DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, June 3, 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.
1:00 BEL 1st DANSEUR D'ORO (#4, 5-1) went for $130k after a good-looking 10.2 breeze in March; dam is a winning sister to Grade 3 dirt router Ever So Clever and new sire Bolt d'Oro is off to a good start with his first crop of runners (3 for 6 with first-time starters so far); Morey 8 for his last 35 with 2yo first time starters in dirt sprints (23%, $4.78 ROI). -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:32 BEL 2nd WEEKEND FUN (#4, 9-2) got room late and finished gamely to just get up when cut back to sprint for the first time on turf last September in an effort that might be better than it looks; got in way too tough when back on turf for the first time since that victory last February, and was also in over her head when brought back from the long layoff last time; drops switching to Saez, but she was listed as a vet scratch from a similar spot a few weeks ago. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:37 GP 2nd PACKS A WAHLOP (#3, 5-1) one of many interesting new faces in this highly competitive looking juvenile dash. Brought $270K at the sales and mom was both perfect at 2 and a SW. Looks like a quick one. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:42 LRL 3rd SALTY SAUL (#2, 10-1) doesn't seem to run well on wet going and she caught a sloppy track at Pimlico last month. She chased a quick pace along the rail, tried to slip up the inside, but simply wasn't good enough. Must prove she can step on this circuit as the lone win came at Charles Town, but she drops to the basement here. Enriquez departs for Pass It On. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:10 LRL 4th FOREVER THE BOSS (#3, 6-1) drops with speed and that is often a powerful angle in maiden races. It will be interesting to see if he returns off only five days, but the barn is 3 for the last 7 (43%, $2.77 ROI) with horses coming back in a week or less. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:32 BEL 4th MEGAYACHT (#5, 6-1) was never really involved after losing early position vs. several of these same rivals in a similar spot a month ago; can be more tactical with a better start this time, and his form was trending the right way prior to that; another chance with Rosario sticking. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:56 MTH 2nd LUXERO (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:56 MTH 3rd UNCLE ROAMIE (#2, 15-1) wasn't close in any of his recent starts prior to the freshening but those sprints were against better, and they were also all on dirt; he has run well in the past on the dirt, particularly in abbreviated sprints such as this, including a runner-up finish over this course last year, albeit at 5 1/2 furlongs. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:24 MTH 4th RACHEL CAROLINE (#7, 8-1) ran better than the running line might indicate two back, when a slow start from the rail left her with too much to do yet she closed nicely, and she was not persevered with last time after she came out on the turn and interfered with a rival, causing a rival to fall; she needs pace but if she gets honest fractions she may be able to make the last run. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:45 LRL 7th BET THE POT (#6, 10-1) has been competing over jumps, but he's won his last three starts on the flat including both turf outings in 2020. Think nine furlongs will hit him right between the eyes. Acosta lands here instead of stablemate BREVARD PLACE, who just scored over hurdles 13 days ago. Hasn't raced on the flat since 2019, but was in against much tougher competition back in the day. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:52 MTH 5th ALONG THE WAY (#1, 8-1) was caught up in a duel in that sprint in her first start off the layoff, then closed well enough here last weekend when stretched back to a route; her latest turf try, back in November, was a forgettable effort but perhaps something went amiss there, as it was followed by the layoff, and her other tries on the grass give her credibility here. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:19 LRL 8th Four-time winner LONG DISTANCE LOVE (#5, 9-2) is the most prolific winner in the field and looked good scoring off short layoff. Broke slow and was bumped at the start, tracked a slow pace four wide and in between, eased out in the stretch and wore down the leaders. The fifth-finisher returned to win a $16,000 starter with a 63 Beyer. Gonzalez barn a bit cold, but they historically have big numbers with last-out winners off the claim. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:37 SA 2nd COMMANDER KHAI (#4, 5-1), fourth with trouble last out in a similar starter-allowance turf sprint, can post a minor upset over DONCIC, runner-up in the same race. A pace-presser, 'KHAI broke last her most recent start, looked uncomfortable crossing the dirt, scraped paint and finished well in a better-than-looked performance. He also had trouble two starts back. His up-front style suits the likely race flow, if he gets the same clean trip he got three starts back he can win. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:02 GP 8th CUPID AUSTIN (#7, 5-1) one of many potential win threats in wide open finale. Had a bit of bad luck at the start, got hung wide, held in well enough and with a sharp work since the outing. Lures hot jock today. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:21 WO 2nd FAY DAN (#1, 9-2) seemingly had a valid excuse two back when eased at Oaklawn and then rebounded there by running second as the favorite in a $12.5K NW2 dirt route May 7. The son of 13% synthetic route sire Curlin worked a quick half here the other day on the Tapeta in preparation for his first start on it, and could wire this field under the bug. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:20 WO 4th HYPERFOCUS (#7, 6-1) awaited room on the far turn before closing from off slow splits for third when coming off a freshening May 22 while claimed for $15K. He could be along in time in this $20K seller with the promising bug Slade Jones taking over. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:55 YR (Harness) 1st #3 FIZZING N (#3, 7-2) was facing better in all recent Yonkers efforts, and that race two back was particularly good. Brennan is back driving and he should get aggressive from this spot. – Matt Rose | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:22 WO 6th MIGHTY PELE (#2, 6-1) came up a half-length short after fighting for the lead when second ahead of two next-out winners in his May 13 return. This is his first turf start and the son of the late English Channel is a full-brother unbeaten stakes winner The Minkster, who graduated on the grass. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:45 MED (Harness) 5th IDEATION HANOVER (#9, 4-1) has just so-so form and the worst post, but this gal just seems to wake up when at the bottom level here. I’m expecting new driver Tim Tetrick to be firing off the gate. – Derick Giwner | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:20 WO 8th SASKATCHEWAN (#7, 8-1) faded to fourth after dueling up front when coming off the bench in a seven-furlong Tapeta sprint for $15K maidens. His lone grass race was disappointing, but he deserves a mulligan because of his superb turf pedigree. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:05 WBS (Harness) 7th I GOT THE LOOKS (#9, 10-1) beat a horse that came right back and jogged in 1:52 in his next start and he should offer a good price starting from the 9-hole; call to repeat. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
10:23 LS 7th WEIRD YEAR (#4, 6-1) set a contested pace last out in a race that went in good time. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets