretch out in distance; Lasix on as she drops and cuts back for an excellent trainer, and there is speed for her to come after in this spot. – Mike Beer

3:25 OP 5th TOM CAT TUESDAY (#8, 10-1) might have a conditioning edge on some of his local rivals based on the Jan. 12 work at FG. A winter storm system closed the Oaklawn track for training from last Thursday though Tuesday. – Mary Rampellini

4:37 GP 9th BUDDHIST PRODIGY (#6, 8-1) adds blinkers, drops, figures to move forward off even paced debut. Might be good enough if improving against this group. – Mike Welsch

5:00 SA 4th SHARP RIDE (#6, 7-2) is a DRRF Best Bet (Brad Free).