DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, July 31, 2026

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 CNL 1st QUEEN OF WOODBINE (#5, 9-2) made her debut on turf for Robb earlier this month and did little running, finishing well back in eighth; she will drop in for a tag this time, which can be taken as a sort of concession, but there's still so much to like about this pedigree; the dam Appealing Cat was a stakes winner on grass and Street Sense has passed down enough turf ability to earn trust. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

2:35 CNL 5th LET HER PASS BY (#3, 15-1) lost all chance last time out but ran three extremely solid races at Laurel before then for Sillaman, including a long overdue maiden victory and a game runner-up finish against conditioned claimers, for which she earned a career-best 63 Beyer; she obviously fits here and might lose some eyes because of the bad luck last time. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

2:39 WO 4th NIIGON'S LAW (#2, 7-2) stalked two-wide before folding in the final furlong over a track that strongly favored speed and inside runners June 14. The Chiefswood homebred has worked thrice since and should be dangerous in this non-two allowance if things go his way. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:52 SAR 4th I'M WORTHY (#4, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get Past Performances for this race

4:00 SAR 6th FREEDOM CHARGE (#1, 9-2) lost early position, then raced greenly early in his debut, where he was actually the longest shot on the board against just three others; he raced on gamely in the stretch of that race once he figured things out; expecting an improved effort for a trainer who gets much better results with his juveniles after a start. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

4:18 WO 7th NOISY CRICKET (#5, 7-2) was a prominent fourth in his penultimate start vs. $15K maidens and is coming off off a fade job for $25K. Second-leading rider Aebly takes over for the big drop to $10K. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

4:34 SAR 7th SHARP SPARK (#5, 6-1) finished determinedly to close down one of today's rivals in the mud back in March for this trainer, then scored over this distance two starts later and was re-claimed by Kantarmaci; was up against it while trying to gain in a race that was holding together up front last time; handles distance and this race might be run to suit him with some speed drawn to his inside. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

4:47 MTH 6th MIND BOGGLING (#2, 3-1) caught the eye with a deceptively good late run when she last sprinted, on the turf three back, and though she ran well in her last two starts when sent long on turf she could well be good enough to run them all down late here despite the turnnback in distance; she will need some help from the pacesetters but she can win this nightcap if she gets an honest pace to chase. -Kenny Peck

5:31 DMR 2nd LITTLE TINKER ELLE (#3, 6-1) Gate to wire for Los Alamitos-based LITTLE TINKER ELLE? The speedster appears the quickest in the field, she adds Lasix and drops to $16k claiming 3yo fillies after setting the pace and fading vs. tougher at LRC. The speed of the speed, racing five and one-half furlongs, 'ELLE can be long gone. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

6:19 SAR 10th ROCKYTA (#4, 8-1) ran well in all three starts sprinting on turf earlier in the year in Florida; ran an odd race in the NY debut last month when ridden with a lot of patience and not moving clear to take a run around the turn, before ultimately getting shuffled back to last in the stretch; she still put in a game late run in that spot; can do better and will be a fair price. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

7:32 DMR 6th SAND BAGGER (#1, 5-1) If SAND BAGGER reproduces his highly rated runner-up finish last out,  can win this N2L claiming turf route. 'BAGGER improved each start since switching to route racing three starts back; his last was his best yet. He finished six lengths clear of third, earned a big number, and has enough natural speed to be forwardly placed saving ground on the rail. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

8:32 DMR 8th VOLCANOLOGIST (#6, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free). | Get Past Performances for this race