DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, January 27, 2023

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 1^st Looking for a fresh face, settled on ALYBAER (#9, 8-1) who held own working over the turf at PM with MSW placed Sahlabiya. Should debut with blinkers on. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

12:32 TAM 1^st JULIANNA'S RUBY (#5, 6-1) is out of a dam who won two races, both of them dirt sprints, and she produced at least seven winners, including multiple Grade 2 stakes winner Riding the River ($936K in earnings); worth a shot in a race that features favorites with holes. That includes SHE'S REDNECKER and BAILOUT KELA, who have combined to run second 13 times in 19 starts. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

1:02 TAM 2^nd GOLOVKIN (#6, 9-2) had little chance to close in that seasonal debut, a sprint lacking speed and resulting in mild splits, but he has lots of room to improve here given the fact that he should get a much better race flow, with a couple of speeds signed on to his inside; barn's strong recent record second time off the layoff (36%, $4.90 ROI) only adds to the appeal. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

1:38 GP 4^th READ ON (#12, 8-1) poorly posted but has held own with much better in the pace including turf test two back at Keeneland when defeated just 3 1/2 lengths by wire to wire winner and subsequent B Cup Juvenile Turf pace setter Curly, Larry and Mo. Toss last when involved in crazy pace duel on dirt. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

1:47 AQU 3^rd GOOD ACCELEBRATE (#7, 15-1) had speed up the rail but wasn't fast enough to make the lead in her MSW debut at Laurel; chased to no avail in that race as the experienced winner kicked away in the stretch to a clear-cut win; moves outside for the second start and might be faster than she looks. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

1:54 LRL 4^th Curious to see what we get from ROMP (#3, 10-1) as he returns to dirt in first start following 144-day layoff. Earned a stakes-placing at three in 2021 over dirt, then came close in a couple of tries at this level during the summer and fall that year. Worked out a tracking trip in that first-level allowance race at Laurel in his most recent dirt start, then finished evenly in between horses despite trying to lug in a bit in the stretch. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

2:03 TAM 4^th LA BRODY (#6, 12-1) hasn't been close since he came back from the short layoff but the winning Beyers from those last two races were much better than par for the class and distance, and this doesn't seem to be an above-average field for claiming non-winners of two; needs pace but eligible to make the last run if she gets it. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

2:08 GP 5^th MUGURUZA (#6, 6-1) good now and looks like she could be the controlling speed in this one returning to more suitable spot after being over-matched last time and with a win on resume' at the distance. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

2:53 LRL 6^th UNDER FIRE (#1, 8-1) couldn't have asked for a better setup in his final start of 2022. The gray faced only two others, and set slow fractions while pushed by favored Moneyontheline. Sprinted on home to deny that one after a prolonged challenge. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

3:07 GP 7^th QUEEN KARIMA (#12, 8-1) has shown speed on several occasions in the a.m. and mom won 2 of 3 on turf indicating she might take readily to the surface. Must come away running from her outside draw. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

3:18 AQU 6^th STORIED FELLA (#4, 10-1) had run better than it looks in his first two starts before shipping here to break his maiden last June, and he earned that victory while involved on the pace throughout; faced tougher in his next two starts in NY, and caught a sloppy track in that last one; properly spotted and will be a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:03 TAM 8^th HAD RIGHT (#7, 9-2) was off the board in his latest but he's an upgrade candidate off that last one, when he tried closing in a speed-friendly race; should be closer to the pace from the start given the stretch-out in distance. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:14 GG 2^ndThis has already been a busy month for MISTY CAT (#4, 6-1), who was third in races around two turns on Jan. 2 and Jan. 14. In those races, the pace was slow, but this small field may unfold at a quicker tempo. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

6:36 SA 7^th Late-runner SELF TAUGHT (#5, 6-1) can upset OCTOPUS in this $32k claiming sprint. This field has enough pace to flatter the closing rally of SELF TAUGHT, and though both recent starts were not great, his races last summer and fall are fast enough for this level. The gelding has a long history of outrunning his odds. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

6:21 GG 6^th AWE (#1, 10-1), the 10-year-old gelding, finished fourth in a conditional $4,000 claimer on Jan. 7 in his first start in nearly four months, and might have been closer with a clean trip through the stretch. Awe raced in traffic and was beaten three lengths. In this field, Awe should get a stalking trip behind Di Laurian. Awe closed from last of six to win at a mile at Santa Rosa in August. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

7:23 GG 8^th WALKING BOSS (#8, 6-1) ended a five-race losing streak with a one-length win in a conditional $4,000 claimer at a mile on Jan. 7, closing from last in a field of six. The 4-year-old gelding was claimed by Isidro Tamayo and is given a jump in class to $8,000. This is a division Walking Boss should be able to handle. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race