DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, July 15, 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.
2:28 MTH 2nd MARICOPA (#6, 5-1) was third in her latest try going long but that was a decent effort, closing for the show behind a pair of speeds while in against better; she didn't run badly in two sprints since that effort, including her latest, when she was moving well late after a slow start left her with too much to do. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:34 WO 4th TARADAR (#10, 10-1) had a wide trip over an inside-biased track when a belated fourth in his latest, from which the runner-up exited to graduate at the same $7.5K maiden level with a 55 Beyer. He's worked twice since and could be along in time here the barn's go-to rider Wilson taking over. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:49 SAR 4th MARCO POLO (#8, 8-1) started out for Baffert in California and didn't take much money in his first two starts before shipping out; ran an underrated race on the drop last November when trying a wide move around the turn after a front-running winner; turf to dirt second off the layoff while dropping to the lowest level yet. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:01 LRL 5th BASHDAFLASH (#1, 20-1) was washed off the turf at Belmont and was likely overmatched after showing brief speed against favored Gulfstream invader Causin' Mayhem. He's bred for grass as a half-brother to stakes-winning turf miler Jezebel's Kitten by multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Flintshire. Lasix on and a recent bullet work for barn that is 3 for the last 10 (30%, $14.26 ROI with horses moving from dirt to turf. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:21 SAR 5th THE MAN TO SEE (#8, 20-1) looks like a handful to ride but he ran pretty well breaking his maiden on the stretch out last October from behind a slow pace - that despite getting very rank early; rated the break before taking a wide trip and continuously improving his position up the backstretch, before flattening out in his return from the layoff; getting the right drop at a price in a wide-open race. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:35 LRL 6th MR. MOSLEY (#10, 9-2) bobbled leaving the gate, then tracked outside on the backstretch. Placed on a hard chase to go after odds-on Pop Pop Susi (finished second, returned to graduate for $10,000 at Monmouth with a 52 Beyer), he tried hard all the way to the wire. Perhaps limited upside after 10 starts, but gets one more chance stretching out a half-furlong. Boyce departs for Ben Rumson. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:52 MTH 5th JUDGEMENT TIME (#4, 5-1) has lots of room to improve off that return try, as she was off slowly, then wide on the first turn before making a mid-race run at the lead an weakening only late; expecting improvement with a clean trip if she can avoid a regression in her second start off the layoff. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:55 SAR 6th DANZIGWITHTHESTARS (#4, 8-1) didn't run as well as RUSE last time going a bit longer, but that was still a solid effort and a step in the right direction for this gelding, who ran the three best races of his life up here last summer; overcame traffic with a late burst to break his maiden over this course and distance early in the meet, before returning to win again using different tactics, and then finished an underrated fourth in the Saranac just three weeks later. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:10 LRL 7th MY THOUGHTS (#1, 9-2), stakes-placed on dirt at two, has a strong turf pedigree and lived up to her potential with solid score in initial two-turn grass try at Penn National. Broke sharp that day, was taken off the rail to push a four-ply pace battle from in between rivals, went after the leader through a quick third quarter, and was too good for that field. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:20 MTH 6th SPANIKOPITA (#5, 12-1) seems very well spotted in this sprint in terms of the expected pace scenario, as she's a proven closer in a race that features a fair amount of speed; a very slow start and a very wide trip on the turn left her with no chance in that turf try last time, and she was overmatched two back, but that win three back was at this distance and she was visually impressive. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:43 WO 8th RIGHTEOUS ROBBIE (#1, 10-1) looks to be the speed of this seven-furlong main turf sprint for $25K NW2 types and could take some catching under the bug Jones, with the rail out in lane 4. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:53 LRL 10th LANDON JACK (#3, 5-1) breezed a furlong in 10 2/5 seconds prior to the recent auction, and is the first foal out of a sprint-winning half-sister to stakes-winning dirt router Celtic Katie. The second dam was a stakes-winning dirt router. Several workouts match up with Salzman's Free Admission (entered in today's opener). Perhaps they went in company. Won't be surprised if this one has a bit of speed. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:13 SAR 10th SHESAWILDJOKER (#9, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:35 LS 1st VALENTINE STREET (#5, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:45 WBS (Harness) 6th SOMBRE (#7, 3-1) is peaking right now and this field is no tougher than the one he just beat at Georgian Downs. I’ll single him expecting an aggressive steer. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:00 YR (Harness) 7th ITSMYCHECK GB (#3, 5-1) never got involved from the eight hole when dropped in class for last week's race but he finished with plenty to pick up a fourth-place check. Cory Stratton trainee swept past $50K claimers not too long ago. – Matt Rose | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:30 MED (Harness) 10th DOUBLE ACCOUNT (#6, 15-1) draws inside his main foes and gets a key class drop. Seven-year-old likes it on the lead and I’ll be shocked if driver Dave Miller doesn’t send him to the top. – Derick Giwner | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets