DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 16, 2025
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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.
12:01 PIM 2nd SOFTWARE (#12, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Patrick Moquin). | Get PPs for this race
1:48 BAQ 2nd RUNGIUS (#1, 4-1) has risen from lower-level races on dirt while showing an aptitude for distance on that surface. He is interesting switching surfaces as a half to four turf winners from this dam, including stakes winners Sweet Melania and Sweet Rebecca. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
2:44 WO 4th DETERMINED FURY (#1, 4-1) is a DRF best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race
3:28 GP 6th CHARLIE'S BEAUTY (#2, 6-1) puts three races together and does so for a good barn with Kathleen O'Connell calling the shots. Class drop and an early breather make this filly the one to beat. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
3:15 WO 5th CEFALO (#4, 8-1) mounted a wide rally from fourth to secure second over a track that favored speed and inside runners on opening day. She should be prominent with that tightener out of the way with a hot Flores retaining the mount. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
4:47 WO 8th LAUGHING OUT LOUD (#8, 6-1) is the lone winter-raced runner in this $7.5K non-two tilt and should take some beating as she cuts back from a mile at Turfway to seven-eighths around one turn. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
5:01 BAQ 8th POOKIE (#1, 6-1) endured an unlucky trip in her career debut at Saratoga, before returning to win her next start; was last seen trying the Tepin, where she faced a good field and was never in position to be effective; starts back facing colts with Lasix on and might be better than she looks. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
5:16 GP 9th EL APAGON (#5, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race
5:30 BAQ 9th DANGHERECOMESSHANG (#2, 6-1) made her lone start as a 2yo just about one year ago, where she was hooked into an immediate fast duel with the race favorite in that spot before tiring, and that race produced a quality runner in Reigning Flowers; starts back with some class relief with the blinkers coming off. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
5:44 PIM 13th REPLY (#7, 8-1) will have to improve to contend in this field, but there's a lot of evidence that she has the chance to do so; the lightly raced filly improved behind a wire-to-wire winner in the Weber City Miss while adding distance, and it seems like she will only get better as she adds more in her third start here; the local filly lured a top jockey to ride and seems like an interesting outsider in a relatively light field. – Patrick Moquin | Get PPs for this race