DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 2, 2025

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.

11:29 CD 2nd The workout times for first-timer ENDORSE (#5, 8-1) are fast by Palm Beach Downs standards - and video from two of them suggest they are as good as they are fast. The two we can see are April 5 and April 25. The filly's on the inside of a workmate both times, working from the gate 4/5 with Authentic Legend, who, to be fair, raced uncompetitively making her debut last month at GP. Endorse just crushes her around the club turn and onto the gallop out. That was a very good drill but certainly no better than 4/25, when she worked inside Disruptor, the 3yo colt who won a GP maiden second out with a 92 Beyer, then suffered through a tough go in the Florida Derby. Endorse more than held her own with him, too. She looks like a powerhouse of a filly. Expect something very competitive. – Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

1:47 GP 3rd SIGNAL CALLER (#5, 9-2) just didn't fire last out and that race is just too bad to be believed. He returns on time and again wants two turns on the synth. That last race effort will help today's price. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

2:11 BAQ 3rd BELLEZZA (#1, 3-1) impressed winning her lone start as a 2yo before missing time; she concentrated on longer races last year, and, while she wasn't up to group standards, more than held her own with stakes horses; always traveled before moving wide and looming at the top of the straight in her 2024 finale on synthetic, and she won that race easier than the margin might suggest; giving away recency but looks like a nice fit in this spot. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

2:50 BAQ 4th VITALIZE (#6, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race

4:15 GP 8th BLAZING BUCCHERO (#8, 20-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

4:43 GP 9th THANK YOU MAM (#9, 10-1) is by a 8% debut sire and a 10% debut turf sire. Her dam went 29-11-5-6 and banked 93K (no turf). All 4 sibs won and 3 beat winners. Of 4 sibs to try the grass, 3 won including half-brother Threebrothers who is 9-5-0-0 on the green for 45K (won turf debut). Works are solid and team Pletcher can win first out going two turns on the green. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

5:04 SA 3rd First start since August, SHE'S A JOKER (#6, 6-1) returns to a SA turf where she is a three-time winner. She has run well fresh, and is optimistically entered with the "no-claim" waiver. There is enough pace in this field to set up 'JOKER to win from behind. – Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

5:24 OP 9th ROCKET NIGHT (#1, 6-1) is a consistent performer as a rule and seems due to graduate soon. He also might be best-served if the strip is fast after racing on a wet surface for the first time last out. – Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

5:35 SA 4th MY LOVE CAROLINE (#7, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free). | Get PPs for this race

7:02 CD 13th TETIAROA (#8, 8-1) didn't race at age 2 but surely got a decent foundation with all those works, and maybe when she didn't get started at the fall CD meet, they decided to wait for spring rather than go to Fair Grounds. Shows a bunch of fast drills, and video of the one April 20 offers quite a bit of encouragement. Worked from the gate with two partners in a breeze seemingly designed for her; between through the stretch, began edging away on the club turn, galloped out like a tigress many lengths in fromt of the mates. Seemingly set for a strong debut. – Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race