DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, January 22, 2021

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.

12:35 GP 1st PARTY OF NO (#2, 8-1) chased, faded late when getting first taste of two turns on the turf while not badly beaten for 2nd money by Houdini’s Awesome, who returned to finished 2nd with a 62 Beyer against $50K claimers in his next start. Well posted inside, looks like a good fit here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:54 LRL 2nd EMPERADORA (#1, 4-1) was competitive at this level during the fall despite racing over a muddy track in her first start following a 141-day layoff. She might be sharper now as she returns in two weeks after a useful run at Penn National. Broke sharp that evening, tracked the moderate pace three wide and finished in an even manner behind the three favorites (the winner, Laurel invader Moma Tiger, was 1 to 5 on the tote). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:05 GP 2nd ANTIGONE (#7, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch) | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:20 AQU 2nd AIR ATTACK (#1, 10-1) was part of a fast pace two back going a mile, then tried to cut back last week to no avail while catching a wet track; all three wins to date have come around two turns and like his stretching back out from his inside draw as he makes his second start off the claim. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:23 LRL 3rd Trainer Anthony Pecoraro is 4 for the last 7 (57%, $7.54 ROI) with 3-year-old last-out maiden winners returning in mid-level claiming dirt sprints. The most recent horse to turn the trick was Cinconola, who scored here for $16,000 on January 3 after graduating at Penn National for the same price. Pecoraro will attempt to duplicate the feat with MY CANDY BIZ (#5, 9-2), who scored at Penn National on December 30. Tracked a lone pacesetter in that heat and went by in the stretch in a race that didn’t feature much closing. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:35 GP 3rd ISLAND VIBE (#2, 3-1) gets the nod by default debuting in this very weak looking spot. Has shown some speed in the a.m. Fitness the issue with only two published works locfally on resume’. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:42 TAM 4th BOXER BOY (#6, 6-1) made a big middle move before he flattened out in his local debut two back, and though he was well off the board last time that was a race controlled by the speeds, and he was doing some running through the back of the field late; can surprise here with a clean trip and a better race flow. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:00 OP 2nd COMPETITIVE FIRE (#6, 6-1) shortens up some in distance and her best recent race came at this six furlong trip. She also goes for a high-percentage trainer-jockey team in Holthus and Bowen. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:05 GP 4th HARPER GO LUCKY (#9, 5-1) rallied belatedly outside horses to be second best behind 20-1 winner dropping to bottom level n2L competition but did finish in front of Senzazione, who flattered effort returning to defeat same kind in his next start. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:30 OP 3rd HANDY (#1, 4-1) has been effective on both fast and wet tracks in recent times and there was rain forecast for both the days leading up to the opener and on the first day of the meet, itself. This one is back in the straight claiming ranks after facing starter foes. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:40 AQU 5th FOUR OF SWORDS (#4, 8-1) got loose when posting his lone career win at Gulfstream nearly a year ago and immediately missed time; ran better than it looks at this level last time when chasing a sharp winner while wide throughout and getting outfinished by closers late. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:44 TAM 6th MOMS LOVE (#7, 5-1) has had her chances (17) but she comes off a very good effort against a relatively deep field for the class level, coming up only a length short and earning a career-best figure; prior try was also good, as she made a nice mid-race move before weakening late. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:35 OP 5th CAVE RUN (#8, 8-1) was a winner the last time he raced for this price. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:55 LRL 8th GOLDEN WARRIOR (#12, 6-1) goes out for a Dale Capuano barn that is 4 for the last 8 (50%, $4.67 ROI) with 3-year-old debut runners in Laurel Park maiden claiming dirt sprints. Half-brother to Laurel debut winner Wait for Dark is out of a dam that won at this distance at Charles Town. Second dam went 10 for 16 and won four stakes races. The third dam was a Grade 3 winner. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:22 TAM 9th TWIN VALOR (#8, 12-1) had no chance in that last run, as a slow start cost him position early on and traffic in the lane cost him any chance to make a late run; makes his first start off the claim and stretches out, and two turns could well be his best game. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:50 TAM 10th The pedigree of ESTILO VARONIL (#9, 7-2) doesn’t offer a whole lot of clues as to his ability to handle this new surface but he does hail from a barn which does well in short grass races, and he has shown he has some tactical speed, two hallmarks of successful turf sprinters; should be well spotted just off a contested pace. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:41 OP 9th CHARLIE’SARCHANGEL (#6, 5-1) moves back to two turns and the last time he raced at the configuration he was a winner. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:04 SA 6th Also-eligible ELLIE ARROWAY (#10, 6-1) has faced better than these starter allowance rivals, she shortens to a sprint first off the claim by high-percent f.o.c. trainer Doug O’Neill (25 percent, 41-for-166, five years). Speed for an upfront trip if she draws in. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets