DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 22, 2020

With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.

1:38 TAM 3rd MULTITUDE (#2, 20-1) didn't run well on the dirt in her last two starts of 2019 but it could well be that she doesn't care for that surface, or it could be that something went amiss for her, and she went to the sidelines; either way, she has license to improve today with the switch to the grass, as she lost her best chance at the break in her only other start on the green, and she should be a factor from the start in her first start of 2020, a race that came up light on speed. -Kenny Peck

1:45 GP 3rd GOT THE GIST (#1, 7-2) exits much needed outing, her first in more than nine months, now drops to bottom and favorably drawn on rail with Irad up. Figures on or with pace throughout. -Mike Welsch

2:08 TAM 4th ROSAS WAY (#9, 6-1) was up against it in that route try last time, pressing the pace in a race which set up well for the closers, and he was also against the race flow in his prior two starts, when trying to close in races where speeds held the edge (note "C" and "S" symbols in DRF running lines); likely to improve in this one if she finally has the race flow in her favor, and with confirmed speeds to her inside that's a decent possibility. -Kenny Peck

2:46 GP 5th UNION LINE (#7, 15-1) broke poorly from the rail, rushed up, dropped back on turn but never tossed in towel completely in much needed bow. Back with same kind with one under his belt. Should move forward if able to leave with the field the second time around. -Mike Welsch

3:11 TAM 6th NOT TELLING (#3, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).

4:05 LS 1st GOLD BACKED (#7, 7-2) wintered at Oaklawn, where he won in March for that meet’s leading owner, M and M Racing, and trainer, Robertino Diodoro. –Mary Rampellini

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4:15 TAM 8th RACHIELY'S DREAM (#3, 4-1) was off the board under similar conditions to today's in her most recent but she did have a race flow excuse, as she was off the pace and the speeds held the edge, and that was due in large part to her post, as she was widest in that 12-horse field; should be expected to be more involved from the start this afternoon as she gets a much better draw. -Kenny Peck

4:35 LS 2nd SHAHARAZAD (#4, 3-1) finished third last out to a pair of fillies that run later on the card, in the opening day allowance feature. –Mary Rampellini

4:47 TAM 9th VIOLATOR (#7, 6-1) didn't break well in that last one but he was flying late, missing by less than a length after appearing on the scene in the very late stages; that slow start cost him there, as his positional speed is a big part of his game, and he should be expected to be close to expected pacesetter River Hawk from the start in this finale. -Kenny Peck

4:52 GP 9th NO GETTING OVER ME (#2, 9-2) facing state breds and older horses for the first time while in dangerous hands for local bow after starting career with some promise at Tampa. Recent work suggests he could be sitting on best yet for new connections. -Mike Welsch

5:24 GP 10th FLASH PASS (#16, 4-1) has been running strictly on grass of late but a main track only entrant in finale and note huge dirt try in career bow for this barn back in December. One to fear if finale moves to dirt. -Mike Welsch

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5:37 SA 5th KING OF SPEED (#8, 6-1) came off a long layoff to be a sharp 4th vs. some beasts in a G3 turf sprint stakes here March 21. He’s worked well since, gets class relief and this longer game may be more to his liking. – Michael Hammersly

6:09 SA 6th SHORT OF EZ (#8, 5-2) gets the call over Santa Anita specialist PAPA TURF and front-running comebacker FAST COTTON in this $12.5k claiming sprint. SHORT OF EZ gets the nod based partly on decisive wins his two recent claiming races on this track. His troubled third at Los Al was decent, he might have finished second with a better trip. EZ returns to a mile track, and meets a field with sufficient pace to flatter his closing rally. -Brad Free

6:07 LS 5th MAJESTIC QUEEN (#7, 3-1) goes for the trainer-jockey team of Steve Asmussen and Stewart Elliott, who, when last seen in Texas, went 13-for-25 together this winter at Sam Houston. –Mary Rampellini

8:07 LS 9th WISHFUL QUALITY (#11, 8-1) can be closer to the pace than she found herself last time, when a closing third in a race that has since produced two next-out winners, one an Oaklawn allowance with a Beyer of 85. – Mary Rampellini