DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 31, 2024

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.

12:25 LRL 1st MAJOR HOULIHAN (#1, 5-1) switches surfaces and is by a solid (16%) turf-route sire out of a dam that won over this distance on Colonial sod. That dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-winning turf router Humoristic. Expect good positional speed. -Dan Illman

1:10 WO 1st NATIVE PRINCE (#6, 6-1) has a turf tightener under his girth and should take some catching as the lone speed in this bottom-level Tapeta route. Regular rider Hernandez has a 20% strike rate for the barn. -Ron Gierkink

3:10 LRL 6th I CAN DO IT (#5, 6-1) must improve as she steps up in class, but thought she looked good taking advantage of hot splits to down conditioned claimers at Pimlico. Stalked outside, eased out into the stretch, then wore down the leader. While there is also a concern that she might not receive the same race flow, she did show the ability to stay closer to the pace when graduating over course and trip. Barn went 6 for the last 20 (30%, $7.16 ROI) with last-out winners returning on dirt. -Dan Illman

3:38 WO 6th PANYARD TAP (#2, 7-2) struggled against much tougher in his two outings, including an April 27 OS/$40K dash that contained three next-out winners. The drop to $25K is significant and he out-worked stablemate LONHRO'S GAMBLE the other day. -Ron Gierkink

3:41 LRL 7th MEXICAN SUGAR (#9, 12-1) saved ground in midpack behind a moderate pace in her circuit debut, then seemed a bit uncomfortable trying to move through on the rail in upper stretch. Once that seam closed, she eased out and came with a even rally. Don't think she would have won with a cleaner trip, but might have been a bit closer. She's paired up Beyer tops in her last two, and can kick at a solid price. Cruz departs for Biscuit. -Dan Illman

4:00 SA 1st SHE'S MY FLAME (#7, 3-1) debuts with a solid work pattern including a heads-up gate drill May 9 with stablemate Rumble King, who won his career debut last weekend. 'FLAME is sired by Flameaway, whose progeny have won 15 percent of their grass starts. 'FLAME is trained by Steve Knapp, who won twice last weekend with debut 2yos (Rumble King, In the Air Tonight). -Brad Free

4:09 WO 7th DESIGN DIVA (#2, 15-1) raced wide throughout over an inside-biased track when third among two next-out winners for $15K in her comeback. The daughter of Runhappy is strongly bred for the grass on the dam's side and shouldn't be out of her league against these OS/$40K maidens. -Ron Gierkink

4:43 LRL 9th GINGER GIRL (#3, 8-1) broke sharp in off-turf heat at Pimlico, tracked the pacesetter's slow fractions from the pocket, advanced to push that one outside, then altered course sharply inside that drifting foe. Placed first via disqualification, she faces a tougher task from a class and pace situation, but looked strong going the one-turn mile last fall. Lyapustina lands here instead of Freccia d'Argento. -Dan Illman