DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, July 23, 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.

1:05 SAR 1st BIG SCULLY (#9, 10-1) shipped up off some solid-looking works in Kentucky with some pedigree, being out of a debut-winning dam who is a sister to top Louisiana-bred turf horse Mr. Sulu (11 wins, $596k in earnings); dam has dropped five prior winners, three of those won on debut; Stewart has always been a little underrated with his juvenile first-time starters and he has been live with such horses so far in 2021 (3 for 5 so far this year, with another finishing 2nd at 10:1, $10.76 ROI). -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:34 GP 2nd Kindly disregard that first debacle vs. winners by SILVER PACKAGE (#5, 6-1) earlier this month and she’s a player in this bottom-level N2L mile for fillies and mares; that last one came for a $20k tag and with far different tactics than what were used in the Memorial Day mdn.-breaker; careful early rating from Jaramillo helps her cause. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:13 PIM 6th JUSTICE OF WAR’s (#9, 15-1) lack of early speed is concerning, but the gelding has some back numbers that would put him squarely in the mix and he finished ahead of four of these when a late-running third in his most recent fast-track outing. Didn’t break very well over muddy going earlier in the month in a race where they ran 1-2 all the way around. Should offer value and a late punch. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:55 SAR 6th KENTUCKY GHOST (#4, 9-2) has never been this far but he ran well over extended distances a couple of times last year and he has come back in 2021 a much better horse; back to the allowance ranks after rallying gamely into a fair set up in the Wise Dan last time. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:21 PIM 8th AMERICAN D’ORO (#2, 6-1) improved turning back to this distance in second lifetime start. Tracked the pace while three wide, made a mild bid on the turn and gave an even finish. Expecting good speed with the addition of blinkers. - Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:19 GP 7th The money showed for MORE ADVENTUROUS (#4, 6-1) before he was soundly defeated in his 6/20 unveiling, and perhaps that short-lived middle move suggests the tote support was warranted and he’s far better than how the rest of the day went; poor results aside, the experience can go a long way as this gray turf-bred colt faces a bunch of first-timing unknowns in this wide-open $70 MSW. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:30 MTH 2nd GOODLUCKCHUCK (#5, 6-1) benefited from a favorable race flow when 2nd at Charles Town in his latest but he should get another good set up in this one, as there’s a good amount of speed in this route; the winner of that last race, Gio Dude, posted his ninth career victory in that race. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:13 SAR 10th ARTYISTHEPARTY (#8, 12-1) switched to turf last time going seven and was taken in hand after the start to give away the early lead, then wound up getting hard to handle while trying to rate; still made a game run in the stretch before failing to reach and may appreciate this cut back. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:00 MTH 5th BONITA ANNIE (#7, 8-1) impressed with that late run in a well-graded turf sprint last time out, and she also ran well when 2nd at Tampa two back, in a starter allowance sprint; closer needs pace but she should get honest splits to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:00 DMR 3rd Front-runner MAD CATTER (#4, 9-2) can be long gone shortening to six furlongs after chasing a sizzling pace and fading against similar maiden-20 foes at 6.5f. The runnerup speedster that he chased won next out by open lengths; ‘CATTER can make the lead and be gone under young apprentice rider Diego Herrera. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

9:00 DMR 5th Northern California shipper TWILIGHT RIDER (#9, 6-1), claimed from a runner-up finish in a productive race by high-percent f.o.c. trainer Jonathan Wong, can win this competitive claiming mile for 3yos. ‘RIDER missed by a length last out; the first- and fourth-place finishers returned to win. Wong’s f.o.c. stats are about 30 percent long term. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

10:30 DMR 8th Close call between EAGLE IN THE SKY (#8, 8-1) and stretch-out REALLY BIG NEWS (#12, 7-2) in this Cal-bred maiden turf mile. The call is ‘SKY, whose recent fourth in a turf mile was his first start since last summer. He made a run at the leader into the lane, then lost his punch. He ran like a horse that needed a start. Solid work pattern since, prep race under his belt, set to fire second start back. REALLY BIG NEWS finished second in both sprints and is bred for two turns. He finished willingly last out, has a two-turn pedigree, and figures as a contender despite post 12. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets